Marching Orders: The Untold Story of How the American Breaking of the Japanese Secret Codes Led to the Defeat of Nazi Germany and Japan

by Bruce Lee

The “extraordinarily informed” account of how US cryptographers broke Japan’s Purple cipher to change the course of World War II (Kirkus Reviews, starred review).Marching Orders tells the story of how the American military’s breaking of the Japanese diplomatic Purple codes during World War II led to the defeat of Nazi Germany and hastened the end of the devastating conflict. With unprecedented access to over one million pages of US Army documents and thousands of pages of top-secret messages dispatched to Tokyo from the Japanese embassy in Berlin, author Bruce Lee offers a series of fascinating revelations about pivotal moments in the war.   Challenging conventional wisdom, Marching Orders demonstrates how an American invasion of Japan would have resulted in massive casualties for both forces. Lee presents a thrilling day-by-day chronicle of the difficult choices faced by the American military brain trust and how, aware of Japan’s adamant refusal to surrender, the United States made the fateful decision to drop nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.   Hailed as “one of the most important books ever published on World War II” by Robert T. Crowley, an intelligence officer who later became a senior executive at the CIA, Marching Orders unveils the untold stories behind some of the Second World War’s most critical events, bringing them to vivid life. With this book, “many of the mysteries that have eluded historians since the end of the war are much the Pearl Harbor fiasco, D-Day, why the Americans let the Russians capture Berlin, and why the decision to drop the atomic bomb was made. This is the most significant publication about World War II since the recent series of books on the Ultra revelations” (Library Journal). It’s a story that, as historian Robin W. Winks said, “no one with the slightest interest in World War II or in the origins of the Cold War can afford to ignore.”  

Genres: History, World War II, Military History, Nonfiction, War, Military Fiction, Audiobook

892 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 25, 1995

Reviews

[Studebhawk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marching Orders
I have very mixed feelings about Marching Orders. I enjoyed the account of the massive contribution that code breaking played in the creation of the war strategy. The amount of documentation revealed here is overwhelming. The research by the author, the intimate details of the history of the war and the important figures of the day are all on display here.
My mixed feelings here are directed to the cold nature of the narrative. When I bought this book I had no idea I would feel like a witness to a dissection. The patient is the prosecution of the war in both theaters, and, we are the observers. This is a cold, dispassionate story narrated in an excellent manner.
Marching Orders is well done historical narration, an excellent contribution the history of the war,and, a salute to the many unsung hero's who helped bring the war to an end.

[David Elkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most important books written about the end of World War II. His examination of the secret Ultra and Magic Codes, putting them together with historical time lines made this a book of new revelations.

Written in 1995, it has seemed to be somewhat forgotten, but it should be read by every student of the War.

[Matthias Noch · Rating 5 out of 5]

With all the books written about WWII, it is tough to find some new information. Still, they exist in the so-far confidential reports based on the decoded content of foreign diplomatic messages. This book relies very heavily on the information provided by the Japanese embassies in Germany and elsewhere to Tokyo. As the US could decrypt them usually within 1-2 days, it is a treasure trove of strategic information informing the US strategy during WWII. They had access at nearly all times to the inner thinking and planning of the German military as the Japanese ambassador reported everything in minute detail home. And the Japanese military wanted to know everything about the situation of the war in Europe. So in this way, the US got everything they were interested in very eagerly as well. While everyone always focuses on the decryption of Engima, the decrypted diplomatic messages most likely influenced the strategic development of the war much more. The focus of this book is on the war in Europe. The war in the Pacific is only covered in the end when Japan tried to find a way to peace with Russia, which was delivering – unfortunately - more arguments to use the atomic bomb against Japan.

After reading this book, one understands many strategic developments in the war in Europe much better and sees some new info regarding the US decision to use the nuclear bomb.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very important book that documents through impeccable research the capacity of the Allies to intercept and decrypt on a continuous basis the top secret messages exchanged by its enemies. Reports emanating from japanese ambassadors became a prime source of information about the order of battle and operational orders of the german, japanese and italian armed forces. Enemies were revealing their strategies, operational information, strengths and weaknesses to the Allies. The Allies won the war of information, creating confusion about their intentions and adjusting their plans from the feedback unknowingly provided by the enemy. This book covers a dimension of the war that has not received the same level of interest when compared to the multiple publications covering the description and analysis of military operations. A very important monograph published in 1995 that should be a staple of any personal library about WW2.

