Storm Clouds over the Pacific, 1931–1941 (War in the Far East) by Peter Harmsen, is a wonderful new piece on the development of hostilities in the Asian Pacific theater of WWII. Some of the earliest recorded interactions between the Asian powers, of China and Japan, were brought to life with vivid descriptions of battles, interactions and cultural diffusion that would eventually evolve into full-scale modern warfare; the likes of which would reformulate the Western Imperialist dominated world order.
The historical comparisons with more familiar European battles or tactics help to explain and bring to light the struggles, obstacles, calculations and miscalculations that played out in the Asian Pacific theater. Slowly it develops through some foreground historical information, on initial clashes, into a clearer view of the later polarization that developed between China and Japan; too often, this was fought out in Korea, which was caught like a shrimp between whales.
Key engagements of minor Asian players are also cleverly woven into this historical narrative that flows off of the page into your imagination. Mongolia, Thailand, Indochina and Cambodia to name a few, are not often explored enough even though they were pivotal scenes of political machinations and military engagements that would dictate the Japanese advance both north and south, for both political and material needs. Harmsen gets into key battles, figures and the strategic views that would play out. I especially, like how the French Vichy and German governments’ actions are included. That was a clear link between European machinations that affected the war in Southeast Asia; which illustrated how it was a world war.
The path to Total War was not a linear progression of planned colonization and imperialism as much as it was because of feverishly zealous Japanese military mavericks on the frontlines who would kinetically force their nations into battles. George Washington’s actions under the British, which sparked the French and Indian War, comes to mind. Once hostilities began, it became harder to give back fought over concessions. Things spiraled out of control. Harmsen explains this quite well through diverse Western and Asian perspectives.
From there, it quickly develops into a nail-biting progression of more sane civilian Japanese politicians/leaders becoming drowned out by the more militant military forces in their quest to overcome western imperialism encroaching upon their empire. The economic crash of the equities market that began in 1929 would spread around the world and sow the seeds of fascism and totalitarianism which infected Japan. Assassinations and plots to overthrow the government would overshadow and overpower the civilian leadership’s desires to prevent militarism and the descent into war. Once the saner civilian leaders became more insignificant in running the government, the quagmire of the China incident would progress further into the violent scene of full-scale war.
One area that I felt the book was shallow on is with atrocities. Specifically, human experimentation, weapons of mass destruction and the Fugu Plan. Japanese offensive poison gas attacks were mentioned but biological weapons attacks were not. There was also no mention of Japanese plans about importing Jewish refugees from Europe into Manchukuo, aka Manchuria, China. China was already overpopulated and planning to import foreigners into an overpopulated nation is horrifically wrong. The Japanese viewed the Jewish people, mostly from Europe, as superior to the native Chinese or Manchurians. Also, Japanese troops raped their genes into China and Southeast Asia.
Interestingly, Harmsen provides evidence, which reaffirms the mainstream historical view, that Japanese Americans were not colluding with the Japanese government against America. Harmsen illustrates this point with the economic divide between Americans and Japanese of the time. Ordinary Japanese Americans most certainly enjoyed a much higher living standard than ordinary people in Japan. They also formed genuine roots in America having lived and grown up there. Finally, a Japanese spy in Hawaii, reported on how Japanese Americans were loyal to America.
Overall, this book is not overwhelming in historical detail but it does paint a more comprehensive or understandable view of how the war in the Pacific developed as it did in a very interesting manner and at a quick pace. I never felt too bored to put it down. Harmsen accomplishes this through an exciting and fast progression of diverse perspectives, views and sources that better illustrates China’s and Asia’s pivotal role in WWII. It was truly a global war and Harmsen’s works are breaking down the myths about the lack of contributions from the Asian allies and the significance of the Asian Pacific theater in WWII.
Storm Clouds over the Pacific, 1931-1941: War in the Far East Series, Book 1
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Customer reviews
Rare insight into the Second Sino-Japanese war and prelude to Pearl Harbor.
Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2019
This is an effortless fusing of a multifaceted political story with military history that spans a decade leading up to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. There are many well written sweeping historical records of World War 2, but most do not cover in detail how the war in East Asia is intertwined with Japan’s pivotal decision. Peter Harmsen does an exemplary job of leading the reader through a decade of intrigue, misjudgment, and catastrophe. His detailing of the years in East Asia prior to Pearl Harbor fills a gap for a much wider understanding of World War 2. Recently, authors have made significant English language contributions to our collective understanding of the war in East Asia, and this book is now a member of that elite club. In the author’s telling of the road to a wider Pacific war you can count on these features: the Chinese civil conflicts, particularly between the Communists and Nationalists; the Japanese Army’s almost total independence and ability to wage war without their Government’s approval, and their intense rivalry with the Japanese Navy; the political machinations of rulers and their diplomats; American engagement in Asia and preparation for war; and many individual accounts of events rarely seen in English. The book contains extensive endnotes and the maps provide relevant companions to the text.
Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2019
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Top reviews from other countries
Lister Parreira Duarte
Detalhes ainda não revelados da história da Ásia dos anos 30 até Pearl Harbour.
Reviewed in Brazil on October 3, 2019David Hutchison
The backstory to WW II in the Pacific explained.
Reviewed in Canada on July 19, 2020
