When the Shooting Stopped: August 1945

by Barrett Tillman

“Highly recommended as a sobering but enlightening account.” Richard B. Frank, author of The End of the Japanese EmpireIn the 44 months between December 1941 and August 1945, the Pacific Theater absorbed the attention of the American nation and military longer than any other. Despite the Allied grand strategy of “Germany first,” after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S. especially was committed to confronting Tokyo as a matter of urgent priority. But from Oahu to Tokyo was a long, sanguinary slog, averaging an advance of just three miles per day. The U.S. human toll paid on that road reached some 108,000 battle deaths, more than one-third the U.S. wartime total. But by the summer of 1945 on both the American homefront and on the frontline there was hope. The stunning announcements of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9 seemed sure to force Tokyo over the tipping point since the Allies' surrender demand from Potsdam, Germany, in July. What few understood was the vast gap in the cultural ethos of East and West at that time. In fact, most of the Japanese cabinet refused to surrender and vicious dogfights were still waged in the skies above Japan. This fascinating new history tells the dramatic story of the final weeks of the war, detailing the last brutal battles on air, land and sea with evocative first-hand accounts from pilots and sailors caught up in these extraordinary events. Barrett Tillman then expertly details the first weeks of a tenuous peace and the drawing of battle lines with the forthcoming Cold War as Soviet forces concluded their invasion of Manchuria. When the Shooting Stopped retells these dramatic events, drawing on accounts from all sides to relive the days when the war finally ended and the world was forever changed.

Genres: History, World War II, Military History, Nonfiction, War, Japan, American History

321 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 12, 2022

About the author

Born a fourth-generation Oregonian, descended from American pioneers, Revolutionary War Patriots, Pilgrims (e.g. Priscilla Alden) and Pocahontas, Tillman was raised on the family wheat and cattle ranch. His younger brothers include a breeder of exotic animals and a Rhodes Scholar. In high school he was an Eagle Scout[citation needed], won two state titles as a rudimental drummer, and was a champion speaker and debater. Tillman was first published in 1964 at age 15 and graduated from the University of Oregon in 1971 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.

Like his father, a Navy trained pilot in World War II, Tillman developed an early passion for aviation and learned to fly at age 16. Over the next several years he flew a variety of vintage and historic aircraft, including a pre-WW II Navy trainer and a restored dive-bomber. The latter became the subject of his first book, The Dauntless Dive Bomber of World War II, published in 1976. It established the format for many subsequent books, operational histories of U.S. Navy aircraft.

After college Tillman worked as a freelance writer until 1982 when he founded Champlin Fighter Museum Press in Mesa, Arizona, publishing out-of-print and new titles on military aviation.

In 1986 he moved to San Diego to become managing editor of The Hook, quarterly journal of the Tailhook Association. He remained in that position for three years before deciding to focus full time to writing fiction. His first novel was published in June 1990. Warriors[1] depicted a Mideast air war and became an immediate best seller when Iraq invaded Kuwait two months later.

Tillman's next two novels appeared in 1992: The Sixth Battle, (written with his brother John) which captured a wide following among computer war gamers; and Dauntless, intended as the first in a trilogy. It was followed by Hellcats, nominated as military novel of the year in 1996. He has also published original fiction in the Stephen Coonts anthologies, Combat and Victory.

Tillman remains active as a magazine writer. He is a regular contributor to The Hook, Flight Journal, and several firearms publications. He has also reported from Africa for Soldier of Fortune magazine.

Tillman is a former executive secretary of the American Fighter Aces Association.[2]

-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrett_...

Reviews

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book..detailing the well known acts of the last month of the war but including dozens of other items, I had actually never heard about

[Mark Mears · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the Shooting Stopped

Barrett Tillman

A very interesting perspective on the closing of the war in the Pacific.

The author provided uniquely detailed descriptions of actions of servicemen of all levels, and events I have not read in other accounts.

Definitely worth the read for those interested in WWII.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is mesmerizing the amount of death and destruction that occurred after Japan capitulated in 1945. However not many ever talk or think about this and this book elegantly addresses this face and wraps up the end of the war nicely. Well worth the time investment to read.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tillman documents the dramatic final weeks of the World War II. Incorporating first-hand accounts from pilots and sailors caught up in the last brutal battles on air, land, and sea. He repeatedly conveys the fervent hope of the wars end with the universal wariness of being one of the last casualties.

Why I started this book: Always looking for hunt for more books about Japan, World War II and/or great audio histories. This book was all three.

Why I finished it: Fascinating information and new, since many history books end with the bombs and the peace treaties and gloss over the mopping up actions, and true fear that Japan would continue to fight even though the Emperor surrendered. This book was heavy on details and names which I loved but more than a little confusing in audio as the book appeared to follow specific units from July & August thru to the Fall. With each new unit, the timeline was rewound and played again. With a book you can mark this with maps, and/or chapters that were easily missed on audio.

[Timothy Liu · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall not a very good history book. This book jumps erratically and feels poorly organized. The book flips between discussing high level strategy and excruciating tactical details about individual aircraft and ships. Sometimes the book feels more like an exhaustive list of "The last X in the war" than a cohesive story. The analysis and portrayal of the Soviet Union and Imperial Japan are little more than caricatures. The background evidence to support the author's characterizations was generally weak or broad details already well known. If I wasn't having so much trouble sleeping and sick for so long I wouldn't have bothered finishing it.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book on a recent Amazon book suggestion feed and bought it to read. This is a most readable, yet informative account of the end of World War II in East Asia and the Pacific. There is plenty of information that I already knew, but also plenty I did not know before I read this account. You can definitely include this account on the list of books telling of the end of World War II. Recommended.

[Jim Swike · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not read enough to give a proper review. Enjoy!

[Liam Rendall · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a slog of a read.