[Lily P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely well documented and detailed review of WWII, what we knew when, who knew it and how decisions were made to win the war in Europe and the Pacific. The Japanese secret codes were broken by "Magic" early on in the war but understanding the volume of communications in context of the political and military fronts was a skill the United States needed to learn along the way.

Difficult questions like: Did we know Pearl Harbor was going to be attacked? Were there peace negotiations in progress before we bombed Hiroshima? Did we really need to drop the 2nd atomic bomb at Nagasaki are carefully dissected. The author relies only on written documents of the period to find evidence, wary of later in life first person recollections or Monday Morning Quarterbacking by politicians and historians--Lee builds the framework for what did leaders know at that time and how were they understanding, evaluating and making decisions with the knowledge they had.

Even with the number of WWII books I've read, biographies and first person accounts, I never really had a good grasp of exactly how much of the WORLD was engaged in a reordering of country, culture and economies until I read this book.

It is ambitious to try and write something that makes the War in Europe, Africa and the Pacific comprehensible in a single document. Lee did that and more. Understanding Central and South America's roles, Australia and SE Asia--this was a World War fought by information as much as it was bombs and bullets.

Get maps out and take notes--this is a very good read, but there is a LOT to try and keep in context.

[Ray Savarda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, long for an e-book. A lot of surprising info about how we got to the post-war east vs west europe, and in-depth considerations about why we dropped the bomb that I never thought of. Very interesting read, well written.

[Brian Campbell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tedious

Useful if daily reporting of intelligence is desired. It took me a long time to skip to the end and I wish I did so sooner. Chapter 1 makes good points then the rest bogs down.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lee used new access to US Army documents to compare the intercepted top-secret messages dispatched to Tokyo from the Japanese embassy in Berlin and elsewhere around the world to actual events on the battlegrounds. Lining up the top secret and the open documents Lee demonstrated the necessity of continual scholarly historical research and challenged several popular theories about Japan's willingness to surrender without the nuclear bombs.

Why I started this book: New audio book about Japan at my library, I immediately jumped on the hold list.

Why I finished it: So this might be a new audio but it's not a new book. First published in the early 90's Lee was one of the first to go through the declassified material and lay it out chronologically in comparison to what was already public knowledge. My key take aways, stated (and unstated by Lee):
1. US leaders could see in real time the Japanese diplomats and cabinet discuss and dismiss the calls for them to surrender. They read all the instructions to the diplomats in Russia as the Japanese tried to negotiate with the Russians to end the war. They could see what Japan was prepare to offer and reject.
2. After the war, they continued to read the Japanese diplomatic traffic and watched the Japanese decide to use the atomic bombings to paint themselves as victims and turn the conversation away from their own crimes.
3. Japanese diplomats were clear eyed and realistic about Germany, Italy and the countries that they were serving in. It is amazing to realize how easy it is to assess someone else and miss completely your circumstances/situation.
4. WWII generals got a huge boost of glory/shine because of the intelligence that they were getting in realtime from Ultra and Magic intercepts. I am fascinated but what will be revealed about the intelligence reports in Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq. Very hard to judge generals when the circumstances are so vastly different. Although McArthur's intelligence failures in Korea make a lot more sense now...
5. Even/especially ground breaking research could benefit from a professional editor. Lee repeated himself and there were several points where I was uncertain if my audio app was skipping. It wasn't the app.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is quite good, and explores in detail the results of the work of the code-breakers in WW II and how their work may have influenced the strategic decisions made at the upper levels of command. I have been reading and studying about WW II for many years, and a lot of the information in this book was new to me. For example, I knew we had broken the Japanese diplomatic code - but did not understand that the Japanese ambassador to Germany was reporting, in exquisite detail, the German order of battle, their plans (both immediate and strategic), those plans. Which we were reading. Really interesting.

