BIBLIO is the largest independent book marketplace in the world, with over 100 million books.

Skip to content

Crucible of Hell: The Heroism and Tragedy of Okinawa, 1945
Stock photo: cover may vary

Crucible of Hell: The Heroism and Tragedy of Okinawa, 1945 Hardback -

by Saul David

Add to wish list

Reader reviews for Crucible of Hell: The Heroism and Tragedy of Okinawa, 1945

From the publisher

From the award-winning historian, Saul David, the riveting narrative of the heroic US troops, bonded by the brotherhood and sacrifice of war, who overcame enormous casualties to pull off the toughest invasion of WWII's Pacific Theater -- and the Japanese forces who fought with tragic desperation to stop them.

With Allied forces sweeping across Europe and into Germany in the spring of 1945, one enormous challenge threatened to derail America's audacious drive to win the world back from the Nazis: Japan, the empire that had extended its reach southward across the Pacific and was renowned for the fanaticism and brutality of its fighters, who refused to surrender, even when faced with insurmountable odds. Taking down Japan would require an unrelenting attack to break its national spirit, and launching such an attack on the island empire meant building an operations base just off its shores on the island of Okinawa.

The amphibious operation to capture Okinawa was the largest of the Pacific War and the greatest air-land-sea battle in history, mobilizing 183,000 troops from Seattle, Leyte in the Philippines, and ports around the world. The campaign lasted for 83 blood-soaked days, as the fighting plumbed depths of savagery. One veteran, struggling to make sense of what he had witnessed, referred to the fighting as the "crucible of Hell." Okinawan civilians died in the tens of thousands: some were mistaken for soldiers by American troops; but as the US Marines spearheading the invasion drove further onto the island and Japanese defeat seemed inevitable, many more civilians took their own lives, some even murdering their own families. In just under three months, the world had changed irrevocably: President Franklin D. Roosevelt died; the war in Europe ended; America's appetite for an invasion of Japan had waned, spurring President Truman to use other means -- ultimately atomic bombs -- to end the war; and more than 250,000 servicemen and civilians on or near the island of Okinawa had lost their lives.

Drawing on archival research in the US, Japan, and the UK, and the original accounts of those who survived, Crucible of Hell tells the vivid, heart-rending story of the battle that changed not just the course of WWII, but the course of war, forever.

Details

  • Title Crucible of Hell: The Heroism and Tragedy of Okinawa, 1945
  • Author Saul David
  • Binding Hardback
  • Pages 448
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Grand Central Publishing
  • Illustrated Yes
  • ISBN 9780316534673 / 0316534676
  • Weight 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg)
  • Dimensions 9.35 x 6.6 x 1.75 in (23.75 x 16.76 x 4.45 cm)
  • Category History - Military / War
  • Library of Congress subjects World War, 1939-1945 - Campaigns - Japan -, HISTORY / Military / World War II
  • Dewey Decimal Code 940.542

About the author

Saul David is a military historian and broadcaster. He is the author of The Indian Mutiny, which was shortlisted for the Duke of Westminster's Medal for Military Literature, Military Blunders, Zulu: the Heroism and Tragedy of the Zulu War of 1879 (a Waterstone's Military History Book of the Year), Victoria's Wars, and Operation Thunderbolt: Flight 139 and the Raid on Entebbe Airport, the Most Audacious Hostage Rescue Mission in History, an Amazon History Book of the Year. He lives outside of Bath, England, where he is a professor of military history at the University of Buckingham.

More Copies for Sale

Crucible of Hell: The Heroism and Tragedy of Okinawa, 1945
Stock photo: cover may vary

Crucible of Hell: The Heroism and Tragedy of Okinawa, 1945

by David, Saul

  • Used
  • Hardback
Condition
Used
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780316534673 / 0316534676
Quantity available
4
Seller
Item price
A$8.01
A$4.38 Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Grand Central Publishing. Used - Very Good. Great shape! Has a publisher remainder mark. hardcover Used - Very Good 2020
Add to wish list
Item price
A$8.01
A$4.38 Delivery to USA
Crucible of Hell : The Heroism and Tragedy of Okinawa 1945
Stock photo: cover may vary

