Book Review Supplement Autumn 2000

Canadian Military History

Volume 9 Issue 4 Article 9

2000

Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh

Part of the Military History Commons

Recommended Citation "Book Review Supplement Autumn 2000." Canadian Military History 9, 4 (2000)

This Book Review Supplements is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Canadian Military History by an authorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact [email protected]. et al.: Book Review Supplement Autumn 2000

CANADIAN MILITARY HISTORY BOOK REVIEW SUPPLEMENT

Autumn 2000 Issue 12

Frances Fitzgerald, Way Out There he Economist recently ranked American relations hinged on the in the Blue: Reagan, Star Wars, Tthe $50,000 Lionel Gelber Prize personality quirks of the major and the End of the Cold War (New as the most important non-fiction players. An underlying theme is the York: Simon & Schuster, 2000), book prize in the world. First continuing attempt to resolve the $43.50, 592 pages, ISBN 0-684- awarded in 1990, it recognizes the problem of Taiwan without having 84416-8. year’s most distinguished to resort to a military solution. achievement in generating Ironically, while Taiwan was always Misha Glenny, The Balkans, 1804- enlightened debate and discussion the most important issue on the 1999: Nationalism, War and the on foreign affairs and international public front, this was largely a Great Powers (London: Granta relations. Previous winners include smokescreen, and Sino-American Books, 1999), £25.00, 726 pages, Michael Ignatieff, Eric Hobsbawm, relations so often turned on other ISBN 1-8607-050-4. and David McCullough. issues; for example, one of Nixon’s This year’s winner, announced major motivations for trying to Karl E. Meyer and Shareen Blair in Toronto in October 2000, was normalize relations with China was Brysac, Tournament of Shadows: Patrick Tyler’s comprehensive and so Mao might help the US find a The Great Game and the Race for engaging discussion of Sino- graceful way out of the war in Empire in Central Asia American relations after the Second Vietnam. (Washington, DC: Counterpoint, World War (although the book is far The other four short-listed 1999), $52.95, 646 pages, ISBN 1- broader than the title suggests, for books cover a broad range of topics 5843-028-4. it has much to say about relations in strategic studies and with the Soviet Union and its international relations. Frances John Micklethwait and Adrian successor states, India, Pakistan, Fitzgerald’s superb book is very Wooldridge, A Future Perfect: and Bangladesh). One of its greatest strong from a traditional The Challenge and Hidden strengths is its characterizations – international relations perspective, Promise of Globalization (New Tyler does an excellent job of getting in its elucidation of the York: Crown Business, 2000), inside the heads (as much as machinations of summit diplomacy $39.95, 386 pages, ISBN 0-8129- possible) of the major players. The and great power manoeuvring. But 3096-7. fact that not too many of them its real strength is in the discussion emerge entirely unblemished of Ronald Reagan’s personality and Patrick Tyler, A Great Wall: Six merely adds to the book’s appeal. its impact on American foreign Presidents and China – An Furthermore, this is a story in policy. Other writers have tried, Investigative History (New York: which personality is crucial. As with varying degrees of success, to PublicAffairs, 1999), $40.00, 476 Tyler describes so expertly, so much analyze the foreign policy exploits pages, ISBN 1-89160-1. of what has occurred in Sino- of the B-actor-turned-leader of the

Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 2000 1 Canadian Military History, Vol. 9 [2000], Iss. 4, Art. 9

free world, but none have been as (and, later, other world powers) for their discussion of Keynes and the convincing as Fitzgerald. Her control of central Asia. For more thinkers he valued, maybe it’s a description of how Reagan than a century, the region was sort return to an old way of conceiving constantly re-invented events (like of a holy grail for politicians, of international relations. his visit to the NORAD base in strategists, and traders, who The Lionel Gelber Prize was Colorado or his pool-side chat with assumed that there must be great created by Lionel Gelber, a veteran Gorbachev) to suit his own ideas riches locked somewhere within it. of the RCAF, former special of how history should have The irony of the situation, as the assistant to the Canadian happened, and of his tendency to authors argue, was that the Great government, and a long-time let fact and Hollywood mingle Game was waged for very limited advocate of improved international together, is fascinating. rewards; after all the campaigning, relations. It is presented annually Misha Glenny is to be which continued right up to the by the foundation that bears his complimented for tackling the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, name. tortuous paths of Balkan history; central Asia provided very little of JFV there is perhaps no other region on value to the powers which struggled * * * * * the globe which packs such diverse to control it. Indeed, had the Soviet and complicated issues into such a leadership read their histories of David M. Glantz, Stumbling small geographic area, and which the First and Second Afghan Wars, Colossus: The Red Army on the has had, for its size, such a they would have known exactly what Eve of World War (Lawrence: significant impact on world affairs. they had in store for them when they University Press of Kansas, 1998), And his achievement is all the invaded Afghanistan over a century $39.95 US, 392 pages, ISBN 0- greater because he makes it all later – not riches or geo-strategic 7006-0879-6. make sense. It is by no means easy advantage, but a terrain and to sort out the different varieties of populace that easily broke larger, his book examines the state of nationalism with which the Balkans more “sophisticated” armies. Treadiness of the Soviet Army have been blessed (cursed?), nor is Despite its title, A Future at the outset of the German invasion it easy to separate all the different Perfect is also a study of of the Soviet Union in June 1941. factions and interest groups which international relations. Global Glantz’s underlying thesis is to have come to blows in the region. economic forces have always been challenge the “theory of preemptive But Glenny does a masterful job of central to international relations, war” expounded by Viktor Rezun’s weaving together a range of and it is no longer possible to Icebreaker which accepted Joseph narratives into one coherent whole. discuss a nation’s foreign policy Goebbels’s argument “that Germany His overarching theme, the Balkans without making reference to global was fighting a preventive war when as an unwilling meeting place for economic factors. Micklethwait and it invaded the Soviet Union”(2-3). great power politics, lends a real Wooldridge make no attempt to The underlying assumption of the coherence to the story and makes hide their enthusiasm for theory of preemptive war is that it possible to discern consistent globalization, but they never come “the Soviet Army was both powerful refrains in the history of the region. across as proselytizers; on the and ready for war in 1941,” an His cogent analysis of the Balkans contrary, their narrative is argument which Glantz believes to during the First World War era is remarkable balanced. They never be totally unfounded. particularly impressive. dismiss out of hand the concerns Since the 1920s, the Soviet Meyer and Brysac’s of people who oppose globalization, military had undergone a series of Tournament of Shadows grabs the nor do they regard their fears as purges including the execution of reader from the first page. It covers unfounded. They admit that many some 54,000 officers between 1937- the broad sweep of history from the of those fears are justified, but argue 41. This not only deprived the first British and Russian incursions that globalization must be judged troops of well trained and into central Asia in the Napoleonic in a broad sense; every negative experienced officers, but it also era, through to the post-Second outcome is more than compensated damaged morale. Even more World War years. It is beautifully for by positive outcomes. significant than the purges, Soviet written and filled with fascinating Furthermore, they write in a breezy, troops lacked adequate training and and compelling characters, from entertaining style, with lots of real- equipment. For instance, many tank William Moorcroft, the horse world anecdotes that readers can drivers were sent into battle with master in India who refused to take relate to; this is a book that any non- only three to five hours of training, no for an answer when he requested specialist can pick up and and there is at least one example of permission from his superiors to immediately become absorbed in. a motorized rifle regiment, venture into central Asia, to Brooke It’s not a study of international comprised of six hundred recruits, Dolan, the American naturalist and relations in a classical sense, but it which was not armed due to a OSS operative in Tibet. may well point the direction to a shortage of firearms. Combined The theme is the evolving new way of conceiving of with officers who were both struggle between Russia and Britain international relations – or, given incompetent and indifferent

2 © Canadian Military History Book Review Supplement, Autumn 2000 https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol9/iss4/9 2 et al.: Book Review Supplement Autumn 2000

towards the welfare of their troops, was not ready for war in June of Barry Davidson of Calgary joined the result was an appalling military 1941 and acted accordingly”(260). the RAF in July 1939 and was shot casualty rate of at least 29 million Stumbling Colossus makes down over France a year later. He soldiers. Although Soviet troop excellent use of archival sources, spent nearly five years in German strength had increased from 1.6 and presents a large quantity of prison camps, and was involved in million in 1939 to 5.3 million in statistical data. However, Glantz the Great Escape of March 1944. 1941, only partial troop should have exercised better Dan McIvor spent five years in the mobilization had been undertaken judgement in stating that RCAF during World War II, by the time of the German invasion “enunciation of this theory primarily in instructional and ferry on 22 June 1941. Of these 5.3 [preventive war] further condemns duties, and Steve Villers spent million, it was estimated that 60% the Soviet regime and, more three years in the RAF; he was would be captured or killed within importantly, justifies the German destined to join a long-range six months. Casualty rates invasion and absolves Germany of bomber group in Burma but the war increased at such an astounding blame for the ensuing human ended before he got there. Most of rate that by 1942 the Commissariat suffering. Quite naturally, a host of these fellows (and the other fliers of Defence no longer issued German historians have gravitated covered in the book) had long identifying tags (dog tags) to new to this view” (xiii). Contrary to what careers in aviation after the war, recruits and ceased to register is inferred by this statement, making this a most interesting casualties individually by name. German historians do not have collection for flying and military Clearly, the Soviet military was in some sort of natural predisposition buff alike. no position to invade Germany. to justify Hitler’s invasion of the AF Glantz observes that since the Soviet Union. Nor do they have any * * * * * 1930s, Soviet military planning desire to excuse the gross violations reflected the poor strategic position of human rights that stemmed from Arnold R. Isaacs, Vietnam of the country due to its geographic Barbarossa. It should be pointed Shadows: The War, Its Ghosts, vastness and its social, economic, out that Stalin had partitioned and Its Legacy (Baltimore: Johns and technological deficiencies. It Poland with Hitler, ordered the Hopkins University Press, 1997), was also based upon the premise execution of some 15,000 Polish $25.95 US, 236 pages, ISBN 0- that a German attack was inevitable. officers in the Katyn Forest, and 8018-3657-3. Yet, Stalin could not agree with deported thousands of Poles to senior military commanders Siberia. Red Army troops were also ietnam Shadows discusses the (Timoshenko/Merestkov) as to sent to occupy (and later annex) the Vcontinuing social and political where a German invasion would Baltic republics and invade influence of the Vietnam War in the come from and what would be the Finland. While Soviet troops may United States. Isaacs argues that the best response. Soviet artillery was not have been combat ready to Vietnam War has had the greatest superior to German artillery in launch an invasion, it is clear that influence, “more than any other numbers, but the former lacked Stalin had territorial ambitions and event of the era [ie. the 1960s]” on adequate training, communications, may have acted more aggressively contemporary America, including and fire control, making it an inept given the military capability to do so. both the civil rights struggle and the instrument of defence. Similarly, PE women’s movement. Vietnam Shadows chronicles the the Soviet Union lacked adequate * * * * * antiaircraft defences, out of the controversies surrounding the war, erroneous belief that the German Shirlee Smith Matheson, Flying the seeking to dispel many widely held air power would be directed to Frontiers: Aviation Adventures myths. smaller states that lacked an Around the World, volume 3 According to Isaacs, support adequate military force and (Calgary: Detselig Enterprises, for the war was greater among blue- economic infrastructure. 1999), $29.95, 288 pages, ISBN 1- collar workers than white-collar According to Glantz, Stalin’s 55059-176-2. workers. Further, opinion polls lack of response to the numerous clearly demonstrated that “support warnings of impending attack that he third installment in this for the war was highest among those preceded the German invasion, his Tseries includes a number of under thirty and lowest among decision not to pass this reports adventures with a military theme. those fifty or older” (53-4). Indeed, along to Zhukov or Timoshenko, Cedric Mah, from Prince Rupert, contrary to contemporary popular and his failure to deal with British Columbia, spent some time opinion, the Woodstock generation intrusions of German aircraft and in the British Commonwealth Air was not indicative of the agents in Soviet territory are Training Plan as an instructor in overwhelming majority of people justifiable. They reflected a Winnipeg before joining the China who grew up in the sixties. Relatively political and military leadership National Aviation Corporation few young adults actively protested which “judged that the Red Army Transport Group to fly supply the war. As popular support missions over the Hump in Burma. dwindled, most Americans tried to

Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 2000 3 Canadian Military History, Vol. 9 [2000], Iss. 4, Art. 9

avoid the draft and go about their intervention, from Beirut to Bosnia- new and potentially permanent daily lives. Isaacs distinguishes Herzegovina. There is also a stature among the nations of the between those who opposed the war convincing argument made against world” (172). Enter the Monitor, the on ideological or moral grounds the existence of any surviving creation of a Swedish engineering from the majority who believed it American MIA-POWs in Vietnam. genius named John Ericsson. On was time that America should cut Recognizing that the Vietnam War the 9th of March, the Monitor, the its losses and withdraw its troops has been studied almost exclusively Union’s own ironclad, and the from Vietnam. as a backdrop for American foreign Merrimac met in Hampton Roads While public support for the affairs, Isaacs chronicles the social- in a damp squib of a battle. For the war effort was higher among the political transformation of Vietnam better part of the morning, the two working classes, those from blue- in the past two decades and the lumbering vessels bounced shot off collar families were at a plight of the Vietnamese boat each other, without causing a single disadvantage by a draft system that people. fatality and without inflicting mortal favoured the well-to-do. The only criticism of this book, damage on either ship. Shortly after Astonishingly, it is pointed out that and it is minor, is the absence of noon, both ships withdrew, with many American high schools had any discussion concerning the both the Union and the Confederacy more graduates killed in Vietnam thousands of Amerasians (those claiming victory. In hindsight, the than Harvard University. Likewise, whom the Vietnamese have termed Union interpretation of the battle prominent figures on the national bui doi or “the dust of life”) children was closer to the truth, for the political stage – including Quayle, born to Vietnamese mothers but standoff effectively neutralized any Clinton, Gingrich, and Gramm – fathered by American servicemen. gains the Confederacy might have were able to avoid military service Even with this omission, Vietnam made from the Merrimac’s in Vietnam. Shadows (with its excellent remarkable success the day before. According to Isaacs, it is also bibliographical essay as a guide for On a grander scale, the battle erroneous to associate the Civil further reading on the issues brought to a close, in a single Rights movement with organized discussed by Isaacs) is a valuable stroke, the age of the wooden opposition to the war. He notes that corrective to much previous work. warship. both the Civil Rights Act (1964) and PE DeKay describes all of this the Voting Rights Act (1965) were * * * * * with skill and energy. It is a passed at a time when widespread fascinating book that moves with public support existed for James Tertius deKay, Monitor: The the pace of a novel, something that America’s intervention in South- Story of the Legendary Civil War is helped by a cast of colourful and East Asia. This included the Ironclad and the Man Whose unusual characters. There are other majority of African-Americans who Invention Changed the Course of books on the battle of the ironclads continued to support the war until History (London: Pimlico, 1999), which are more comprehensive or 1969. £9.00 paper, 247 pages, ISBN 0- in-depth, but there can be none Vietnam veterans returning 7126-6539-0. more readable. home not only faced open hostility CA t would be difficult to find a from anti-war protesters, but found * * * * * their friends and neighbours to be Imilitary engagement that was at indifferent. Many veterans felt once so revolutionary in its import, D.P. Stephens, A Memoir of the alienated, finding that few and so inauspicious in its Spanish Civil War: An Armenian- Americans were interested in particulars. When the Confederate Canadian in the Lincoln discussing their combat vessel the Merrimac (actually a Battalion, ed. Rick Rennie (St. experiences. While many Vietnam captured Union warship that had John’s, NF: Canadian Committee on veterans opposed the war, others been converted into an ironclad) Labour History, 2000), $24.95 would protest with equal vigour entered Hampton Roads, Virginia, paper, 119 pages, ISBN 1-894000- President Jimmy Carter’s decision in March 1862, it would change the 02-1. to pardon those who evaded the course of history in a matter of draft. Contrary to depictions in film hours. The Merrimac (officially any fine memoirs of the and television, the majority of known to the Confederate States MSpanish Civil War have been American soldiers in Vietnam were Navy as the Virginia) inflicted on published in recent years, and concerned about the welfare of the US Navy its greatest defeat until Stephens’ is in the same tradition. civilian populations, often risking the attack on Pearl Harbor nearly Unlike many Canadian volunteers their own personal safety to protect eighty years later; as deKay writes, who served in the Mackenzie- these individuals. it “totally reversed the strategic Papineau Battalion, Stephens went Vietnam Shadows shows how balance along the eastern coast of into the predominantly American the Vietnam experience continues to North America, threatened the Lincoln Battalion, served in many influence American foreign policy, permanent dislocation of the of the war’s most significant specifically foreign military blockade, and [gave] the South a engagements, and also spent a short

4 © Canadian Military History Book Review Supplement, Autumn 2000 https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol9/iss4/9 4 et al.: Book Review Supplement Autumn 2000

period as a supply officer in undertaken with the naval Somewhat disappointingly, Albacete. Though written many personnel “who made the history Milner undertakes no examination years after the events, his story itself.” of the navy’s role in asserting retains its immediacy, and the Divided chronologically into national sovereignty over the far author retains his ideological three parts, Canada’s Navy north. Indeed, Canada’s territorial commitment to the cause. The most examines the origins, development, claim over much of the Arctic Ocean striking aspect of the book, and contributions of the Royal (especially the Northwest Passage) however, is its revelation of the Canadian Navy as they have been has been challenged by the United woeful lack of preparation of influenced by political and States during the Manhattan (1969- soldiers in the International technological developments both at 1970) and Polar Sea (1985) Brigades. When Stephens and his home and abroad. The first section, incidents. Both Defence in the 70s fellow new arrivals reached the entitled “The Orphan Service,” (1971) and the 1994 Defence White Jarama front, they were sent into chronicles the precursor to the Paper emphasized the need to the lines with no training RCN in the late nineteenth century, assert national sovereignty through whatsoever. Many of them had never its formal establishment by the the use of Canadian Armed Forces. touched a weapon before, and their Laurier Government in 1910, and Defence in the 70s places the rifle “training” consisted of firing a its near abandonment during the surveillance and protection of few rounds at the enemy lines. 1920s (if not for the efforts of coastlines and territory so as to Grenade training was the same – Walter Hose and William Lyon preserve national sovereignty as the each new arrival received one Mackenzie King). This is followed first of four national aims of the grenade to throw, and was then by “Finding A Role,” which Canadian military. Further, despite consider to be trained in the art of examines Canada’s rapid naval Milner’s assertion that the 1980s grenade throwing. Furthermore, expansion during the Second constituted a “renaissance,” which according to Stephens’ memoir, the World War that would lead to the he seems to equate with the Republican leadership left much to RCN becoming the third largest reintroduction of the traditional be desired; many of the generals navy by war’s end. However, the naval uniform, the Canadian Navy were clearly not up to the task and provision of naval escorts for the still does not possess the necessary even a good many battalion protection of the Atlantic convoys military hardware to effectively commanders, though ideologically would be the primary function of monitor the movements of reliable, were less useful in battle. the RCN during the course of the American and Russian nuclear All things considered, it’s a wonder war. The opening of the Cornwallis submarines trespassing through that the International Brigades did training centre and the Royal Roads Canadian waters under the arctic as well in battle as they did. Naval College, together with the ice. Ironically, it is still dependent The memoir ends on a sad note acquisition of the aircraft carrier on the United States to protect and for Stephens. On the very day that Magnificent, were means by which defend Canadian sovereignty of its he and his fellow brigaders the RCN wished to establish its Arctic waters. reached England on their way independence and legitimacy from Notwithstanding this short- home, they read the news reports allied navies. Canada’s dreams for coming, Milner provides an that Barcelona had fallen to the a large modern navy in the post war excellent historical synthesis of a fascists. “That was the end of my years were dashed, as it transferred topic which has not received its romantic attempt to make the world its supporting role from the British proper due in the literature. Well safe for democracy,” he concludes (against Nazi Germany) to the researched and logically (117). United States and NATO (against the structured, Canada’s Navy: The CT Soviet Bloc). Part three, “Securing First Century is serious scholarship * * * * * a Place,” describes the role of the that belongs on the bookshelf of RCN during the cold war, the every student of Canadian military Marc Milner, Canada’s Navy: The devastating effect on morale that history. First Century (Toronto: University resulted from the unification of the PE of Toronto Press, 1999), $45.00, armed forces, and the cutbacks it * * * * * 356 pages, ISBN 0-8020-4281-3. faced during the early Trudeau years. These times of uncertainty Scott A. McLean, ed., From his volume on the origins and would be followed by increased Lochnaw to Manitoulin: A Tdevelopment of the Royal government funding, the acquisition Highland Soldier’s Tour Through Canadian Navy, termed by Milner of new equipment, and the return Upper Canada (Toronto: Natural as “Canada’s Cinderella Service,” is to the old naval uniforms. The Heritage Books, 1999), $18.95 meticulously well researched. In collapse of cold war has given the paper, 96 pgs, ISBN 1-896219-56-X. addition to examining the pertinent RCN a new international role, secondary sources, there is largely under the auspices of the ndrew Agnew was a member of effective incorporation of both United Nations. Athe Scottish gentry who enlisted archival material and interviews in the 93rd Highlanders in 1835 and

Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 2000 5 Canadian Military History, Vol. 9 [2000], Iss. 4, Art. 9

came to Canada when the unit was force during the Suez crisis under missions. For Coulon, this is the posted here at the time of the the leadership of Lester B. Pearson, price that would have to be paid in Rebellions of 1837-38. He fought at Coulon examines the four major order to achieve success: “If the the Battle of the Windmill in 1838, peacekeeping operations of the countries of the world want the UN and performed aid to the civil 1990s: Cambodia, the western to succeed in its peacekeeping power during the 1844 elections in Sahara, Somalia, and Bosnia- operations, they will have to Canada East and the 1854 Herzegovina. He lays blame on the relinquish a part of their Griffintown Fire in Montreal. In “great powers” for peacekeeping sovereignty over their soldiers” 1839, he joined the gift-giving failures, since “they are the ones (181-2). He concludes that the only expedition to native settlements on who refuse to grant the UN the viable solution by which Manitoulin Island in Georgian Bay human and financial resources it peacekeeping can succeed is a that is described in this most needs to fulfil the mandates that they return to the great principle on interesting account. It is not terribly so generously bestow in votes in the which the Blue Helmets were forthcoming about military affairs General Assembly and Security created: “To keep the peace when in general in Canada during the Council” (191). This was the this is what the parties concerned nineteenth century, but it certainly criticism expressed by UN really want” (195). says a lot about Agnew as a person commanders in the field, including Soldiers of Diplomacy and a soldier. For example, he Canadian generals Lewis Mackenzie addresses some of the most certainly had an eye for the ladies, and Roméo Dallaire and French pertinent issues surrounding and often described the native General Jean Cot. Despite limited peacekeeping that face the United women who attracted his attention manpower and military equipment, Nations today. It should come as along the way. He was also very these men acted courageously trying no surprise that Coulon, a class conscious, occasionally to prevent the slaughter of innocent journalist, undertook extensive commenting on the lack of civilians. interviews in researching this book. refinement in colonial society. The In the final section of the book, He interviewed soldiers, character of his own regiment also Coulon addresses the debates that diplomats, and experts involved in bothered him, so much so that after have resulted from the failure of peacekeeping operations while leaving Canada, he transferred to recent peacekeeping missions, most travelling to twelve countries and the 4th Light Dragoons, which he notably those in the former seven peacekeeping missions. believed was of a higher social Yugoslavia, Somalia, and Rwanda. Soldiers of Diplomacy provides an order than the 93rd and so more Boutros Boutros-Ghali, in An excellent starting point for those suitable to his own feelings and Agenda for Peace (June 1992), interested in learning about the aspirations. Profusely illustrated proposed the establishment of a United Nations and international and with excellent explanatory notes, military force under exclusive UN peacekeeping. this slim volume is a fine command to implement Security PE contribution to the social history of Council mandates as a means to * * * * * the British Army in nineteenth- remedy the fragmented command century Canada. and control structure that has George S. MacDonell, This CA compromised the success of Soldier’s Story (1939-1945) (Nepean, ON: Hong Kong Veterans * * * * * peacekeeping operations. Interestingly, in an interview with Commemorative Association, Jocelyn Coulon, Soldiers of Coulon, Boutros-Ghali insisted that 1999), $24.00 paper, 109 pages, Diplomacy: The United Nations, such a force would not constitute ISBN 1-894439-02-3. Peacekeeping, and the New an “army,” nor could it forcibly World Order (Toronto: University impose peace. Coulon dismisses the Nick Mustacchia, Prisoner of War of Toronto Press, 1998), $35.00, likelihood of such a proposal being and Peace (Raleigh, NC: Pentland 231 pages, ISBN 0-8020-0899-2. accepted by the great powers, Press, 1999), $20.95 US, 175 pages, commenting on the underlying ISBN 1-57197-143-2. oldiers of Diplomacy is a motivation behind their agreement Stranslated and revised version to participate in certain acDonell and Mustacchia were of Les casques bleus, first peacekeeping operations: “their Mtwo very young men who found published in 1994. Jocelyn Coulon, massive participation is never themselves in the most unenviable one of Canada’s most distinguished without a price; ulterior political of circumstances during the Second francophone journalists, examines and military motives can be seen World War: both were forced to the successes and failures of recent behind their every effort” (189). endure captivity in enemy prison United Nations peacekeeping Thus, such a proposal could not be camps. MacDonell was an Ontario missions and their implications for successfully implemented without native who joined the Royal future operations. the forfeiture of some national Canadian Regiment in 1939 and After a brief discussion of the sovereignty by those nations that eventually transferred to the Royal origins of the UN peacekeeping contribute troops to peacekeeping Rifles of Canada, becoming one of

