In 9 chapters of 209 pages the author describes in great detail the efforts made by Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan to trade in weapons technology and raw materials. Faced with ever increasing Allied interdiction submarine crews braved dangerous voyages lasting months to bring much needed raw materials to Germany and weapons technology to Japan in a mutual aid programme based upon a common distrust. To read of the determination of both nations coupled with their need we see how the Yanagi trade evolved from blockade running surface shipping of great tonnage to undersea commerce of a fraction of that with a great loss of cargoes and personnel as the balance of war tipped in favour of the Allies. Employed were submarines of Japan, Germany and Italy in a bid to traverse 26,000 nautical miles unmolested with some early success. Stories of personal bravery and sacrifice unfold as U-Boat commanders respond to orders betrayed by the signals intelligence of the Allies who had broken their codes. There are some quite harrowing tales relayed and we are shown what may have been had this Yanagi trade had greater success. Well documented with 31 black and white photos - an excellent read.

Gary Wenko, Japanese Aviation

The author has done a superb job of putting this research together, and most readers will definitely learn something new in this book on this fascinating subject. In years of WWII research, I had never realized the extent of the technical exchanges that went on between these two Axis countries, particularly. The material on the Japanese effort to get jet aircraft into the Pacific war is first-class and illuminating.

Amazon