The Generals

The Generals: From Defeat to Victory, Leadership in Asia 1941-1945 by Robert Lyman In December 1941, Britain's defence of its Asian colonies collapsed as the Japanese army advanced across Malaya and Burma. The British were exposed to a new type of warfare, a Japanese blitzkrieg that proved effective against Hitler's forces in France the previous year. Defeat seemed inevitable, but only four years later the Japanese would be in full-scale retreat. This book tells the gripping story of the war in the Far East through the roles of military leaders on both sides. The personality and leadership style of each commander directly influenced the outcome of battles, strategy formulation, and troop determination to fight to the bitter end. Through the stories of key figures such as Yamashita, Percival, Hutton, Irwin, Mountbatten, Stilwell, Mutaguchi, and Slim, Lyman examines the crucial factors that led to the ultimate victory. The Burma campaign, spanning jungle, mountain, and desert prairie across Malaya, Burma, India, and China, is revealed in all its complexity. The book sheds light on the desperate struggle known as 'The Forgotten War', where the outcome was far from certain until the very end.