6 © Canadian Military History Book Review Supplement, Autumn 2000 https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol9/iss4/9 6 et al.: Book Review Supplement Autumn 2000

the youngest sergeants in the that took place in Japanese thought, An underlying theme of this Canadian army. He and his unit society, and institutions from book is the cordial personal joined the ill-fated expedition to Japan’s surrender in 1945 until the relationship that developed Hong Kong, and MacDonell spent end of the American occupation in between General MacArthur and the rest of the war in Japanese 1952. The book chronicles the Emperor Hirohito. Dower argues hands. Mustacchia was about the Japanese people as they come to that “the emperor and the general same age, and was drafted early in terms with their first military defeat had presided as dual sovereigns 1942, despite the fact that he had and occupation of their homeland through the years of defeat and survived a serious bout of by a foreign power. The American occupation” (555). While they met tuberculosis. He trained as aircrew occupation was responsible for in person only eleven times, there and served as a waist gunner on transforming Japan from an was a high level of mutual respect. B-17s, flying only a handful of imperial and military power to a MacArthur acted as the emperor’s missions before he was shot down constitutional monarchy with advocate to Eisenhower, making over Germany on 22 February pacifist and democratic personal appeals to the American 1945. foundations. Surprisingly, the president and others that the Both men experienced the same Japanese came to accept and even Emperor should not be tried for tribulations while in captivity: lack embrace this transition. war crimes nor required to abdicate of food, illness, terrible living Governmental corruption and (granted, the underlying motivation conditions, vicious guards, and an incompetent bureaucracy for protecting the Emperor was the emotional despair. To these agonies hindered the distribution of maintenance order in Japan). were added, for MacDonell, foodstuffs and other aid to a MacArthur believed that the trial punishing slave labour, and, for population in danger of mass and possible execution of Hirohito Mustacchia, a brutal forced march starvation, suffering from would be akin to trying Jesus Christ in appalling conditions. The epidemics of disease, and lacking in the West, since the Japanese difference was, of course, that adequate housing. As a net importer revered their emperor as a living MacDonell had already endured of food, Japan experienced a deity. Hirohito and the Japanese these privations for three years serious food crisis resulting from people held MacArthur in high when Mustacchia was captured. the loss of agricultural imports respect, bestowing many gifts and However, postwar studies revealed provided by its former colonies, honours upon him during his that the intensity of privation was primarily Korea, Formosa, and tenure as the Supreme Commander more significant than the duration, Manchuria. Even as late as 1949, it of the Allied Forces in Japan. and both men clearly suffered was reported that Japanese MacArthur’s dismissal by President terribly as a result of their wartime civilians were still dying from Truman on grounds of experiences. Indeed, Mustacchia malnutrition. In order to survive, insubordination in April 1951 was writes of the long-term impact of many had to buy food and other received with shock and sadness captivity in detail; he suffered necessities at the gang-controlled in Japan. However, upon return to significant impairment of health, “blue-sky” black markets. Those the United States, MacArthur’s which often prevented him from who could not afford the grossly public comment that “measured by working and which left him an inflated prices of the underground the standards of modern emotional wreck. economy were forced to adopt civilization, they [the Japanese] Both of these books are very desperate measures which included should be like a boy of twelve as worthwhile reading, but the consumption of sawdust, mice, compared with our development of MacDonell’s also supports a worthy grasshoppers, and frogs. Still 45 years” (551) destroyed his cause: the proceeds from the book others entered Japan’s domestic standing in Japan. MacArthur’s will be going to the Baie-des- sex trade, whose “panpan” girls comments accurately reflected the Chaleurs Military Museum in catered to the occupying US prevailing ethnocentric perceptions Richmond, Quebec. servicemen in the establishments of held at that time; he, and JFV the Recreation and Amusement Americans in general, saw it as their * * * * * Association which functioned as “Christian mission” to “civilize” the bawdy houses. The Japanese Home Japanese through the occupation. John W. Dower, Embracing Ministry initiated and financed the Attention is also given to a Defeat: Japan in the Wake of establishment of these “comfort plethora of postwar issues, World War II (New York: W.W. facilities,” with the assistance of including the prosecution of Norton, 1999), $42.00, 676 pages, several Tokyo “entrepreneurs” in Japanese war criminals, the ISBN 0-393-04686-9. the belief that it would protect implementation of constitutional Japanese women from mass rapes democracy, literary and artistic mbracing Defeat is a study of by the soon-to-arrive occupying interpretations of defeat, domestic Ea civilization in transition. troops who would demand sexual reaction to “democratization” and Dower makes a detailed gratification. political restructuring, the rights of examination of the metamorphosis women, censorship, communist

Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 2000 7 Canadian Military History, Vol. 9 [2000], Iss. 4, Art. 9

purges, and the road to economic found myself immediately engaged surviving Canadian veterans of recovery. Dower’s book is first rate in both the modern and ancient 1914-1918. Spear is a testament to scholarship that is accessible to the tales, and I found my understanding the resilience of the human spirit, scholar, student, and the lay reader of battlefield archeology and and his story makes inspirational of history. comprehension of the Roman reading on a number of levels. Of PE occupation of Germany advancing most interest to military historians * * * * * painlessly at a comfortable rate. is obviously his recollections of the As it turns, out this dual First World War (although it should Major Tony Clunn, MBE, In Quest history – one that focuses upon the be mentioned that Spear also of the Lost Legions: The first stirrings of German served during the Second World Varusschlacht (London: Minerva nationhood and the beginning of the War, rising to the rank of wing Press, 1999), £18.99, 363 pages, decline of the Roman Empire in commander in the RCAF – he was ISBN 0-75411-068-0. Europe, and the other that is an responsible for organizing the incredible detective story – has ferrying of aircraft around British s a military historian with been utterly pivotal in the way Commonwealth Air Training Plan Aabsolutely no interest in Germans have come to view their bases). He joined up in 1916 and, ancient history, I nevertheless history in only a very few years. The because he had been a telegrapher succumbed to extreme curiosity writing style employed in both with the Canadian Pacific Railway, when a friend excitedly described stories is both measured and vivid, he was trained as a signaller; his Tony Clunn’s masterful account of so carefully conceived that a brother Will became a sapper. His the utter destruction of three person as ignorant of both aspects memories of the front are still Roman legions in the boggy western of the book as I was can be brought strong, eighty years after the fact: German countryside in 9 AD. along in thoroughly digestible the smell of decomposing bodies, The pursuit of historical phases to a keen comprehension of the crash of artillery shells, the accuracy owes much to the talented the underlying history and the inner great Canadian Corps sports amateur who, fueled by an workings of Clunn’s efforts to competition of Dominion Day 1918, unshakeable curiosity, delves into pinpoint the underlying truths that and the pain of learning that his the unaccessed nooks and crannies are now accepted throughout the brother had died of wounds of times past without the academic’s academic circles that monitor such sustained in September 1918 (a certainty that the historical record breathtaking historical revisionism. loss that Spear still feels deeply). is more times immutable than not. The beauty of Clunn’s own tale is He is also very candid about the I have long operated on the that he is right and that he is ways in which the war changed him principle that history is a moving acknowledged as being right by the as a person. target, that the pursuit of historical usually closed circles of experts Tom Spear is one of the few truth is ongoing, that we have all that tend to stultify historical people who can claim to have lived the time in the world to get to the inquiry by even the most talented in three centuries. He is a link to bottom of things. I think my friend and best informed “outsiders.” history, and this excellent memoir felt I would enjoy In Quest of the In Quest of the Lost Legions provides a window into a world that Lost Legions on those bases alone, is two great stories for the price of is long past. for by sheer persistence (and good one – the history of an immense JFV luck), Tony Clunn has turned the historical coup and the haunting * * * * * foundation of German national two-millennia-old tale woven from history on its ear. the threads Clunn himself has Malcolm Brown, Tommy Goes to The English edition of In Quest laboriously and painstakingly dug War (Stroud: Tempus Publishing, of the Lost Legions is somewhat out of the peat bogs of Kalkriese. 1999), £18.99, 192 pages, ISBN 0- shorter than the original German EH 7524-1772-X. edition, and it suffers – albeit slightly – from a lack of transitions * * * * * here seems to be no end to the where material was cut. Thus a Tom Spear, with Monte Stewart, Tmarket for illustrated popular crucial turning point in Clunn’s Carry On: Reaching Beyond 100 histories of the First World War. understanding of the Varus (Calgary: Falcon Press, 1999), Morton and Granatstein’s Marching battlefield never quite pays off, and $24.95 paper, 192 pages, ISBN 0- to Armageddon set the standard the reasons for Clunn’s numerous 9685465-0-1. for the genre in Canada, and quests much farther afield in Malcolm Brown made an early Germany go unexplained. Despite nyone who has seen any of the contribution in 1978 with the these two flaws – which are minor Amedia coverage in publication of the first edition of and would no doubt go unperceived commemoration of the First World Tommy Goes to War. This re-issue by most readers – Clunn’s twin War over the last decade will know is a distinct improvement over the tales are absolutely compelling Tom Spear, the remarkable original, in large part because it is from the first page to the last. I centenarian and one of the few a more handsome book.

8 © Canadian Military History Book Review Supplement, Autumn 2000 https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol9/iss4/9 8 et al.: Book Review Supplement Autumn 2000

The general format of the This book brings a single Glantz corrected the notion that the original book remains unchanged, campaign, Operation Mars, into Red Army blundered to victory by although the text has been microscopic focus. Planned by virtue of its sheer size, arguing streamlined a little. Drawing heavily Marshal Georgi Zhukov and instead that the Soviets slowly and on the letters, diaries, and launched in tandem with Operation painfully learned the lessons of recollections of soldiers, Brown Uranus, which enveloped the modern warfare. The result was weaves a history of the war that is German 6th Army at Stalingrad, that, by 1944, the Red Army evocative and compelling. Indeed, Mars, an assault on Germany’s exhibited a higher level of the material is so good that Brown Army Group Centre west of operational and tactical skill than has to do very little with it. He Moscow, was a catastrophic defeat. is usually attributed to it. Zhukov’s provides contextual and linking The Red Army suffered 350,000 Greatest Defeat uses the historical paragraphs where necessary, but in casualties in three weeks of futile equivalent of the leadership most cases is content to let the men attacks on the entrenched methods which Glantz argues that and women of the war speak for Germans. The campaign, Glantz the Soviet office corps eventually themselves. argues, has been largely forgotten learned: it is competent and The illustrations are also not only because it has been methodical, calculated to achieve noteworthy. The original edition overshadowed by the Red Army’s measured goals. The reader, contained many excellent great victory at Stalingrad, but also however, may wonder whether this photographs, but since 1978 many because of a conscious effort on the particular goal was worth the effort. of them have been reproduced so part of the Soviet government to GB often that they are becoming a bit bury the history of Zhukov’s only * * * * * stale. Mindful of this, Brown major defeat. returned to the Imperial War While Glantz dedicates the David G. Hermann, The Arming of Museum collection and selected a book to “the memory of the tens of Europe and the Making of the whole new range of photos to thousands of German and Soviet First World War (Princeton, NJ: accompany the text; they are every soldiers who fought and died,” he Princeton University Press, 1997), bit as good as the classics, but some has nonetheless written a bloodless $17.95 US paper, 307 pages, ISBN have rarely been reproduced history. It is as if unit numbers 0-691-01595-3. before. Even better is the fact that perished but not people. One the book now includes a section of follows his accounts of battles the Edward E. McCullough, How the art from the IWM collection; again, way that an investor would read an First World War Began: The Brown has chosen works which are indifferent day’s stock market Triple Entente and the Coming not frequently reproduced. report. Unlike Anthony Beevor, of the Great War of 1914-1918 Tommy Goes to War is a book whose recent Stalingrad conveyed (Montreal: Black Rose Books, that will appeal to both the general the horror (and, indeed, the thrill) 1999), $28.99 paper, 346 pages, and the expert reader; it is of battle, Glantz has no “ear” for ISBN 1-55164-140-2. comprehensive enough to suit the narrative prose. His efforts to inject neophyte, but includes enough new some narrative sweep into the book he causes of the First World material to be of interest to the (“regaining his frayed composure, TWar continue to attract the specialist. von Kluge looked at the stacks of attention of historians, far more JFV intelligence and operational reports than the causes of other wars do. These new books both add different * * * * * on his desk,” p.70) are perfunctory, fleeting, and buried in an avalanche dimensions to the already immense David M. Glantz, Zhukov’s of unfamiliar names, unit numbers, historiography on the subject. Greatest Defeat: The Red Army’s and statistics. Truman Capote’s McCullough rejects one of the Epic Disaster in Operation Mars, famous admonishment of James conventional wisdoms of the 1942 (Lawrence: University of Michener, “that’s not writing, it’s coming of the Great War, that Kansas Press, 1999), $39.95 US, typing,” seems to apply here as well. Germany was the aggressive, 422 pages, ISBN 0-7006-0944-X. Glantz sheds very little new expansionist power that dragged the light on the personalities of Stalin world into conflict. Instead, he ol. David Glantz, editor of the or Zhukov, and we learn nothing argues that France and Russia were CJournal of Slavic Military novel about the Soviet people and the troublemakers in Europe, with Studies, has emerged as one of the their war effort. Is there a thesis? I France being the worst offender. most prolific military historians in suppose it is that Zhukov’s Determined to get revenge for the recent years. His large body of work reputation is built on his victories, embarrassing Franco-Prussian War, on the Second World War in the east but not on his forgotten losses, like France set about trying to has considerably enhanced our Operation Mars. But that, by itself, undermine Germany, most knowledge of that protracted and is hardly surprising. significantly by drawing Italy away terrible conflict which broke the In his earlier and much more from the Triple Alliance and by back of the Wehrmacht and left impressive When Titans Clashed, coaxing Britain into an alliance. The Eastern Europe in Stalin’s grasp. latter was perhaps the crucial event, © Canadian Military History Book Review Supplement, Autumn 2000 9

Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 2000 9 Canadian Military History, Vol. 9 [2000], Iss. 4, Art. 9

in McCullough’s eyes, for once the McCullough argues that the blame organized his diaries). The editing Triple Entente had been created, lies as heavily on other and explanatory footnotes have been conflict with Germany was virtually governments. Given what is at stake kept to a minimum, so that the inevitable, or would be made with respect to German history reader gets a clear glimpse of the inevitable by French policy. following 1914, there seems little author’s character: a rather McCullough is particularly doubt that the debate on Germany’s romantic young man who went to critical of Fritz Fischer and his role in precipitating the Great War considerable lengths to enlist and school, whom he sees as being will continue. who grew deeply attached to his responsible for creating a myth of DR squadron mates. We learn as much a devious and designing Germany, * * * * * about life on the base in quiet times which was guided by a vision of as we do of aerial fighting, and as dominating Europe, facing the Elizabeth Richardson-Whealy, ed., much about the social relations hapless France, Britain, and Pilot’s Log: The Log, Diary, between squadron members as we Russia, drawn into war against their Letters and Verse of Lt. Leonard do about their piloting skills. This will and better judgement. He never A. Richardson, Royal Flying makes for a compelling document argues that Germany was Corps, 1917-1918 (St. Catharines, that cuts through some of the completely blameless, only that a ON: privately published [available mythology surrounding the air aces much better case can be made to from P.O. Box 4058, St. Catharines, of the First World War. put the blame for war on France or ON, LR 7S3], 1999), $19.95 paper, DR 257 pages, ISBN 1-895-258-15-4. Russia. * * * * * Hermann is less overtly revisionist, but also looks at a new t is to the historian’s great delight Neil J. Stewart, Steel My Soldiers’ dimension of the drift to war. Ithat new collections of primary- Hearts (Victoria, BC: Trafford Instead of focusing on the naval source materials are constantly Publishing, 2000), $19.95 paper, arms race, which has occupied becoming available, to give lie to the 242 pages, ISBN 1-5512-439-8. scholars for decades, he analyzes old adage that there is nothing new the land war. Implicitly disagreeing in history. This volume is a case in n this most interesting memoir, with McCullough, he argues that point. Leonard Richardson was a INeil Stewart has some choice Russia’s defeat at the hands of student at Acadia University in words to pass on about some senior Japan, which marked the eclipse Nova Scotia when the war began, Canadian commanders of the of the largest military machine in but was turned down by both the Second World War and their th Europe, fed German bellicosity and 85 Battalion and the RNVR Motor conduct of the campaign in north- moved the German government to Boat Patrol on account of his poor west Europe. And there is no use the threat of war as a diplomatic eyesight. Through a lucky question that Stewart knows what tool. This in turn pushed the coincidence, he was able to wangle he is talking about, for he had an governments of Britain, France, and his way into the RFC for pilot eventful war. He landed on D-Day Russia closer together, as they training in 1917, eventually going with the Fort Garry Horse, and had created joint war plans to meet the overseas in November. In March his first Sherman shot out from possible German threat. Through 1918, he was posted to 74 underneath him during the battle all of this manoeuvring, war ceased Squadron, commanded by New for Carpiquet. Transferring to the to be the worst possible outcome, Zealander Keith “Killer” Caldwell Canadian Grenadier Guards, he got and most governments began to see and comprised of legendary fliers through Operation Totalize, only to a short, limited European war as a like Mick Mannock and “Taffy” be blown out of another Sherman means to reach a desired end. The Jones. Richardson was designated in Operation Tractable. Then it was acceptance of the belief that there the spare pilot, so he saw limited third time unlucky for Stewart, was much to gain and relatively little action for the first month, but when his Sherman was destroyed to lose by a short, sharp war moved thereafter he was on patrol virtually in the Hochwald Forest. This time European governments to expand on a daily basis until he was he was the only survivor, and he their armies, not to provoke war, wounded in action on 21 July 1918. was quite understandably moved to but to increase the threat they could His arm in tatters, he saw no question how long his luck would pose to their neighbours. According further service during the war. hold. It held for the rest of the war, to Hermann, their success in When Richardson died in 1968, and he survived to be demobilized rearming for the land war was his family concluded, quite rightly, in Calgary in 1946. varied: Germany was most effective that his personal papers deserved The book is slightly European power, Italy the least to be published. The result is this fictionalized. Stewart gives himself effective. fascinating collection of diary and a nom de guerre (a few of the other Clearly, these books differ in log entries, letters, poems, and names have been changed as well), their treatment of Germany: photographs, introduced by and some of the dialogue has been Hermann emphasizes German Richardson himself (he wrote a invented, and consequently seems aggression and culpability, while brief foreword in 1936 when he a little stilted. But it remains a

10 © Canadian Military History Book Review Supplement, Autumn 2000 https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol9/iss4/9 10 et al.: Book Review Supplement Autumn 2000

fascinating record, one of the few (independent tank battalions, effectiveness. Mansoor is, quite first-hand accounts we have of combat engineers, artillery, etc.) justifiably, sceptical of attempts to Canadian tankers in action in north- under the assumption that every determine combat proficiency west Europe. division did not need these assets through the methods of quantitative SL all the time. This undermined unit analysis as favoured by S.L.A. * * * * * cohesion and often deprived Marshall and Martin van Creveld, infantry divisions of immediate but in their absence he relies on a Peter Mansoor, The GI Offensive support when they needed it. In body of anecdotal and in Europe: The Triumph of addition, Mansoor criticizes the observational evidence that is not American Infantry Divisions decision to cap the army at 89 entirely convincing. What The GI (Lawrence: University Press of divisions (although he does not Offensive in Europe does do, Kansas, 1999), $35.00 US, 344 make it clear where personnel for however, is add weight to the pages, ISBN 0-7006-0958-X. additional divisions would have growing body of evidence that the come from). The shortage of young men of democratic societies, n December 1941, the US Army divisions meant that rotating units when called upon, proved to be as th Iranked 18 in the world in size, out of the front lines often proved tough, smart, and brave as the but within three years it grew to be impossible. As a result, many young men produced by the largest army organization in the infantry divisions were in almost dictatorships. world, with 8.2 million personnel constant contact with the enemy and GB (including 2 million in the US Army suffered appalling losses: 19 * * * * * Air Force). Mansoor’s readable suffered over 100 percent losses, account describes how a small and four suffered more than 200 Thomas M. Johnson and Fletcher cadre of regular army and national percent losses. Pratt, The Lost Battalion (Lincoln: guard officers helped to forge This in turn leads to Mansoor’s University of Nebraska Press, 2000 millions of citizen soldiers into an discussion of the individual [1938]), $17.95 US paper, 338 effective, exceptionally competent replacement system, which will pages, ISBN 0-8032-7613-3. fighting force. After suffering a strike many readers as the most terrible defeat at Kasserine Pass and controversial portion of the book. his is a story that should be near disaster at Salerno in 1943, This system has been widely Tbetter known than it is. In Mansoor contends that the army condemned for undercutting October 1918, at the height of the learned from its mistakes and primary group cohesion and American offensive in the Argonne th rapidly adapted to the conditions inserting soldiers into the thick of forest, elements of the 77 Infantry of modern warfare. By the late combat before they were ready; Division, numbering some 600 men, summer of 1944, Mansoor argues, Stephen Ambrose remarked that pushed far into German lines and American infantry divisions had the US Army could not have established themselves in defensive attained a level of operational adopted a worse system if the positions. Unfortunately, the units excellence equal to the German Germans had chosen it for them. covering their flanks were less army at its peak in the summer of Mansoor, however, argues that the successful in their advance, and 1941. system worked much better than its before long the Germans had closed Mansoor follows the general critics have said. Division-level the gap in their line, cutting off the trend in recent historiography by training centres helped to teach new American path of retreat. For six challenging the widely-held notion recruits what they needed to survive days, the Americans held on, that the US Army stumbled to in combat, and the individual awaiting the relief force that never victory in the Second World War, replacement system helped the seemed to come. Airplanes overwhelming the more skillful army to maintain its fighting attempted to drop food and Wehrmacht with an abundance of strength even as the Wehrmacht ammunition to them (most of the men and materiel. In the real world disintegrated. supplies landed in German of small unit actions, the margin of Unfortunately, there is very positions), scouts and runners sent American numeric superiority was little here that Michael Doubler did with messages failed to break often much smaller than proponents not do better in his recent Closing through German lines, and, as a of the “brute force” argument have with the Enemy. But The GI final insult, the survivors were claimed. In any case, victory Offensive in Europe shares that heavily bombarded by Allied required not just material earlier book’s major flaw: like artillery (contrary to their resources but the ability to put them Doubler, Mansoor is never fully able nickname, the unit was never really to effective use in battle. to convince us that the US Army lost – everyone knew where they Mansoor finds much criticize attained the level of tactical were, but getting to them was in the army’s organizational proficiency which he says it did. another matter). In the end, only 194 structure. Half of the army’s combat Part of the problem is the inherent of the battalion remained strength was marshalled in non- difficulty in establishing a means of unwounded when they were finally divisional combat support units determining a unit’s combat relieved. They became instant

Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 2000 11 Canadian Military History, Vol. 9 [2000], Iss. 4, Art. 9

celebrities, but the finger-pointing from Fairey Battles to Bristol absent without leave, in the jug, or and accusations would continue for Blenheims early in the Second in hospital feigning shell-shock; he years. The controversy over the World War, and later moved up to is also quite frank about his sexual Lost Battalion would eventually Wellingtons, Stirlings, and finally experiences. claim the life of the detachment’s Lancasters. Like most RAF bomber It is a very rough memoir commander, Major Charles W. squadrons, it suffered grievous (edited from a manuscript held by Whittlesey, who killed himself by casualties (nearly a thousand dead), the Imperial War Museum) that is jumping from an ocean liner in particularly in the early stages of full of slang and vernacular 1921. the war. The unit survived postwar language, and Bourke has done an This account, originally defence cutbacks, and last fired excellent job of making it readable published in 1938, shares some of shots in anger during the Gulf War, without spoiling Casey’s style of the flaws of war writing from that when it also suffered its last fatal writing; this job was made more era. The prose is somewhat casualty, FL Stephen Hicks, who difficult by the fact that Casey disjointed, and there is a sprinkling was killed in action over Iraq. sometimes refers to himself in the of some unfortunate ethnic epithets This gallant history is first person, but often in the third. throughout the text. But it is a great described in the text, but equally That it was written so many years drama that perhaps deserves a effectively in the photographs after the war (when Casey was 82, more modern historian. It certainly (colour, as well as black and white) long after he had emigrated to New deserves to be more widely known. which are packed into the book. Zealand) makes one wonder how A film of the episode was made in Many of them are from the much of it has been coloured by the early 1920s, but it quickly squadron or private collections, hindsight, and how much Casey was slipped into oblivion – can another and are being published for the first playing up the role of the screen adaptation be far behind this time. More than a dozen appendices incorrigible. Nevertheless, its very reprint? list casualties, honours and awards roughness makes it a fascinating AF (significantly, five members of the memoir, especially when it is * * * * * squadron went on to win the recalled that there were a good Victoria Cross), aircraft flown, etc. number of Edward Caseys in the Martyn R. Ford-Jones and Valerie This is a substantial and armies of each nation. A. Ford-Jones, Oxford’s Own: Men handsomely produced book that LF and Machines of No. 15/XV will complement the bookshelf of * * * * * Squadron Royal Flying Corps / any aviation historian. Royal Air Force (Atglen, PA: SL David J. Bercuson, Blood On the Schiffer Military History, 1999), Hills: The Canadian Army in the $59.95 US, 352 pages, ISBN 0- * * * * * Korean War (Toronto: University of 7643-0954-4. Joanna Bourke, ed., The Misfit Toronto Press, 1999), $35.00, 269 Soldier: Edward Casey’s War pages, ISBN 0-800-0980-8. ast year, we reviewed Laurence Story, 1914-1918 (Cork: Cork LMotiuk’s Thunderbirds at War, University Press, 1999), IR£8.95 ercuson’s study is not only an arguably the best RCAF squadron paper, 77 pgs, ISBN 1-85918-188-0. Bexamination of Canadian history to cover the Second World participation in the Korean War, but War period. Oxford’s Own is e are used to seeing memoirs a study of Canadian firsts. It was slightly different in format, but every Wfrom gallant or average the first Asian land war in which bit the equal of Motiuk’s book. soldiers, but it is not often that we Canada participated and the first No. 15 Squadron was first come across the recollections of a war that saw its troops under United formed in March 1915 as a fighter soldier who would have been States military command. But most unit, serving with distinction in most considered by the army as an significantly, the 25,000 Canadian of the major campaigns fought on incorrigible. Edward Casey (he soldiers who fought in the Korean the Western Front. Included in its used the pseudonym John William Peninsula did so under the mandate ranks were such illustrious names Roworth in the original manuscript) of the United Nations. The Korean as W.G. Barker, Philip Joubert de was just such a soldier. A semi- War would be the genesis of le Ferte, and Edgar Ludlow-Hewitt literate Irish cockney, he enlisted Canadian participation in (Barker would go on to win the in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers to international peacekeeping Victoria Cross, while Ludlow- escape the grinding poverty of east- missions in the following decades. Hewitt and Joubert de le Ferte end London. He did not find army He argues that many Canadians would go on to hold senior life particularly congenial, and were apathetic towards the war in command positions in the RAF). spent most of the war trying to Korea, caught up in the Disbanded in December 1919, the evade battle. Indeed, we hear very unprecedented economic boom and squadron was re-formed in March little of the engagements in which suburban sprawl of the 1950s. Few 1924, eventually to become a day his unit participated, and quite a people could relate to a conflict in bomber squadron. It converted lot about his experiences while the remote Far East country that

