China and Japan at War, 1937–1945

Images of War

by Philip Jowett

This pictorial history of the Sino-Japanese War offers a rare look at one of the most important yet neglected aspects of WWII. The 1937-1945 war between China and Japan was one of the most bitter conflicts of the twentieth century. It was a struggle between the two dominant peoples of Asia. Millions of soldiers fought on each side and millions of soldiers and civilians died. Philip Jowett's book is one of the first photographic histories of this devastating confrontation. Using a selection of almost 200 historic photographs, he traces the course of the entire war from the Japanese invasion and the retreat of the Chinese armies and their refusal to surrender, to the involvement of the Americans and the eventual Japanese defeat in 1945. Jowett’s graphic account is an absorbing introduction to this often-overlooked theatre of the Second World War. The images show the armies on all sides and the weaponry and equipment they used. But they also record the experience of the troops, Chinese and Japanese, and of the Chinese civilians who suffered terribly through eight years of war.

Genres: China, Japan

291 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 30, 2016

About the author

Philip S. Jowett was born in Leeds in 1961 and has been interested in military history for as long as he can remember. His first Osprey book was Chinese Civil War Armies 1911–49, and since then he has published numerous other titles for Osprey including, The Russo-Japanese War 1904–05, Japan's Asian Allies 1941–45 and Armour in China 1920–1950. He lives in North Lincolnshire, UK.

Reviews

[Jason Hubbard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of the most bitter conflicts fought during the Second World War and considered by many to be the most bitter of the 20th Century. In fact, there is still a high level of resentment among Chinese of all ages regarding what the Japanese did during the war, and the fact that today Japan still refuses to acknowledge the atrocities it committed against the Chinese people.


It covers the invasion of China by the Japanese Imperial forces in 1937 through to the surrender of Japan in 1945. Millions of soldiers from both countries fought during this terrible conflict, and millions of Chinese civilians suffered greatly.

The author covers the history of this devastating conflict in the photographs taken throughout the war. He has managed to select over 200 images that takes the war from the invasion in 37, the retreat of Chinese forces in the face of over whelming odds, the bitter and violent battles of Nanjing and Shanghai through to the final surrender in 45.

The brutal war in China is often neglected by both historians and war gamers in the west. Yet the author has provided an absorbing yet graphic account of this conflict that ravaged China. The images not only show the armies involved but also the weapons and vehicles utilised by both sides. The book also records the 8-year struggle that the ordinary soldiers of both Chinese and Japanese armies endured during this brutal occupation.
The second book looks at Japans blitzkrieg into South East Asia and the capture of Singapore.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good collection of photos that provide important insight into an often-neglected (in terms of history published in English) theatre of World War Two.

[Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

An outstanding collection of photographs from an understudied aspect of World War 2.

[Jack Hwang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the pictures are really rare. Most could be found in various sources. However, it's still a good picture books for readers who are not familiar with the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.

[George Polansky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coverage of the China-Japan theater of war. Good information and photos.