Nomonhan, 1939: The Red Army's Victory That Shaped World War II
"Goldman should be commended for producing a well-written and well-balanced book.Nomonhan, 1939not only depicts this Russo-Japanese conflict in a lucid and vivid manner, but also offers a greater contextualization of it than has any previous account. For these merits, it is highly recommended reading for anyone who is interested in the prewar Russo-Japanese rivalry and its global impact, and most notably for students and scholars who are looking for a succinct and reliable account of the dramatic events in Nomonhan."--Israel Journal of Foreign Affairs"This is a brilliant battle study highlighting the military blunders and political decisions, actions, and blunders."--Military Officer Magazine, December 2012"Nomonhan, 1939is Stuart Goldman's brilliant military and political history of 'the first instance in the modern age of limited war between great powers.'Students of military and political history will find this book to be a valuable resource for their understanding of the dynamics of military and political decisions that directly impacted World War II. And it makes for exciting reading."--New Maine Times Book Review"Goldman provides a very thorough account from the side of Japan and the Soviet Union."--Choice"Although extensively researched and heavily footnoted, this is not a book merely or even primarily for scholars. Goldman writes very well indeed. The historical arguments are clearly presented, the battles described brilliantly and the personalities evoked through use of primary sources.Nomonhan, 1939is, unexpectedly, something of a page-turner."--Asian Review of Books"Knowing what the "little war" triggered -- and Dr. Goldman justifies his claims -- makes reading the detail of his beautifully-crafted book even more compelling. And he gives context which is important to us today in understanding Asia. Great book!"--Defense & Foreign Affairs Special Analysis"Goldman masterfully untangles the complicated diplomatic context and battlefield maneuverings in a tour de force that shows how global diplomacy and WWII were affected by the outcome of hostilities in an obscure backwater of little strategic importance."--The Japan Times"For anyone interested in the military history of the last century, in general, or the background to the beginning of World War II, in particular, Goldman has produced a work which should be required reading. Based on a wide range of English, Russian and Japanese language primary and secondary source materials, the book is a very interesting and thought-provoking analysis of, as Goldman puts it, 'the most important World War II battle most people have never heard of' (p. 5). Rightly or wrongly, most people in the West, if they know the battle at all, identify it through the Russian or Mongolian version of its name--Khalkin Gol--rather than the Japanese version used in the title of the work--Nomonhan. Divided into seven chapters--and a number of sub-sections within each chapter--Goldman's book not only demonstrates his mastery of the material to hand, but also great thought in what is an admirably balanced and even-handed account of a much too-long neglected battle in the history of events leading to the outbreak of World War II in 1939."-- Europe-Asia Studies"Goldman's book provides food for thought while directing attention to an aspect of prewar diplomacy that is too often left out of the analysis of decision making by the many parties involved in shaping the coming war."--H-Diplo, part of H-Net"Goldman's book is for those with an interest in armor tactics, and World War II campaigns tactically and geo-strategically. A refreshing read."--DCMilitary.com"All in all, this volume has the potential to become the book of the year in history/military science. It is very well researched, logically argued and presents the topic in an organic way, looking at Soviet foreign and military policies' western and eastern components not as disjoined parts but as the two sides of the same coin…A tour de force that should be a compulsory reading for historians, military leaders and that part of the general public that is interested in understanding the deeper undercurrents of the big global conflict that we call by the name World War II."--Journal of Eurasian Studies"This book is well researched, using both Japanese and Russian sources. Goldman does an excellent job tying together the various events such as the Nomonhan battle, the Soviet Nonaggression Pact with Germany and the start of World War II...This is a must read for all those with an interest in World War II and subsequent events."--The Past in Review"Stuart D. Goldman has not only written a powerful account of the Red Army's lopsided victory over Imperial Japan but also included the impact the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact had on the war, paving the way for Hitler to invade Poland a few days after hostilities at Nomonhan had ended."--WWII History"Compelling."--Publishers Weeklyonline review