12 © Canadian Military History Book Review Supplement, Autumn 2000 https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol9/iss4/9 12 et al.: Book Review Supplement Autumn 2000

many considered to be backward. Canadians who served their country wars so as to suffer as little human Furthermore, few of those who in Korea. cost as possible. But while volunteered to fight in Korea came PE Weigley’s focus is on the battlefield, from “the middle-class mainstream * * * * * Koistinen is primarily interested in of Canadian society”(46); the the impact that the collusion middle-class veterans of the Second Paul A.C. Koistinen, Mobilizing for between government, industry, and World War had more immediate Total War: The Political Economy the military has had on government concerns such as providing for their of Modern Warfare, 1865-1919 policy and the private sector’s new families, completing their (Lawrence: University Press of industrial practices. education, and starting their civilian Kansas, 1997), $45.00 US, 496 Written for military and careers. Yet, while showing what the pages, ISBN 0-7006-0860-5. economic historians, this book will volunteers for Korea were not, also be of considerable interest to Bercuson neglects to indicate what aul Koistinen’s Mobilizing for students of Progressivism. Here they were: how did the Korean PTotal War is among the most Koistinen’s views place him firmly volunteers as a group differ from interesting and useful studies on the alongside Robert Wiebe and more those who enlisted in the First and economic aspects of military directly Samuel Hays in what David Second World Wars? conflict published since Paul Kennedy has called the There are other interesting Kennedy’s widely-read Rise and “organizational” school of scholars comparison with earlier wars in the Fall of the Great Powers sparked of Progressivism, who argue that book. In contrast to the First and renewed interest in that topic in the Progressive initiatives in fact served Second World Wars, there were few late 1980s. It is Koistinen’s thesis to insulate big business from disruptions on the home front that that the methods used in the United democratic reform. would indicate that Canadian States to organize for the First This is the second in a soldiers were fighting and dying in World War emerged in the decades projected five-volume series on the Korea. While correctly observing following the American Civil War, economic aspects of American the absence of rationing, bond when a combination of government mobilization for war; future drives, or price controls, Bercuson and business leaders created a kind volumes will consider the inter-war fails to mention what is perhaps the of early “military industrial years, the Second World War, and most important distinction: Canada complex.” the post-war era. Far too little did not experience any significant Prior to 1861, military attention has been given to these English-French tensions like those requirements for armaments and matters. If it is true that modern which had fractured Canada during provisions could for the most part wars are fought not only on the Boer War and both World Wars. be met by expanding civilian battlefields but also on factory And, just as they had been in 1914 production. However, with the floors, then surely a great deal and 1939, the first Canadian forces coming of the Civil War, the need remains to be written on how sent abroad were ill-equipped, for increasingly sophisticated nations mobilize their human and lacking in adequate training, and weaponry produced in large economic resources in times of war. grossly undermanned at the outset numbers resulted in the Koistinen makes a strong of what Prime Minister Louis St. development of a new defense contribution to the study of how the Laurent called a “policing action.” industry which became a permanent greatest industrial and military For instance, while Canadian troops part of America’s political power in modern history has done were supplied with the bolt-action economy. In particular, Koistinen just that. GB points to the construction of a steel- Lee-Enfield (used in both world * * * * * wars), their American counterparts hulled navy in the 1880s and 1890s were equipped with the M2 carbine. as evidence of an emerging Arnold Hague, The Allied Convoy Canadians would replace much of symbiotic relationship between System, 1939-1945: Its their outdated ordnance with the business, government, and the Organization, Defence and new American weaponry, including military. The result, in Koistinen’s Operation (St. Catharines, ON: the bazooka and the 75 mm view, is that American industrial Vanwell, 2000), $39.95, 208 pages, recoilless rifles. leaders came to associate national ISBN 1-55125-033-0. This book, along with official defense with their own business recognition of Korean War veterans interests. his book had its genesis in the by the Canadian government, has In some ways, Koistinen’s TNaval Historical Branch at the not come soon enough. Blood On argument here follows Russell Ministry of Defence (Navy) in the Hills: The Canadian Army in Weigley’s in The American Way of London, which asked Hague to the Korean War provides the reader War. Weigley famously argued that compile a record of convoy with a greater understanding of the since the 1840s, the United States operations to be used when conditions encountered by troops has always employed its superior answering enquiries from the both on and off the battlefield, and material, industrial, and technical general public. The database he put a greater respect for those resources to fight capital intensive together, and the short text he wrote

Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 2000 13 Canadian Military History, Vol. 9 [2000], Iss. 4, Art. 9

to accompany it, were never account. There is no comparative intensive bombing attacks on intended for publication, but element which would allow the Russian industry. As a result, the students of naval history will be reader to judge the Ross against Red air force in 1941 was more and delighted that the record has made other contemporary weapons, nor more able to achieve aerial it into print. is there any real context provided. superiority over the battlefields in Drawing on British, Canadian, Furthermore, despite Duguid’s the east, forcing the Luftwaffe to and American archival records, the passion for accuracy, the report react to local crises rather than book provides a most was written within the framework attempting to achieve its own goals. comprehensive history of convoy of postwar myth-making, and Indeed, as its numbers declined, operations, including the control of should be read accordingly. the Luftwaffe found it increasingly shipping, variants to the convoy However, Law’s version has a difficult to meet the demands of the system, defensive vessels and number of advantages over the battlefield; as Adolf Galland put it, weapons (from escorts to depth original, including a list of they were “attempting to blot out an charges to Catapult Aircraft suggested readings and some anthill by stamping on one ant at a Merchant Ships and Merchant excellent photographs of the Ross time.” But eventually, the Luftwaffe Aircraft Carriers), intelligence and the men who used it. So, even would come to perfect some of the matters, the enemy threat, and allowing for its weaknesses, the Red air force’s own tactics, which casualties. The largest single section account is an important document, would set the scene for even of the book is a complete listing of vital reading for anyone interested bloodier air battles in the middle every North Atlantic convoy in the Ross specifically or defence years of the war. (arranged by the designated letter production generally. In spite of the scale of the codes), its ports of departure and CA campaign, the air war in the east is arrival, size, and casualties. Russian * * * * * imperfectly understood. The and Malta convoys are covered as historical record on both sides has well. The many photographs are Christer Bergström and Andrey been dramatically distorted, so carefully identified (Hague has even Mikhailov, Black Cross / Red Star: that, as the authors note, “when corrected errors in the original The Air War Over the Eastern comparing Soviet/Russian literature captions of a number of Front, vol. 1, Operation with corresponding Western photographs), and many of the Barbarossa, 1941 (Pacifica, CA: accounts, one wonders if they at all illustrations from private Pacifica Military History, 2000), describe the same war.” It is to collections are being published for $39.95 US, 307 pages, ISBN 0- correct these misconceptions that the first time. Handsomely 935553-48-7. the authors have written the first in produced, The Allied Convoy a four-volume history of the air war System will be invaluable to the he Eastern Front was the scene in the east. They have returned to historian of the Allied naval effort Tof the largest, longest, and most the archival sources in Germany during the Second World War. intense aerial campaign in history, and Russia to produce what is DG involving numbers of aircraft and arguably the best, most personnel which dwarf the statistics * * * * * comprehensive account of the aerial for other campaigns. During the campaign. Lavishly illustrated with Col. A.F. Duguid, A Question of period covered by this book (June many rare photographs from Confidence: The Ross Rifle in the to December 1941), the Red air Russian and German sources, Trenches, ed. Clive M. Law (Ottawa: force alone lost an astonishing Black Cross / Red Star belongs on Service Publications, 2000), 48 pgs, 21,200 aircraft, both in aerial the bookshelf of any serious student ISBN 1-894581-00-8. combat and on the ground. of aerial combat. Luftwaffe losses (2093 aircraft LF ne of the many appendices destroyed, 1362 damaged) were Oincluded in Duguid’s Official also high, and represented roughly * * * * * History of the Canadian Forces in three-quarters of all the German J. Tracy Power, Lee’s Miserables: the Great War was appendix 111, aircraft lost during the period. Life in the Army of Northern which carried the rather Nevertheless, as the authors Virginia from the Wilderness to uninspiring title “The Ross Rifle, persuasively argue, Barbarossa Appomattox (Chapel Hill: Monograph.” Like everything else contained the seeds of the University of North Carolina Press in the official history, it is a Luftwaffe’s defeat in the east. The [distributed in Canada by Scholarly carefully researched and Red air force may have lost more Book Services], 1998), $55.95, 463 judiciously written account of aircraft than the Luftwaffe, but the pages, ISBN 0-8078-2392-9. Canada’s most famous, and perhaps Soviets were better placed to make its least successful, infantry weapon. good those losses with replacement en Burns’ immensely popular As Ron Haycock points out in an aircraft. This was simply because KPBS documentary The Civil excellent introduction, there are a the Luftwaffe had adopted a tactical War spurred interest in the history number of drawbacks to Duguid’s support role, rather than mounting of that conflict from the perspective

14 © Canadian Military History Book Review Supplement, Autumn 2000 https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol9/iss4/9 14 et al.: Book Review Supplement Autumn 2000

of rank-and-file soldiers. A recent Battle of the Wilderness and Westerbork Remembrance Centre entry in this genre is J. Tracy thereafter. But even Lee’s hold over led him to pose the book’s main Power’s Lee’s Miserables, which them was not total. Unable to meet question. The reader is then tells the story of the Army of the day-to-day needs of its soldiers, introduced to the several regiments Northern Virginia in its last year the Army of Northern Virginia of the Second Canadian Infantry through the letters and diaries of disintegrated as tens of thousands Division which were involved the its soldiers. Power has conducted of men deserted in the winter of liberation of the camp, including the exhaustive research in dozens of 1864. South Saskatchewan Regiment, the archives and private collections, Most of this book consists of 8th Reconnaissance Regiment, and and successfully conveys some an expository sentence or two from the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry. sense of the misery and hardship Power followed by an excerpt from Kamp Westerbork is also a veterans of life in Lee’s army as it faced the a diary or a letter. Readers who tire story inasmuch as the author traces Army of the Potomac for the last of this formula will be thankful that the post-war lives of several of the time. Power had the good sense to soldiers, in addition to describing In spite of the disaster at conclude the book with an the chance meeting of a veteran and Gettysburg in the summer of 1863 historiographical overview of the one of the camp survivors many and the harsh winter that followed, Army of Northern Virginia’s last decades later. “Lee’s Miserables” looked forward year. Nevertheless, it is the personal The value of the book for the to the coming year’s campaign, accounts that make up the core of general reader lies in how the confident that the Union armies Power’s book. They are at once author, a former Captain with the would batter themselves to pieces fascinating, stirring, and SSR, still thinks like a soldier, even against the defenses which they had heartbreaking. They serve to after decades of civilian life. His spent the winter preparing. remind us that for soldiers on the interest in maps, war diaries, Although the book focuses on rank- “sharp end” of combat, very little chronologies, and precise and-file Confederate soldiers, one has changed over time. identification of military equipment senses through their writing that GB and positions helps the reader get Robert E. Lee was never far from * * * * * inside the world of the First their thoughts, and they took heart Canadian Army of the Second World in hearing instances of his personal Cecil E. Law, Kamp Westerbork, War. In addition, the sequence of courage under fire. Transit Camp to Eternity: The approximately a dozen photographs A good deal of recent Liberation Story (Clementsport, illustrating the advance of a section scholarship, such as Edward NS: Canadian Peacekeeping Press, of SSR troops along the Orange Bonekemper’s How Robert E. Lee 2000), $24.95 paper, 179 pages, Canal on 12 April offers a glimpse Lost the Civil War, has sought to ISBN 1-896551-35-1. of deployment under battle cut Lee down to human conditions. In some ways the book proportions. Some readers will took an interest in Kamp is a primary document in itself, therefore be sceptical, and I Westerbork because of my and a unified narrative is abandoned justifiably so, over the fact that interest in the South Saskatchewan at the end in favour of excerpts from Power was apparently unable to Regiment. Others will be drawn to diaries, both private and regimental unearth so much as one harsh word the book because of the larger topic war diaries, operational and about Lee in all the thousands of of the Holocaust. A preface by a intelligence logs, and maps that letters and diaries he examined. survivor of the camp and a chapter took some detective work and luck Surely, somewhere in the Army of on “German Anti-Semitism and the to uncover. Northern Virginia, there was at least Holocaust” situate the work of the Kamp Westerbork is the first one private who grumbled about Lee Canadian Second Division within publication of the Canadian and the murderous charges he was this context, and then the author Peacekeeping Press (the publishing given to ordering his men into? sets about the task of answering the arm of the Pearson Peacekeeping Nevertheless, based on Power’s question, “Who were the first Centre) to deal with the Second account, there is no mistaking the Canadians to liberate Kamp World War. The mission of the PPC fact that the Army of Northern Westerbork.” is “to support and enhance the Virginia was Lee’s army, and for It is an account by a Second Canadian contribution to much of the army, Lee became the World War veteran who renewed an international peace, security, and Confederacy itself. Most of the interest in a particular part of stability through the provision of rank-and-file retained an almost Holland and a particular, if brief, quality research, education and devotional belief in Lee’s point of contact with an training in all aspects of leadership even in the bleakest days overwhelming legacy of that war, peacekeeping.” of the war, and his importance to because of a visit made as part of JS the celebrations to mark the 50th them actually grew as their own * * * * * company-level officers were struck anniversary of the end of the war down at a frightening rate in the in Europe. A visit to the Kamp

Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 2000 15 Canadian Military History, Vol. 9 [2000], Iss. 4, Art. 9

