What Are Military Histories
Comprehensive, Concise WWII Military Histories
The Official Histories portray far more than battle accounts, which are the final step. The “build up” is a major part of the story to include build bases, airfields, manufacturing, schools, housing, storage, shipyards, ships, planes, tanks and trucks. Facilities and training for 92 division, thousands of new piolets and airmen, new ships and shipmates. Schools of every type for the myriad of chores and weapons from changing a Sherman tank engine to flying P-47’s.
Somehow it was done. Somehow a pity, pathetic U.S, Australian and New Zealand military forces slowed and then halted the Japanese Pacific invasion. Eleven months after Pearl Harbor the U.S. Army and Navy “invaded” North Africa. While not “pathetic”; it was poor! The Army and its Air Force were growing, with much more to learn. Sicily invasion had fewer errors. The invasion of Italy showcased a competent force.
Problems abounded in defending the U.S. and Caribbean from German U-boats who sank far too many U.S cargo ships in the U.S., but the Panama Canal was most crucial along with protecting Venezuela oil. Forming an anti-sub force yielded petty squabbles between the Navy and Ari Force over control. The unbelievable lack of preparation is discussed along with Navy salvage efforts. Further, this history covers the mistakes that permitted Japanese success at Pearl Harbor to occur.
In short, Pearl Harbor lacked the necessary long-range planes for patrols, and issue to be covered in future works arising from the Army-Navy inter-war bickering which derailed them. Under unsatisfactory circumstances, the defensive plans were the best possible, but useless without long-range air patrols. This section includes the post-War Congressional hearings on Pearl Harbor.
Brief, but appropriate treatment is given to arming Central and South America and the U.S after war began. In general, the America’s, plus Pacific, Alaska, Philippines, etc. are presented in detail, until July 1942, which is the diversion point for these histories. By then the Western Hemisphere was secure, the Pacific stabilized, Alaska was preparing to eject the Japanese and many great steps had been taken.
Yet, FDR, Joint Chiefs and British decided in July 1943 to invade North Africa first! The first of many major diversions from the obvious strategic goal to “DEFEAT GERMANY FIRST”. Germany was not near Casablanca! So too, quirks of events kept the China, Burma, India Theater (CBI) tied in with the burgeoning Mediterranean Theater (MTO), neither of which were aimed at the “heart of the enemy”. But with this decision came a full one and one-half year diversion from the “DEFEAT GERMANY FIRST” strategic goal, to what Marshall called a grand strategy of “Periphery Pecking”.
Who Will Read 117 WWII Histories
(about 58,500 pages)?
Condensed Histories
Writing Briefs, Briefly – 80% Reduction.
Tom wrote many trial briefs – his 20 pages up against a Judge’s 7-page limit! Very unfair -- the caption, fixed words, signatures, certifications and the “copies to” list used almost three pages! Tom learned to “slash and cut” to make 7-pages, which he applied to “official histories” to find he could cut out 80% of the text, yet retain essentials with readability. Every 120 pages you read covers 600 pages of official military histories. Reading speeds zoom to five times normal speeds as a 600-page history is only 125 pages long in the Condensed Military History.
Chronological Approach --- Big Picture Twice Each Month.
A jury who does not understand the timing and/or the event chronology is a lost jury! Comprehension requires one to “peg a timeframe” – a marker used to remember this was before or after the marked time or event. Exact days is unnecessary, but a general sense of timing is critical. Absent that and a connection in space, the information floats about, largely unusable. Thus, the Complete Military History summaries all events twice each month starting June 1 and D-Day week. The first two weeks and the last two weeks of each month summarize all of the applicable 47+ official histories listed above. They are no longer 47 different stories but are 47 major elements in one easy to comprehend history of WWII. It is all tied up, summarized top to bottom (47 elements) twice a month.
A “You Were There” Bi-Monthly Chronology from D-Day to VE-Day
As if you were Gen Marshall, Gen Eisenhower, Gen Bradley or Montgomery or an Army, Navy and Air commander, you are provided the important details of battles and operations of roughly 40 different agencies: 1) concise; 2) neatly summarized and briefed by 3) the seven armies north to south twice a month; 4) the air forces, both strategic and tactical, and 5) the two navies to the extent they were active in the period.
Scholars, war history buffs, veterans, servicemen, their families, history and military students, tourists, chambers and the European tour industry all benefit. This is the “jury pool” – This history provides the evidence, summations and closing arguments needed!
1947–1957 American CBS historical TV and radio series broadcast hosted by Walter Cronkite.