Crucible of Hell : The Heroism and Tragedy of Okinawa 1945

by Saul David

  • Used
  • Very good
  • Hardback
Condition
Very good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780316534673 / 0316534676
Quantity available
1
Seller
Item price
A$10.41
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Hachette Books, 2020. Hardcover. Very Good. May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$10.41
Free Delivery to USA
Crucible of Hell : The Heroism and Tragedy of Okinawa 1945
Stock photo: cover may vary

Crucible of Hell : The Heroism and Tragedy of Okinawa 1945

by Saul David

  • Used
  • Very good
  • Hardback
Condition
Very good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780316534673 / 0316534676
Quantity available
3
Seller
Item price
A$10.42
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Hachette Books, 2020. Hardcover. Very Good. Former library book; May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$10.42
Free Delivery to USA
Crucible of Hell : The Heroism and Tragedy of Okinawa 1945
Stock photo: cover may vary

Crucible of Hell : The Heroism and Tragedy of Okinawa 1945

by Saul David

  • Used
  • Good
  • Hardback
Condition
Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780316534673 / 0316534676
Quantity available
1
Seller
Item price
A$10.42
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Hachette Books, 2020. Hardcover. Good. Former library book; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$10.42
Free Delivery to USA
Crucible of Hell: The Heroism and Tragedy of Okinawa, 1945
Stock photo: cover may vary

Crucible of Hell: The Heroism and Tragedy of Okinawa, 1945

by David, Saul

  • Used
  • Very good
  • Hardback
Condition
Very good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780316534673 / 0316534676
Quantity available
2
Seller
Item price
A$10.42
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Hachette Books, 2020. Hardcover. Very Good. Missing dust jacket; May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$10.42
Free Delivery to USA
Crucible of Hell : The Heroism and Tragedy of Okinawa 1945
Stock photo: cover may vary

Crucible of Hell : The Heroism and Tragedy of Okinawa 1945

by David, Saul

  • Used
Condition
New
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780316534673 / 0316534676
Quantity available
1
Seller
Item price
A$11.07
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Grand Central Publishing. Used - Like New. Used book that is in almost brand-new condition. May contain a remainder mark. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$11.07
Free Delivery to USA
Crucible of Hell : The Heroism and Tragedy of Okinawa 1945
Stock photo: cover may vary

Crucible of Hell : The Heroism and Tragedy of Okinawa 1945

by David, Saul

  • Used
Condition
Used
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780316534673 / 0316534676
Quantity available
1
Seller
Item price
A$11.07
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Grand Central Publishing. Used - Very Good. Former library copy. Pages intact with possible writing/highlighting. Binding strong with minor wear. Dust jackets/supplements may not be included. Includes library markings. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$11.07
Free Delivery to USA
Crucible of Hell : The Heroism and Tragedy of Okinawa 1945
Stock photo: cover may vary

Crucible of Hell : The Heroism and Tragedy of Okinawa 1945

by David, Saul

  • Used
Condition
Used
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780316534673 / 0316534676
Quantity available
1
Seller
Item price
A$11.07
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Grand Central Publishing. Used - Good. Pages intact with minimal writing/highlighting. The binding may be loose and creased. Dust jackets/supplements are not included. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$11.07
Free Delivery to USA
Crucible of Hell : The Heroism and Tragedy of Okinawa 1945
Stock photo: cover may vary

Crucible of Hell : The Heroism and Tragedy of Okinawa 1945

by David, Saul

  • Used
Condition
Used
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780316534673 / 0316534676
Quantity available
1
Seller
Item price
A$11.07
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Grand Central Publishing. Used - Good. Former library copy. Pages intact with minimal writing/highlighting. The binding may be loose and creased. Dust jackets/supplements are not included. Includes library markings. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$11.07
Free Delivery to USA
Crucible of Hell: The Heroism and Tragedy of Okinawa, 1945
Stock photo: cover may vary

Crucible of Hell: The Heroism and Tragedy of Okinawa, 1945

by David, Saul

  • Used
  • Acceptable
Condition
Acceptable
Edition
Illustrated
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780316534673 / 0316534676
Quantity available
1
Seller
Item price
A$11.58
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Hachette Books. Illustrated. Acceptable. The item might be beaten up but readable. May contain markings or highlighting, as well as stains, bent corners, or any other major defect, but the text is not obscured in any way.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$11.58
Free Delivery to USA