Christina K. Schaefer, The Great bombers over the Mediterranean material, because it is so well War: A Guide to the Service (the title refers to the nickname presented; the book is dense in Records of All the World’s given to the Beaufighter). He spent terms of the amount of information Fighting Men and Volunteers a year operating from Malta and, included, but it reads very easily. (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical after conversion to Beaufighters, Le Tissier ranges from large- Publishing Co., 1998), $22.50 US, survived two forced landings. The scale strategic plans and 189 pages, ISBN 0-8063-1554-7. first, in the sea, resulted in a five- operations, to minor but important day ordeal before he and his pilot facts about the respective armies, his book will be a real boon to washed ashore on the island of leaders, and other aspects too Tmilitary historian and Elba, from which they escaped to numerous to detail. As a measure genealogist alike, and will become Corsica. This was followed by of his attention to detail, he an essential tool for research into instructional duties on Cyprus, provides a succinct explanation of personnel who were involved in the which lasted only until a pilot friend the difference between Soviet Army First World War. It covers every convinced him that it was better to divisions (“regular”, “guards”, and combatant nation, and provides the be killed on operations than be “shock” divisions) and, in an researcher with information on the killed by a student pilot. Heide and appendix, attempts to estimate the kinds of records that are available, his pilot were posted to an size, strength, and composition of how they are organized, what (if operational squadron at Tobruk, a German infantry division during any) records have been destroyed and then went through a second the last battle (270). Thus, he makes over the years, and addresses to ditching. On this occasion, they it clear that the German Army was write for further information (an managed to reach land, but it was in a shambles during its fight for appendix covers resources available neutral Turkey and they were the capital of the Third Reich; a via the internet). For example, if you interned (albeit in quite pleasant German infantry division in 1945 had a relative who served in the conditions) for a short period of was not the same force it was in Portuguese forces, you will learn time before returning to the 1941 or even 1944. The sources that compulsory military service squadron. The war in the desert employed are solid and extensive, was in place for Portuguese males wound up in late 1944, and Heide from Führer Orders to battlefield over the age of 21, and that five was back in Canada, newly communications at the regimental separate archives maintain demobilized and with a DFC and a level. Throughout the book, there personnel records relating to the British wife, by the spring of 1945. is a refreshing lack of bias; the First World War. Useful details in A keen observer, Heide spins a armies of Nazi Germany and the other sections relate to the draft good tale; Whispering Death is an Soviet Union are treated objectively records of all US states (with informative and entertaining book and fairly. microfilm reel numbers for with lots of good anecdotes and Zhukov at the Oder will appeal ordering from the National local colour. strongly to readers interested in the Archives), British Army records CT Russian Front of the Second World destroyed by German bombing in * * * * * War, but also to anyone interested 1940, and the dizzying array of in reading a well written battle collections which hold records Tony Le Tissier, Zhukov at the narrative. covering the armies of the Austro- Oder: The Decisive Battle for SM Berlin (Westport, CT: Praeger, Hungarian Empire. * * * * * LF 1996), $65.00 US, 327 pages, ISBN 0-2759-5230-4. Jonathan F. Vance, A Gallant * * * * * Company: The Men of the Great Lee Heide, Whispering Death: My peration Berlin ended the Escape (Pacifica, CA: Pacifica Wartime Adventures (Victoria, ORusso-German War of 1941- Military History, 2000), $29.95 US, BC: Trafford Publishing, 2000), 45 with massive destruction of 329 pages, ISBN 0-935553-47-9. $22.50 paper, 243 pages, ISBN 1- property and a huge toll in human 55212-387-X. lives and suffering. Perhaps it was recall reading as a young man only proper that this phase of the Ithe story of a movie buff who paid his is another small-press Second World War should end in to see Ben Hur over a hundred T memoir that brings us a the same way that it had been fought times, each time hoping that it might dimension of the air war that is not for four years. end more happily. I have had much widely known. The author, a It is a comprehensive work that the same experience, over the years, Vancouver native, flew overseas in focuses primarily on Red Army watching John Sturges’ classic film a Hudson bomber in 1941 and then, Marshal G.K. Zhukov and The Great Escape. I have always after further training in England, Operation Berlin, and embodies the felt somewhat uneasy about the way was posted to the Middle East, best tradition of the narrative in that Steve McQueen’s character where he flew as a navigator on historical writing. No reader returns to captivity at the end with Beaufort and Beaufighter torpedo should be overwhelmed by the a smirk and a shrug, in spite of

16 © Canadian Military History Book Review Supplement, Autumn 2000 https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol9/iss4/9 16 et al.: Book Review Supplement Autumn 2000

knowing that his compatriots have diminishes the enormous scholarly book is strengthened by its just been gunned down, as if a achievement of having assembled so numerous clear and detailed maps, sanguine disposition alone could fine a narrative. Having said that, and by the many appendices that are defeat the Nazis. I felt a similar some curious readers might have loaded with detailed information, sense of unease having read A appreciated the inclusion of a note ranging from very detailed Orders Gallant Company, not because the on sources. of Battle to the division of tanks in book shares the glib finale of Vance stresses that those who the various formations present at Sturges’ film (far from it), but planned and carried out the escape Kursk. Given Glantz’s interests, it because I felt so guilty about having were ordinary men, but the reader is hardly surprising that there is a enjoyed Jonathan Vance’s book so can surely be forgiven for choosing greater reliance on Russian than much. to believe that they were anything German sources. Reading A Gallant Company, but ordinary. I prefer to think that The book’s strong conclusion one can hardly avoid the sense that history drew together this most draws many threads together. For the planning and execution of the extraordinary and gallant company example, Glantz and House escape was a game of wits between for a purpose: to continue the war challenge the traditional practice of the Allied airmen at Stalag Luft III against the Third Reich even from blaming all that went wrong for and their German captors. I found captivity. Germany in the Second World War myself enjoying the drama of the GB on Adolf Hitler (263), and provide year-and-a-half long preparations * * * * * a new interpretation of the for the break, only to be reminded disposition of the German Army in in the most shocking way that the David M. Glantz and Jonathan M. Operation Citadel (264). In both “Great Escape” ended in tragedy House, The Battle of Kursk instances, Glantz and House argue when the Gestapo tracked down and (Lawrence: University Press of that the Wehrmacht was not as murdered fifty of the escapees. Kansas, 1999), $34.95 US, 496 opposed to Hitler’s strategic plan This was no mere prison break, pages, ISBN 0-7006-0978-4. for a massive offensive in the East but in effect a major covert operation as is often assumed. This is a strong hatched from captivity. The Allied he Battle of Kursk is essentially book that would have been stronger airmen at Stalag Luft III not only Ta standard narrative dealing had the entire text been as engaging planned the escape, but dug with the largest tank battle in as the conclusion. elaborate tunnels, gathered history; however, there are SM elements of this book that set it intelligence, produced specialized * * * * * equipment, and forged documents apart. For example, the authors whose exceptional quality introduce some interesting notions Andria Hill, Mona Parsons: From sometimes revealed them as fakes. in the introduction, such as the idea Privilege to Prison, from Nova The story of the escape itself is the that Marshal Zhukov of the Red Scotia to Nazi Europe (Halifax: most engrossing part of the book. Army was a “fixer”(27) who was Nimbus Publishing, 2000), $24.95 The fate of one recaptured airman, rushed from one crisis to another; paper, 181 pages, ISBN 1-55109- Jimmy Catanach, who had been it is often the German Army in the 293-X. making for Denmark with three latter years of the war, not the Red others, is particularly chilling. Army, which is associated with the ona Parsons grew up in the Catanach’s captor, a Gestapo officer use of such “fixers.” Another Msmall town of Wolfville, Nova named Johannes Post, drove interesting interpretation relates to Scotia, attended Acadia Ladies Catanach about the countryside for Zhukov’s apparent inability to Seminary, took courses in a time, showing him the sights, destroy the German Army Group elocution and music in the United before informing him plainly, “We Center at the gates of Moscow in States, and then tried to break into must get going – I have to shoot you.” the winter of 1941-42 (27). Many show business in New York. After A Gallant Company reads like would argue that Zhukov succeeded spending time as a chorus girl and a novel. Vance is a fine writer, in his main task of saving Moscow nurse, this vivacious woman met although the occasional cliché from the clutches of the Third and married Willem Leonhardt, a creeps in (“word of the shootings Reich, but Glantz and House rich Dutchman whose family owned spread like wildfire”). By necessity, instead characterize his inability to a plumbing supply business, in some of the book’s subjects, like destroy the German invader as a September 1937. During the the key escape planners Roger failure. Second World War, the couple Bushell and Harry “Wings” Day, are The main body of The Battle sheltered two downed British more prominent in the story than of Kursk is not an easy read; the airmen. Betrayed and imprisoned, others. But it is to Vance’s great style and structure of this work is Mona and her husband survived the credit that he does not fail to quickly not well suited to conveying in a war. Willem died in 1956, and and sharply draw each of the fifty readable fashion the massive Mona returned to Nova Scotia where who were murdered. The fact that amount of detailed information she married Major-General Harry this is popular history in no way contained within it. However, the Foster. She died in Wolfville in

Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 2000 17 Canadian Military History, Vol. 9 [2000], Iss. 4, Art. 9

1976, a bright young thing who Europe, and somehow survived German army at Falaise. Moving in became a grande dame at the end with her dignity and identity intact. tandem with the action that it of her days. Given what she went through, this depicts, Victory at Falaise offers Andria Hill has done a fine job was no mean feat. a gripping interpretation, from the of reconstructing the life of this JL soldier’s point of view, of the remarkable Canadian. She gives * * * * * campaign which brought the details of how she tracked down liberation of Europe one step those who knew her, and the book Denis & Shelagh Whitaker with closer. reads like a novel at times. Mona, Terry Copp, Victory at Falaise: DL The Soldiers’ Story (Toronto: posing as a demented woman, * * * * * escaped from a women’s prison in HarperCollins, 2000), $35.00, 288 Vechta, Germany, in March 1945 pages, ISBN 0-0020-0017-2. Felix (LeRoy) Perry, Red Soil!: A after a bombing raid. Wendelien van PEI Soldier’s Life at the Front Boetzelaer, a baroness, went with ith the beachheads of (Halifax: Nimbus Publishing, 2000), her. Together they stumbled across WNormandy secured, the Allied $14.95 paper, 86 pages, ISBN 1- north Germany, where Mona finally forces shifted their attention to the 55109-354-5. met up with members of the North pursuit of the two remaining Nova Scotia Highlanders. Hill German army groups. The battles elix Perry joined the Prince provides a rounded picture of this that ensued proved to be F Edward Highlanders in 1940 Canadian woman; she appears to horrifically savage as the Allies at the age of 31, and served through have been a victim of bad luck and were continuously forced to adapt the Second World War, seeing action of forces beyond her control. Vain, their tactics to overcome the in Italy and the Netherlands. His frivolous, accustomed to an affluent obstacles that the Germans hurled son has now told his story, life, Mona showed grace under at them in the wake of their retreat. providing a unique record of what pressure at her trial and kindness The story of the Allied warriors and war looked like to an ordinary to others in prison. Her companion of their heroic journey towards soldier. A good soldier, who obeyed Wendelien took a wounded German victory at Falaise has traditionally orders and cherished the soldier to a Polish aid post. The been recounted in such a way to friendship of his comrades, Perry Poles were destroying every leave the impression that the Allied came from a hardscrabble farm on building in north Germany, and the efforts at Falaise were more of a the red soil of the Island. The fields medics told her she should let him defeat than a victory. in Europe also became red with the die. The Dutch woman replied, “If Armed with an arsenal of blood of the slain, and yet Perry I am able to forgive him, you should diaries and letters to the home found meaning and purpose in his be able to treat him.” And they did. front, the authors set the record time in the Canadian army as he Insightful anecdotes likes this straight by countering the struggled to survive and to do his enliven the book. traditional view that the Allied duty. Through the prism of one forces relied upon sheer firepower, With the West Novas, Perry Canadian woman’s life, the author instead of a well led and executed moved to Chatwood in reveals a great deal about life in plan, to overwhelm the outgunned Newfoundland, where he met and wartime Europe and in Nova Scotia, and outnumbered German forces. married a local girl. Arriving in a cosy, innocent world. At times the Instead of focusing on the statistical England in November 1943, he rd book is overburdened with details, evidence, they recount stories of the moved to Italy to join the 3 such as descriptions of who wore raw courage displayed by the Canadian Division. He saw men what at Mona’s wedding, and the volunteer soldiers and airmen on praying and crying and “smelled the author speculates overmuch about both sides who fought with skill general fear” as he went into the line. what Mona might have been thinking and initiative. Their saga is brought Perry captures the feel of what it at certain times. But this is a good to life by capturing the elements of means to be in battle, thoroughly read which picks up pace as it tells reality that are not found in tables confused, seeing friends cut down, of life in the Netherlands. Hill has or statistics: the loneliness, the wondering where the enemy is. He a neat way with language. After stress of combat, the pranks, the had no hatred of the Germans: retiring from the army, Harry Foster itch, and the sheer terror of being “They were just men who had fought could find no useful role in Nova wounded or killed. for their cause as we were fighting Scotia. As Hill notes, “there’s As can be expected the reader for ours.” At the end of the war, nobody like a former somebody.” is taken through the valleys and Perry stayed with a Dutch family, She has made a significant hedgerows of Normandy through and his account of the time spent contribution to our understanding the eyes of the Allies, the Germans, with them reveals a kindly man of how people behave when and the occupied villagers with such trying to do his best for others in a confronted by the worst the world vivid description that one can time of chaos. can throw at them. Mona Parsons almost hear the crash of shells as The book is weakened by had the best and worst of life in the forces collide in the battle that errors and a lack of context. It is ultimately cut off and destroyed the 18 © Canadian Military History Book Review Supplement, Autumn 2000 https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol9/iss4/9 18 et al.: Book Review Supplement Autumn 2000

