Publisher Description

Fighting the Enemy is about men with the job of killing each other. Based on the wartime writings of hundreds of Australian front-line soldiers during World War II, this powerful and resonant book contains many moving descriptions of high emotion and drama. Soldiers' interactions with their enemies are central to war, and their attitudes to their adversaries are crucial to the way wars are fought. Yet few books look in detail at how enemies interpret each other. This book is an unprecedented and thorough examination of the way Australian combat soldiers interacted with troops from the four powers engaged in World War II: Germany, Italy, Vichy France and Japan. Each opponent has themes peculiar to it: the Italians were much ridiculed; the Germans were the most respected of enemies; the Vichy French were regarded with ambivalence; while the Japanese were the subject of much hostility, intensified by the real threat of occupation.

Notes

Fighting the Enemy is about men with the job of killing each other. Based on the wartime writings of hundreds of Australian front-line soldiers during World War II, this powerful and resonant book contains many moving descriptions of high emotion and drama. Soldiers’ interactions with their enemies are central to war, and their attitudes to their adversaries are crucial to the way wars are fought. This is an unprecedented and thorough examination of the way Australian combat soldiers interacted with troops from the four powers engaged in World War II.

Author Biography

Scotch College, Melbourne

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements; Conventions and Abbreviations; Introduction; Part I. War in the Middle East: 1. The Italians; 2. The Germans: the real enemy; 3. The Germans: mutual respect; 4. The Vichy French; Part II. War In The Pacific: 5. The Japanese: most encountered, most hated; 6. The Japanese: sources of hate; 7. The Japanese: questions of quality; 8. The Japanese: empathy, compassion and incomprehension; Conclusion; Appendix A. Fifth Columnists; Appendix B. Orders of Battle of Australia's Enemies; Notes; Bibliography; Index.

Review

' [The book's] great strength is that it shows how vividly personal war is when soldiers are allowed to speak for themselves.' The Weekend Australian ' ... an excellent and very highly recommended book. On one level, a good history of Australian conflicts in World War II. On another level, the very personal experiences of Australians in battle. On yet another level, a study of group Australian behaviour in times of conflict and crisis.' Law Society Journal

Promotional

This book, first published in 2000, is a compelling study about men with the job of killing each other during WWII.

Review Quote

' [The book

Promotional "Headline"

This book, first published in 2000, is a compelling study about men with the job of killing each other during WWII.

Description for Bookstore

Fighting The Enemy, first published in 2000, is about men with the job of killing each other. Based on the wartime writings of hundreds of Australian front-line soldiers during World War II, this powerful and resonant book contains many moving descriptions of high emotion and drama.

Description for Library

Fighting The Enemy, first published in 2000, is about men with the job of killing each other. Based on the wartime writings of hundreds of Australian front-line soldiers during World War II, this powerful and resonant book contains many moving descriptions of high emotion and drama.

Details