Reluctant Allies German-Japanese Naval Relations in World War II

Often forgotten among the many aspects of World War II is the alliance between Germany & Japan. Because of the vast geographical separation between these two Axis nations, & because of some of very real philosophical & operational differences, the alliance was fraught with difficulty. But in the vast middle-ground of the Indian Ocean, these "reluctant allies" did come together to conduct naval operations that might well have had disastrous consequences for the Allies but for the intervention of fate & the inevitable friction of war. Captain Krug served in U-boats in that theater & in the Far East during the war and, with the assistance of scholars of both nations, he has produced a very readable & meticulously researched account of German & Japanese naval interaction. Besides thoroughly covering--for the first time--this neglected topic, the authors provide valuable insight into the faulty mechanism of an alliance between totalitarian powers, characterized by suspicion & a reluctance to freely share information & assets. They also bring to light the difficulties--& ultimate consequences--of dealing with the megalomania & criminal intellect of Adolf Hitler, an aspect that eventually resulted in war crime trials for some of the participants. Proving that not every aspect of the world's greatest war has been covered, this book is a valuable contribution to the ever-expanding lore of the war & will be required reading for those with an interest in naval operations, global strategy, & international diplomacy during the period.Krug, Hans-Joachim is the author of 'Reluctant Allies German-Japanese Naval Relations in World War II' with ISBN 9781557504654 and ISBN 1557504652.