impossible to tell where the West impressive range of memoirs and Army Military History Institute in Novas were in Europe although unit histories (interestingly, many Carlisle, Pennsylvania. It retains the Perry mentions being in action in of the sources were published in immediacy of a contemporary the Ariella Valley and in the “Lira” the 1920s and 1930s and are now memoir, and yet has the Valley. He claims that the Canadians increasingly hard to find), Hallas organizational clarity of someone fought the enemy “up through Italy, has knit together an evocative who has thought carefully about until they withdrew to Messina.” tapestry of the experiences of the their experiences. He has much to The impression is given that an RSM AEF, from the earliest call-ups to say about relations with the French was an officer, and the information the return of the soldiers to the in the Meuse-Argonne region, and on Allied air drops to Dutch United States (the last doughboy got writes of the Americans’ initiation civilians in April 1945 is not home from occupation duties in into the live-and-let-live system of correct. early 1923). One expects to read trench warfare. He also has harsh More careful editing would descriptions of the horrors of words for many of his officers, have made this excellent memoir by battle, and they are certainly there some of whom he regards as barely an ordinary Canadian soldier more aplenty, but Hallas has not neglected competent to lead men into battle. rewarding. Felix Perry was only 5’3" the lighter side, and has found The losses suffered by his 140th tall, but to his family he was a giant. some wonderful little anecdotes Infantry Regiment (part of the 35th Red Soil! will keep his memory that capture the spirit of the Division) suggests there is definite fresh in the years to come. As his doughboy. One fellow took the old merit in Triplet’s charges. The one son notes, “our father and mother, adage “there’s a shell with your weakness of the book is the author’s although living [on the borderline number on it” quite literally when fondness for writing in dialect. of poverty] always managed to keep he dug out of the mud a chunk of Triplet probably adopted the us fed, clothed, and provided us a metal from an artillery round that practice to provide a greater sense house to live in.” This book reflects had exploded near him. Incredibly, of realism, but the reader quickly the fundamental decency of those a serial number on the metal tires of paragraph after paragraph many Canadians who served in the matched his own service number, of phonetically-rendered English Second World War but who left no thereby convincing him that he had or French accents. Still, even record of their service. dodged his own bullet and that he skipping over these passages, one JL was safe for the rest of the war! In is left with a fascinating account by * * * * * another vignette, a smartly turned a teenager who grew up very out regiment waits patiently at quickly at the front. James H. Hallas, ed., Doughboy attention while their commander- JFV War: The American in-chief relieves himself at the edge * * * * * Expeditionary Force in World War of the parade ground. Stories like I (Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner this bring a refreshing balance to Nathan N. Prefer, Patton’s Ghost Publishers, 2000), $55.00 US, 346 Hallas’ book. Corps: Cracking the Siegfried pages, ISBN 1-55587-855-5. One of the soldiers quoted by Line (Novato, CA: Presidio Press, Hallas is William Triplet, from a 2000), $24.95 US, 243 pages, ISBN William S. Triplet, A Youth in the short book he published in 1943. 0-89141-646-3. Meuse-Argonne: A Memoir, 1917- Triplet was only seventeen years 1918 (Columbia: University of old when he enlisted in the US athan Prefer follows his 1995 Missouri Press [distributed in Army, in large part because a Nstudy of General Douglas Canada by Scholarly Book recruiter who came to his high MacArthur’s campaign in New Services], 2000), $49.50, 326 school in Sedalia, Missouri, Guinea with this study of the Saar- pages, ISBN 0-8262-1290-5. promised that any student who Moselle Triangle escapade led by joined up would receive a high another colourful general, George erhaps films like Saving school diploma upon returning to S. Patton. Prefer has become one P Private Ryan and The Thin the United States. Triplet never got of the premier historians in the Red Line have heightened interest his diploma (his principal blamed recent movement to rehabilitate the in the American military experience it on a misunderstanding), but he image of the US Army of the Second generally, or maybe the passing of did get a couple of wounds, a wealth World War as an effective fighting the last of the United States’ Great of experience, and a career in the force. Recent historians, led in War veterans has been a motivating army that lasted until his Canada by Terry Copp, have sought factor. For whatever reason, there retirement in 1954. to illustrate that the Allied armies is a burgeoning crop of new books He based his memoir (which is were victorious in Europe not only describing the American much more detailed than the 1943 because they had more men and contribution to the First World War. book) on a diary he kept during the materiel than Germany. While the Doughboy War is a carefully edited war, fleshing it out with later Germans often had superior collection that relies heavily on the reflections and information he equipment, it is wrong to over- soldiers’ own voices. Using an gleaned from research at the US emphasize the strength of the

Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 2000 19 Canadian Military History, Vol. 9 [2000], Iss. 4, Art. 9

German soldiers in north-west the Americans, Prefer does not go Dulles’s rise in government Europe to the point that they are into detail on their true fighting service, like that of his brother, mythologized. Prefer argues that, strength. Many of these units had John Foster Dulles, was helped “when the odds were even,” the fought on the Eastern Front, and immeasurably by family and social American infantryman was every bit by 1945 were effective divisions connections. Although born a son as good, or better, than his German only on paper. The author also of the manse, Allen’s family circle counterpart (2). stresses frequently (and rightfully) was much wider and more To illustrate this point, Prefer that the German Panzer forces were influential than that of the average follows XX Corps of Patton’s Third extremely short on petrol, making Presbyterian minister. His Army during the first three months it even more difficult to take his grandfather, General John Watson of 1945 as it fought to break the argument at face value. Foster, was a prominent Republican Siegfried Line and eventually drive Extensive research went into who served several US presidents across the Rhine. The Corps, and this book, particularly from the in the post-Civil War decades, and particularly the 94th Infantry papers of Major General Harry J. his mother was related to Robert Division that led the spearhead, Malony of the 94th Infantry Division. Lansing, who became Secretary of earned the moniker “The Ghost Although not referred to in the text, State in the cabinet of Democratic Corps” because of its ability to turn the book concludes with a number president Woodrow Wilson. up where the Germans least of interesting appendices on the Allen’s career in the US foreign expected them. ages, ethnic origin (including 14 service began in 1916 with a posting Prefer’s book is an interesting from Canada), and levels of formal to Vienna, where he combined the read, and a solid discussion from education of the men in the 94th formal job of visa clerk with the the American side of a hitherto during 1943-44 (even though less formal task of gathering unstudied military operation. The Prefer’s book only covers the period intelligence on the crumbling author is very successful in his re- of January-March 1945). As Prefer Habsburg Empire. From that point creation of the combat that notes, many of the limitations in the until his resignation over the Cuban occurred, particularly the work are due to a lack of sources, Bay of Pigs disaster in 1961, confrontation between the “Ghost primarily from the German Dulles’s career was less that of a Corps” and the “Ghost Division,” perspective. Without such diplomat than of a pioneer and the German 11th Panzer Division, a perspective, however, Patton’s guiding force in the development of unit so named because it had been Ghost Corps is best as a narrative the American “intelligence destroyed so many times during the history, rather than evidence to community” – which was by no war (particularly after fighting in support the claim that “the means confined to the CIA. Russia for three years) but always campaign of the Saar-Moselle Throughout the Second World War, appeared, rejuvenated, for the next Triangle and the resulting Saar- when US intelligence operations big action. Through the narrative, Palatinate Campaign were fine were overshadowed by those of the Prefer is able to show that air examples of the U.S. Army at its British, and in the dangerous power and sea power were unable best”(208). bipolar geopolitical world of the to play a role in the operation, thus SPS early Cold War, Dulles was at the supporting his sub-thesis that these * * * * * centre of an increasingly complex branches of the military cannot win and frequently uncontrollable a war on their own. After all the James Srodes, Allen Dulles: universe of intelligence-gathering bombing and shelling, there was Master of Spies (Washington, DC: and covert operations which was still no substitute for the foot Regnery Publishing, 2000), $34.95 eventually to lead to his resignation soldier. US, 624 pgs, ISBN 0-89526-314-9. as Director of Central Intelligence. Unfortunately, the narrative is James Srodes, a Washington- somewhat uneven. On many lthough he never laid claim to based journalist, has written a occasions, the author is prone to Athe title, historical judgement workmanlike account of Dulles’s repeating himself, particularly in of Allen Welsh Dulles (1893-1969) life and times, and does not skirt describing the origins and previous as “the father of US Intelligence” is around Dulles’s darker side – his actions of the American infantry probably accurate. Certainly in the playing of favourites, his often divisions. More importantly, Prefer years after the Second World War, tyrannical treatment of employees, really fails to support his as British influence in geopolitics and his sometime spectacularly overarching thesis. The advance declined, the successes and failures disordered personal life. This through the Saar-Moselle Triangle of western intelligence – and biography is a worthwhile addition is portrayed as a series of nibbles western foreign policy – were to the growing library on the and retreats, with “friendly fire” identified to a marked degree by shadow world of espionage and its incidents thrown in, that causes the operations of Dulles’s role in twentieth century global great losses in men and materiel. burgeoning (and sometimes politics. While he briefly mentions the wayward) Central Intelligence GDK Agency. history of the German units facing * * * * * 20 © Canadian Military History Book Review Supplement, Autumn 2000 https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol9/iss4/9 20 et al.: Book Review Supplement Autumn 2000

Eric Hammel, Marines at War: 20 of terms, and maps to illustrate autobiographical accounts of Marine True Heroic Tales of U.S. Marines each of the 20 stories. Arranged aviators. The only previously in Combat, 1942-1983 (Pacifica, chronologically, these excepts – unpublished section of the text is CA: Pacifica Military History, 1999), ranging in length from five to thirty- Chapter 6, “The Choiseul Raid, $19.95 US paper, 288 pages, ISBN two pages – include ten accounts of October 28-November 3, 1943.” In 0-935553-40-1. Marine action in the Pacific Theatre this well written chapter on a rather during the Second World War, three unrecognized action, the author ith nearly thirty books to his stories from the Korean War, six traces the exploits of coast watchers Wcredit, Eric Hammel is the about combat in Vietnam, and a Charles “Nick” Waddell and C.W. most prolific popular chronicler of final account of the horror in Beirut Seton and painstakingly re-enacts the exploits of the US Marine following the bombing of a Marine the first and only time the 2nd Corps. In this work, Hammel has barracks in October 1983. When Marine Parachute Battalion saw culled his many publications and necessary, Hammel provides a combat. The diversionary raid on compiled a collection of short contextual preface or postscript for Choiseul, a large island in the excerpts and articles that typify the the events to be discussed in each Solomons, was used to occupy experiences of Marines during and section of the book. Japanese forces from reinforcing after the Second World War. Most Through both first-hand Bougainville; while “a minor of these stories are in their second accounts and third-person success of limited strategic value,” or third incarnation, having narrative, this showcase of the raid was nonetheless “a good appeared in Leatherneck Hammel’s work exposes and show”(73). Magazine or the Vietnam glorifies the role of the Marine. The Overall, Marines at War is a Magazine and then in Hammel’s strength of this collection is successful showcase of the variety books. Hammel’s old standby: the of Eric Hammel’s publications. It Accessible to the most leathernecks of the Second World is largely anecdotal, personalized uninformed reader, the book War, and, of particular note for their history that should enjoy a wide commences with a useful glossary action sequences, the readership. SPS

Mary Mortimer and Gilbert arms, uniforms, and colours of the Briefly Noted Croome, eds., Quiet Courage: Venetian army in the eighteenth Wartime Memories of the century. These troops, who were Manuel A. Ribiero Rodrigues, 300 Congregation of Carleton almost perpetually in a state of war Anos de Uniformes Militares do Memorial United Church, Ottawa against the Ottoman Turks, were Exercito de Portugal 1660-1960 (Ottawa: Carleton Memorial United stationed not only in Venice but also (Lisbon: Exercito Portugues Church, 1999), $12.50 paper, 60 on the Croatian and Albanian coast [available from Arquivo Historico pages, ISBN 0-9685189-0-7. and in the Greek islands. Venetian Militar, Largo do Caminhos de ships and galleys were still western Ferro, 1500 Lisbon, Portugal], his collection of forty-odd short Europe’s first naval line of defence 1998), 13,000 escudos, 388 pages, Tvignettes covers a wide range in the eighteenth-century eastern ISBN 972-9326-2319. of Second World War experiences, Mediterranean. The fourteen colour including life in wartime London, plates by the author competently ome 465 colour illustrations, the air war, in both the European show many uniforms, including the Smost from original and Pacific theatres, the campaigns exotic dress of some of the Croatian manuscripts, are reproduced in in north-west Europe and Italy, war units, naval uniforms, and the this volume, which covers brides, and the Women’s Division - colours. Portuguese army dress in Europe, RCAF. Self-published by Carleton * * * * * but also in Brazil, Africa, India, and Memorial, it fulfils the dual Macau, whose often exotic uniforms purpose of providing a record for David J. Freeman, Canadian fills over a third of the work. There future generations of the Warship Names (St. Catharines, are also about a hundred black and congregation, and raising money for ON: Vanwell, 2000), $35.00, 367 white photos and line drawings, the church’s organ fund. pages, ISBN 1-55125-048-9. these last mostly taken from dress regulations. The text deals mostly * * * * * his book, the product of years with organization but some of it Francesco Paolo Favarolo, Tof painstaking research and reproduces various dress L’Esercito Veneziano del ‘700 professional interest (Freeman regulations. This first major work Ricerche e schizzi (Venice: Filippi served as advisor to the Ships’ on Portuguese uniforms is an Editore, 1995), 43,000 lire, 148 Names Committee from 1988 to outstanding source book on this pages, no ISBN. 1999), is a comprehensive listing army both at home and overseas. of all ships’ names, the procedures * * * * * his fine study describes in for selecting names, and the origins Tdetail the organisation, service, and classes of names that have been

Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 2000 21 Canadian Military History, Vol. 9 [2000], Iss. 4, Art. 9

