Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts covered in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book contrasts the strengths and weaknesses of the military organizations of the major powers which fought in the Asia-Pacific Region. It analyzes the defeat of the Allied powers in the Philippines, Malaya-Singapore and Burma. The book explains the transition from stalemate to victory on the part of the Allies in the Solomons and New Guinea, finally culminating in the re-conquest of the Philippines and Burma. British writers focusing on the British military activities in South-East Asia mainly depend on the holdings from the Public Record Office, the National Army Museum, the Imperial War Museum and the British Library. Australian authors detailing the activities of the Australian armed forces in New Guinea use mostly the archival materials at the Australian War Memorial (AWM) at Canberra. The book focuses on the armed forces of the various powers which clashed in the Asia-Pacific Region.