War At The End Of The World

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This harrowing account details a nearly forgotten battle of World War II—General Douglas MacArthur's four-year campaign on the hostile island of New Guinea. Described by one soldier as “a green hell on earth,” the island's monsoon-soaked wilderness, oppressive heat, impassable mountains, torrential rivers, and disease-infested swamps made it a deadly battleground, surpassing even the most fanatical enemy troops. In January 1942, Japanese forces, numbering around 600,000, began landing with the aim of using New Guinea as a strategic base to eliminate Australia from the war. In response, MacArthur deployed 340,000 American troops, alongside tens of thousands of Australian, Dutch, and New Guinea forces, to reclaim the island at all costs. The ensuing four-year campaign witnessed some of the most horrific warfare in history. Initially, the Japanese were emboldened by their prior victories in the Pacific, but they soon faced a formidable challenge in New Guinea, reminiscent of the Germans' failed attempt to capture Moscow—a significant setback for their war efforts. For the Americans, securing New Guinea was crucial for advancing towards the Japanese home islands and ultimately dismantling Hirohito’s empire. MacArthur’s promise to return to the Philippines hinged on this victory. Historian James P. Duffy chronicles this brutal combat, marked by tropical disease, severe weather, and unforgiving terrain, filling a vital gap in World