used by the RCN since 1910. It The author examines Tojo’s life J.H. Harper, A Source of Pride: includes many appendices covering against the backdrop of increasing Badges of the Canadian interesting subjects like names that Japanese militarism, and uses Expeditionary Force, 1914-1919 were chosen but never used, names exclusive interviews with Tojo’s (Ottawa: Service Publications, that did not quite make the grade, widow to illuminate the spartan, 1999), $29.95 paper, 152 pages, and names of vessels operated by single-minded, incorruptible ISBN 0-9699845-8-8. other services. Well organized and personality of the man who chose easy to use, it is a valuable reference war rather than succumb to what his is likely to become the work for naval historians. he perceived as the west’s Tdefinitive source for * * * * * determination to strangle Japan information on Canadian badges of economically. the First World War. It covers every Jean-Paul Morel de La Durantaye, * * * * * conceivable variant, right up to Louis-Joseph Morel de La badge struck for the 1934 Canadian Durantaye, Seigneur de Ernst Rodin, War and Mayhem: Corps reunion, and every part of Kamouraska (Sillery, PQ: Reflections of a Viennese the process, from the submission Septentrion, 1999), $18.00, 140 Physician (Victoria: Trafford and approval of a design to the pages, ISBN 2-89448-141-1. Publishing, 2000), 346 pages, ISBN manufacture of the badge. Many 1-55212-290-5. illustrations and a full list of good biography of the seigneur sources round out this very useful Aof Kamouraska who was also he memoirs of Rodin, a volume. an officer of the colonial troops in T prominent neurologist, cover New France, and also of his son who the roots and aftermath of the Third * * * * * took part in the battle against Reich, but the most interesting Julio Mario Luqui Lagleyze and Rogers Rangers in March 1758. The section deals with his own Antonio Manzano Lahoz, Las book skillfully explains the colonial experiences in Austria from the Realistas (1810-1826) society of the seigneurs, many of Anschluss to the American (Barcelona: Quiron Ediciones, whom were officers, in eighteenth- occupation. He entered the Hitler 1998), ISBN 84-87314-35-X. century Canada. Youth at age fourteen, later * * * * * transferred to the labour service, lot has been written about the and finally ended up as a tanker ASouth American liberation Russel Bouchard, Les Armes à Feu with an armoured unit stationed armies of San Martin and Bolivar en Nouvelle-France (Sillery, PQ: near Budapest. By April 1945, his but little on their royalist opponents. Septentrion, 1999), $18.95, 178 unit was in Vienna tasked with This study concentrates on the royal pages, ISBN 2-89448-140-3. defending it against the Red Army, troops in Chile, Peru, and Rio de but against orders they retreated out la Plata (Argentina, Uruguay) and fine survey of the various types of the city and “discharged provides good data on the Aof firearms used in New France themselves” from the German organisation, uniforms, weapons, by the acknowledged expert in this Army. An interesting perspective on and colours of all regular, volunteer, area of study. Many illustrations the fighting in the east. and militia units on the Spanish trace the evolution of trade and * * * * * side. It is amply illustrated, notably military weapons as well as their with sixty-two colour plates by Ahoz bayonets and accessories. Miguel Alia Plana and Jesus Maria which certainly show that the * * * * * Alia Plana, Historia de los royalist camp had its share of Uniformes de la Armada colourful uniforms. Courtney Browne, Tojo: The Last Espanola (1717-1814) (Madrid: Banzai (New York: Da Capo Press, Ministerio de Defensa, 1996), 6,000 * * * * * 1998 [1967]), $19.95 paper, 260 pesetas, 428 pages, ISBN 84-7823- Maria M. Alonso and Milagros pages, ISBN 0-306-80844-7. 479-9. Flores, The Eighteenth Century Caribbean and the British Attack eneral, minister of war, prime his is a hefty study on the on Puerto Rico in 1797 (San Gminister, and unrepentant Tuniforms of the officer corps, Juan, Puerto Rico: National Park nationalist, Hideki Tojo was the the sailors, the marines, and the Service, 1997), $14.95 US, 350 most powerful leader in the administrative corps of the Spanish pages, ISBN 1-881713-20-3. Japanese government during the navy. Amply illustrated in colour Second World War. From October and quotes period documents at good account of the events 1941 to July 1944, he had full length. Certainly the most extensive Aleading up to the British failed control of Japan, advocating and study yet on the topic. Also very attack on San Juan, Puerto Rico, initiating the attack on Pearl Harbor valuable for all its data on the and the attack itself, which British and the offensives in China, south- organization of the Spanish navy. histories don’t mention much. After east Asia, and the Pacific islands. * * * * *

22 © Canadian Military History Book Review Supplement, Autumn 2000 https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol9/iss4/9 22 et al.: Book Review Supplement Autumn 2000

reading this, one understands South did not adequately exploit the into a living history museum and better why British contemporaries most modern means of tourist attraction in the 1960s. were rather discreet. A fine defence transportation. Other historians * * * * * was put up by the small and motley have studies these matters in recent Spanish garrison. The book years, but Black’s remains the David G. Haglund, ed., Pondering contains many extensive excerpts seminal work. NATO’s Nuclear Options: Gambits for a Post-Westphalian from various journals from both * * * * * sides, as well as excellent World (Kingston, ON: Queen’s appendices. William F. Slater and Holger Quarterly, 1999), $9.50 paper, 208 Herwig, The Grand Illusion: The pages, ISSN 0033-6041. * * * * * Prussianization of the Chilean David Meyler and Peter Meyler, A Army (Lincoln: University of ith the end of the nuclear Stolen Life: Searching for Nebraska Press, 1999), $50.00 US, Wstand-off between the Soviet Richard Pierpoint (Toronto: 248 pages, ISBN 0-8032-2393-5. Union and the United States, Natural Heritage Books, 1999), nuclear weapon have lost much of $19.95 paper, 141 pages, ISBN 1- n this fascinating study, Slater and their immediate relevance for 896219-55-1. IHerwig argue that the Chilean international security. Yet the old army adopted only the most doctrines are still largely in force, ommonly known as Captain superficial aspects of the German not much new thinking has CDick, Richard Pierpoint was an military ethos, which eventually led penetrated the faculties of nuclear African warrior from Senegal who to the creation of a large but theology, and the weapons are still was captured while a teenager, sold ineffective army in the late around in large numbers. This into slavery, and lived out his nineteenth and early twentieth volume of papers re-examines the remaining years in rural Ontario. century. German institutions and nuclear wisdom of old in light of He fought with Butler’s Rangers in policies did not suit Chile, and what is new. While nuclear issues the 1780s, came to Upper Canada political infighting, greed, and are currently not in the forefront as a Loyalist, and then fought with corruption also hampered the of public concern, they have a habit the Coloured Corps during the War attempted transfer of technology of re-appearing when governments of 1812. Reconstructed from and doctrine. The Chilean army still and the public are least prepared disparate sources, this is an wears the Pickelhaube for for them. This collection of essays excellent biography that reclaims ceremonial occasions and goose- provides valuable help in that the history of African Loyalists and steps to the Kaiser’s marches, but preparation. their contribution to the any positive structural changes that development of Upper Canada. the Germans introduced came at a Book Review * * * * * cost that was to great to Chile’s treasury and morale. Supplement Editor Robert C. Black III, The Railroads of the Confederacy (Chapel Hill: * * * * * Jonathan F. Vance University of North Carolina Pres John Abbott, Graeme S. Mount, [distributed in Canada by Scholarly and Michael J. Mulloy, The History Contributing Reviewers Book Services], 1998 [1952]), of Fort St. Joseph (Toronto: Charles Aziz $30.50 paper, 360 pages, ISBN 0- Dundurn Group, 2000), $14.99 Graham Broad 8078-4729-1. paper, 192 pages, ISBN 1-55002- René Chartrand 337-3. Peter Eisenbach irst published nearly a half- Alan Flecker Fcentury ago, Black’s book was uilt in the aftermath of the Laura Frenière the first to examine in detail the BAmerican Revolution, Fort St. Doug Gates impact of rail transportation on the Joseph (at the northern end of Lake Eric Hammel US Civil War, and the first to argue Huron) played an important role in David Larlee persuasively that the failure of the the defence of Canada: when the Susan Lee Confederacy to utilize its rail War of 1812 began, the fort’s Jim Lotz resources fully and effectively garrison pulled off a remarkable George D. Kerr played a major part in its ultimate feat, capturing the American Fort Sam Moore defeat. Rail barons who were Mackinac. For the remainder of the David Rozanski unwilling to sacrifice their own war, the British retained control of Jeffrey Stephaniuk business interests to the war effort the Upper Great Lakes. This book Sean P. Stoyles and a government that was reluctant covers not only the construction Cathy Tersch to impose a broad transportation and history of the fort, but its Jonathan F. Vance policy combined to ensure that the rediscovery and transformation

Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 2000 23 Canadian Military History, Vol. 9 [2000], Iss. 4, Art. 9

General Invention Changed the Course of Mona Parsons: From Privilege to Prison, History from Nova Scotia to Nazi Europe by James Tertius deKay ...... 4 by Andria Hill ...... 17 Allen Dulles: Master of Spies by James Srodes ...... 20 * The Railroads of the Confederacy Patton’s Ghost Corps: Cracking the by Robert C. Black III ...... 23 Siegfried Line The Balkans, 1804-1999: Nationalism, by Nathan N. Prefer ...... 19 War and the Great Powers * Las Realistas (1810-1826) by Misha Glenny ...... 1 by Julio Mario Luqui Lagleyze and Prisoner of War and Peace Antonio Manzano Lahoz ...... 22 by Nick Mustacchia ...... 6 Canada’s Navy: The First Century by Marc Milner ...... 5 * A Stolen Life: Searching for Richard * Quiet Courage: Wartime Memories of the Pierpoint Congregation of Carleton Memorial * Canadian Warship Names by David Meyler and Peter Meyler ...... 23 by David J. Freeman ...... 21 United Church, Ottawa by Mary Mortimer and Carry On: Reaching Beyond 100 Gilbert Croome ...... 21 by Tom Spear ...... 8 1914-1939 Red Soil!: A PEI Soldier’s Life at the Flying the Frontiers: Aviation Adventures The Arming of Europe and the Making of Front Around the World by Felix (LeRoy) Perry ...... 18 by Shirlee Smith Matheson ...... 3 the First World War by David G. Hermann ...... 9 Steel My Soldiers’ Hearts Marines at War: 20 True Heroic Tales of by Neil J. Stewart ...... 10 U.S. Marines in Combat, 1942-1983 Doughboy War: The American by Eric Hammel ...... 21 Expeditionary Force in World War I Stumbling Colossus: The Red Army on by James H. Hallas ...... 19 the Eve of World War Oxford’s Own: Men and Machines of No. by David M. Glantz ...... 2 15/XV Squadron Royal Flying Corps / The Great War: A Guide to the Service This Soldier’s Story (1939-1945) Royal Air Force Records of All the World’s Fighting by George S. MacDonell ...... 6 by Martyn R. Ford-Jones Men and Volunteers and Valerie A. Ford-Jones ...... 12 by Christina K. Schaefer ...... 16 * Tojo: The Last Banzai by Courtney Browne ...... 22 * 300 Anos de Uniformes Militares do How the First World War Began: The Exercito de Portugal 1660-1960 Triple Entente and the Coming of the Victory at Falaise: The Soldiers’ Story by Manuel A. Ribiero Rodrigues ...... 21 Great War of 1914-1918 by Denis and Shelagh Whitaker by Edward E. McCullough ...... 9 with Terry Copp ...... 18 Tournament of Shadows: The Great Game and Race for Empire in Central Asia The Lost Battalion * War and Mayhem: Reflections of a by K.E. Meyer and S.B. Brysac ...... 1 by Thomas M. Johnson Viennese Physician and Fletcher Pratt ...... 11 by Ernst Rodin ...... 22 A Memoir of the Spanish Civil War: An Whispering Death: My Wartime Pre-1914 Armenian-Canadian in the Lincoln Adventures Battalion by Lee Heide ...... 16 * Les Armes à Feu en Nouvelle-France by D.P. Stephens...... 4 by Russel Bouchard ...... 22 Zhukov at the Oder: The Decisive Battle The Misfit Soldier: Edward Casey’s War for Berlin * The Eighteenth Century Caribbean Story, 1914-1918 by Tony Le Tissier ...... 16 and the British Attack on by Joanna Bourke ...... 12 Puerto Rico in 1797 Zhukov’s Greatest Defeat: The Red by Maria M. Alonso Pilot’s Log: The Log, Diary, Letters and Army’s Epic Disaster in Operation and Milagros Flores ...... 22 Verse of Lt. Leonard A. Richardson, Mars, 1942 Royal Flying Corps, 1917-1918 by David M. Glantz ...... 9 * L’Esercito Veneziano del ‘700 by Elizabeth Richardson-Whealy ...... 10 Ricerche e schizzi by Francesco Paolo Favarolo ...... 21 A Question of Confidence: The Ross Rifle Post-1945 in the Trenches From Lochnaw to Manitoulin: A Highland by Col. A.F. Duguid ...... 14 Soldier’s Tour Through Upper Canada Blood On the Hills: The Canadian Army by Scott A. McLean ...... 5 A Source of Pride: Badges of the in the Korean War Canadian Expeditionary Force, by David J. Bercuson ...... 12 * The Grand Illusion: The Prussianization 1914-1919 by J.H. Harper ...... 22 of the Chilean Army Embracing Defeat: Japan in the Wake of by Malcolm Brown ... 8 by William F. Slater Tommy Goes to War World War II and Holger Herwig ...... 23 A Youth in the Meuse-Argonne: A Memoir, by John W. Dower ...... 7 1917-1918 * Historia de los Uniformes de la Armada A Future Perfect: The Challenge and by William S. Triplet ...... 19 Espanola (1717-1814) Hidden Promise of Globalization by Miguel Alia Plana and by John Micklethwait and Adrian Jesus Maria Alia Plana ...... 22 1939-1945 Wooldridge ...... 1 A Great Wall: Six Presidents and China – * The History of Fort St. Joseph by John Abbott, Graeme S. The Allied Convoy System, 1939-1945: An Investigative History by Patrick Tyler ...... 1 Mount, and Michael J. Mulloy ...... 23 Its Organization, Defence and * Pondering NATO’s Nuclear Options: In Quest of the Lost Legions: The Operation by Arnold Hague ...... 13 Gambits for a Post-Westphalian World Varusschlacht The Battle of Kursk by David G. Haglund ...... 23 by Tony Clunn ...... 8 by David M. Glantz and Jonathan M. Soldiers of Diplomacy: The United Lee’s Miserables: Life in the Army of House ...... 17 Nations, Peacekeeping, and the New Northern Virginia from the Black Cross / Red Star: The Air War Over World Order Wilderness to Appomattox the Eastern Front, vol. 1, Operation by Jocelyn Coulon ...... 6 by J. Tracy Power ...... 14 Barbarossa, 1941 Vietnam Shadows: The War, Its Ghosts, * Louis-Joseph Morel de La Durantaye, by Christer Bergström and Andrey and Its Legacy Seigneur de Kamouraska Mikhailov ...... 14 by Arnold R. Isaacs ...... 3 by Jean-Paul Morel A Gallant Company: The Men of the Great de La Durantaye ...... 22 Escape by Jonathan F. Vance ...... 16 Way Out There in the Blue: Reagan, Star Wars, and the End of the Cold War Mobilizing for Total War: The Political The GI Offensive in Europe: The Triumph by Frances Fitzgerald ...... 1 Economy of Modern Warfare, 1865- of American Infantry Divisions 1919 by Peter Mansoor ...... 11 by Paul A.C. Koistinen ...... 13 Kamp Westerbork, Transit Camp to * Briefly Noted Monitor: The Story of the Legendary Civil Eternity: The Liberation Story War Ironclad and the Man Whose by Cecil A. Law ...... 15