The bad news is that the author comes across as fairly full of himself. References to other books seem to always be accompanied by comments like "Which I commissioned." "Which I edited." and the like. I didn't go through the source material looking for it, but it seemed like this constituted a lot of his source material. He also seems to believe that, since he can see how the intelligence information could have been used, that's how it was used. We simply don't have enough information to say that's how it was (or how it wasn't).

[Lyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended!

A more accurate understanding of the intricacies affairs on and off the battlefields of WWII can be gained through the reading of the intelligence gained by the allies by the breaking of both the Japanese and German military & diplomatic codes. As an avid reader of many titles from volumes pertaining to historical records, biographies of the participants on the opponent’s; having viewed movies on the various topics of the war; documentaries, etc. etc., I judged.my knowledge to be complete. After the addition of this volume to my bookshelf, I know my education was not completed!
Any armchair historian will find the work compelling reading.

[Mary Keen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't have enough time now to review this amazing book! It contains so many details and tidbits of info that I'd had no idea of --eg that the Japanese wanted to unite with the Russians and pretty much conquer the world! The secret communications "Magic" found out re Japanese plans are amazing and there'll be more when the Brits finally release more in the coming days --75 years after the war.

It's very long and i missed parts as went thru, so want to listen to again later --and have ordered a copy for family members.

Overdrive @ 1.25 speed

[Raul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent details of WWII and the breaking of the Japanese secret code and the help the Magic decoded secret information helped win two wars, the Pacific and European fronts.
The prologue explains how Japan exonerates itself from any blame or responsibility for the war and its atrocities. A great lesson about propaganda used by the Japanese. Propaganda works and it is widely used in the USA today (Dec 2020) to change the real facts into a fictional reality that people really believe.

[Mike Speer · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book.

An enjoyable experience that enlightens and informs. Having grown up with stories told to me by uncles who were in every branch of the military during this time. I became a avid reader of all things World War II.
This books helps fill in the missing pieces and answers questions I still have.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating history of how the U.S. broke the Japanese codes during World War II and its impact on the war in Europe as well as in Asia. Very meticulous in its approach with an overwhelming amount of detail. Stopped reading after about 200 pages because about 75% of the book remained. Would be worth picking up again.

[Edward R Wendelburg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb!

While this book is long and involved, it answers every question a person could ask about Coding and its significance in WW11.
An amazing read.

[Mark Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. An insightful and well-organized recounting of US intelligence managing the exploitation of information across the globe during the Second World War. It's a good read.

[Mike Augustine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This subject matter of this book was compelling and well documented, but very poorly structured and presented in total. Properly organized and edited this could have been great.

[Richard Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should not be the first g read about WW II.


After reading many excellent books about WWII, I believe this book stands apart. It takes the reader inside the minds of some of the worst minds in Japan and Germany.

[Dave Beeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. Author links Magic/Ultra messages to action taken by Allied leaders to show how the Japanese helped win the battle for Germany.

[Joseph Petrillo · Rating 3 out of 5]

A strangely organized book. The longest part explores the insights reaped by Allied forces from decrypted messages sent by Japanese diplomats and military personnel posted to the Third Reich about their meetings with top Nazis, including Hitler. The next part is a long digression, resting on communications between Eisenhower and the War Dept., on why the Americans did not make Berlin their prime objective, as their British allies had wanted. Finally, the narrative returns to the decrypts, and argues from them that the fanaticism of the military-dominated Japanese government, made the use of the atom bomb inevitable. This work is more for the serious WWII scholar, than the casual reader, like myself

[Bob Matter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book to prepare for a speech I am giving August 27, 2016 at the College of Complexes in Chicago about why the atomic bombing of Japan in WWII was both right and necessary. I was surprised at how interesting the whole book turned out to be outside of the atomic bomb content, and I am declaring it a contender for my "Surprise Good Read of the Year" award for 2016. If you are a military/history buff, I strongly encourage you to read Marching Orders.

[Curt Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A part of WWII that no one hears about

Fascinating look into the interworkings of the intelligence
That made the Allied victories of WWII possible, and the beginnings of the turmoil our world is in today

[Marylou]

Fascinating look at WW2 from Japanese point of view