The Korean War

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Max Hastings

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Pages: 391 (Hardcover)

ISBN: 0671528238

Pub: Simon & Schuster

Pub date: 1987-11

Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 336592

Reader Reviews:

the War that hasn't ended. (2/3 people found this helpful)

An excellent apraisal of the korean war, with inside stories and insight into why it happened (Occupation since early 20th Century) until the ceasefire (Not outright victory). A British view and focus actually adds to the book. Where else can you find such details. the Americans are seen to be disinterested in the Korean perninsula, only in fighting the Commies, and learning next to nothing in the process. Sadly Viertnam had all the signs that Korea had for them, but there they carried on because they seemed to belkieve that Korea was a war they won.

Hastings shows that no one won this war, as the diving line stayed almost exactly as it was after 3 years. Only so many millions dead. the human tradegy for the Chinese is covered, and most revelatory is the story of MacArthur and his plan for 26 atom bombs to be dropped on China! Needless to say Truman sacked him on the spot, yet for Truman too the war caused him to plummet politically.
At the eand we can see why North Korea lives of propoganda still form the war, and way the stalemate allowed such dictators immunity to do exactly what they wanted ever after. An important read, mostly because the issues are still not settled and, yes, it could all happen again.
The aftermath for South Korea is not covered much, leaving out the socialogical changes that led to Chruistian belief later expanding there.What comes through, though, is that the South korean leader (Syngman Rhee)at the time was just as much a dictator as that in the north.

A fantastic look at modern warfare (7/15 people found this helpful)

Where to start. The Korean war was the real start of the Cold war. No more arguements across the Atlantic but an exchange of gunfire across the trenches of a country that hardly any of the soldiers actually came from. To write about this complexed conflict an indepth study and review would be required, who is better suited for the job than Max Hastings (First English man into Port Stanly after its capture by the Argentinian's in '82)
This book looks critically at every aspect of the rather bizarre conflict, thats all I can say really because it diggs deep into conflict and answers most of questions about it.
It is higly critical of the Americans and some of the flak I feel was unjustified and it does go into great depth about British service men when they only had a brigade in Korea rather than a division or army! But from a practicle point of view it saves time asking locals rather than travelling ot Korea to ask about the war! This was the prelude to disaster for America (Vietnam) a terrible waste of money for Russia (which could't afford a war) and the first time the British worked under the Americans in a war they were thrown into. Finally and still stranger is the fact that the Korean war still goes on today. Only a cease fire 50 years ago stopped it which is still in place today. To conclude buy this book if your 1)interested in the cold war 2)Interested in the British involvemnt in Korea or 3)Like to read books that give a unilatteral view of the biggest waste of money men and effort since the discovery of America!

Excellent (6/10 people found this helpful)

My father was a Royal Engineer (much decorated),in this war.To read what it was really all about was profoundly emotional.The description of the Gloucesters stand on the Imjin,which I had heard so many times from 'Dad' had a great impact.He has also told me things that were not in the book but have more recently been supported by American Marine archives.Nevertheless this book is a consummate history of an awful and forgotten war and I highly reccommend it.

The Korean war, and a lot of info on the European units (10/11 people found this helpful)

This book has it all, it describes all the nationalities that fought in the war. The reasons why it happened, what happen in the war and even what happened once peace returned.
It has a lot of information on the British and other European units that fought in the war (though it is pointed out that American?s defiantly supplied most of the troops).

Nothing in held back when describing some of the battles that took place, and the accounts of the battle on the Imjin by the Gloucester?s is breathtaking.

Its interesting to read this book as it points out a lot of the flaws that the great nations had at the time with fighting in the east. And why many European nations later on would not supply troops for the Vietnam war, even if they did understand what America was trying to do in Vietnam.

Balanced and objective account of a forgotten war (7/7 people found this helpful)

The book is an excellent account of a war the West has forgotten about.The battle accounts are well written and use many eyewitnesses,but it's real strengh is in the way it tries to examine the reasons for the war and the lessons we didn't learn without trying to make political points scoring,the writer recognises the essential rightness of the UN cause while not flinching from the faults of the South Korean regime.There is a sense of tragedy about the way it is shown that so many of the American policies were dress rehearsals for the Vietnam war,and a sense of outrage at the poor leadership and performance of many aspects of the UN intervention in the first year of the war.Recommended.

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