Attack on Pearl Harbor

The December 7, 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, that formerly brought the United States of America into World War II, has long attracted tremendous interest from historians and the American public alike.

What's more, even today interest in the Pearl Harbor raid remains high. In the English speaking world alone dozens of books have been written on the subject. One would think that with such a huge body of work available, that there is not much left that is new to say. Nevertheless, Alan D. Zimm has not only mined a treasure trove of primary and secondary sources to produce a detailed analysis of the attack, but also presents much of his findings from not just the US standpoint, but predominately, and most interestingly, approaches the subject matter from the Japanese point of view.

In addition, Zimm, a former US Navy commander, writes from the unique perspective provided by not only his military service, but he also relies on many of his former colleagues to help; deconstruct the Japanese objectives, how they were to be achieved, weighs the risks of the Pearl Harbor plan of attack versus traditional Japanese plans for engaging the US Navy in war, and how the plan faired once battle was joined. In that process Zimm explodes many long standing myths surrounding today's conventional wisdom in the Anglo-American world regarding the reasoning, efficacy and outcome of the attack. Furthermore, the reader is further rewarded with over twenty charts, diagrams, maps, pictures, and appendices detailing; Axis and Allied comparative strengths, the efficacy of weapons and munitions chosen for the attack and employed in defense, losses sustained by each side and why they were not lesser or greater, and more. All of which aids in backing a well-researched look at the impact the raid had on the respective combatants. Furthermore, The Attack on Pearl Harbor: Strategy, Combat, Myths, Deceptions approaches the topic not only within the historical context of the times, but as well from the outlook of actual practitioners of the art and science of war.

Though a reasonably well-informed reader may initially snub their nose at another account of the Pearl Harbor raid, this book is not really a history per se. Instead, and as the author makes clear, it is "an analysis of selected aspects of the attack" with the book's primary objective being to "examine the Japanese planning, execution, and post-battle analysis of the attack, in the context of the overall strategy." This reviewer can say the author has accomplished his goals, and at the same time provides readers with ample food for thought with which they will assess past works containing narratives that must now be called into question. Without attempting to judge the actual positions taken by the author, leaving that for what will undoubtedly be a lively debate to ensue as this work comes to what some will argue are quite controversial positions, the reviewer's only quibble would be with the bit of  repetitiveness in some of the arguments. That said, given the considerable overlap created when breaking down a combat action into its components parts such a minor deficiency is somewhat understandable.

The book is organized into thirteen easily digestible chapters, and proves an engrossing study, particularly for those considering themselves well-read on the topic. This is an important point, for yet another book on the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor is one that could all too easily be dismissed. Nonetheless, one of the great pleasures of this book is that, if anything, it is even more interesting for those with ample knowledge of events in World War II's Pacific Theater of Operations leading up to, on, and following December 7, 1941. For a variety of reasons, including the provocative nature of many of Zimm's fact-built arguments, this reviewer does not hesitate to recommend for this website's readers The Attack on Pearl Harbor: Strategy, Combat, Myths, Deceptions.

1.Steven Douglas Mercatante's Why Germany Nearly Won, A New History of the Second World War in Europe, is currently scheduled for publication by ABC-CLIO's Praeger early in 2012. Why Germany Nearly Won not only explores how close Germany actually came to winning the Second World War, but also why Germany was defeated. This work stems from over two decades researching and studying the Second World War. Steven's writing in the historical field goes beyond his research, and draws upon his experience as a former history teacher, from his undergraduate studies in history at the University of Michigan, from his graduate work in history at Eastern Michigan University, and from his study of International Law at Michigan State University College of Law. Steven has been published numerous times over in the historical and financial/legal field, both online and in a scholarly journal with a 2008 article entitled; The Deregulation of Usury Ceilings, Rise of Easy Credit, and Increasing Consumer Debt, published in volume 53 of the South Dakota Law Review.