Stuart D. Goldman is a scholar in residence at the National Council for Eurasian and East European Research in Washington, D.C. From 1979 2009, he was the senior specialist in Russian and Eurasian political and military affairs at the Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress. A resident of Rockville, MD, he holds a PhD from Georgetown University.
Nomonhan, 1939 is a particularly noteworthy book on this four-month
battle. Goldman's writing style is en¬gaging and absorbing. As a
historian, he brings a unique ability to inform and entertain; his
topic is complex and vast but he deftly navigates the reader in a
clear and logical way. The book has extensive endnotes and a
comprehensive bibliography. This reviewer would recommend the book
very strongly to anyone, historians and casual readers alike, who
wish to comprehend the intricacies of the Far East in the months
prior to Japan's entry into World War II." —Michigan War Studies
Review
"Goldman provides a very thorough account from the side of Japan
and the Soviet Union." —Choice
"Although extensively researched and heavily footnoted, this is not
a book merely or even primarily for scholars. Goldman writes very
well indeed. The historical arguments are clearly presented, the
battles described brilliantly and the personalities evoked through
use of primary sources. Nomonhan, 1939 is, unexpectedly, something
of a page-turner." —Asian Review of Books
"Goldman masterfully untangles the complicated diplomatic context
and battlefield maneuverings in a tour de force that shows how
global diplomacy and WWII were affected by the outcome of
hostilities in an obscure backwater of little strategic
importance." —The Japan Times
"Goldman's book provides food for thought while directing attention
to an aspect of pre-war diplomacy that is too often left out of the
analysis of decision making by the many parties involved in shaping
the coming war." —H-Diplo, part of H-Net
"Goldman's book is for those with an interest in armor tactics, and
World War II campaigns tactically and geo-strategically. A
refreshing read." —DCMilitary.com
"Goldman should be commended for producing a well-written and
well-balanced book. Nomonhan, 1939 not only depicts this
Russo-Japanese conflict in a lucid and vivid manner, but also
offers a greater contextualization of it than has any previous
account. For these merits, it is highly recommended reading for
anyone who is interested in the pre-war Russo-Japanese rivalry and
its global impact, and most notably for students and scholars who
are looking for a succinct and reliable account of the dramatic
events in Nomonhan." —Israel Journal of Foreign Affairs
"All in all, this volume has the potential to become the book of
the year in history/military science. It is very well researched,
logically argued and presents the topic in an organic way, looking
at Soviet foreign and military policies' western and eastern
components not as disjoined parts but as the two sides of the same
coin…A tour de force that should be a compulsory reading for
historians, military leaders and that part of the general public
that is interested in understanding the deeper undercurrents of the
big global conflict that we call by the name World War II."
—Journal of Eurasian Studies
"For anyone interested in the military history of the last century,
in general, or the background to the beginning of World War II, in
particular, Goldman has produced a work which should be required
reading. Based on a wide range of English, Russian and Japanese
language primary and secondary source materials, the book is a very
interesting and thought-provoking analysis of, as Goldman puts it,
'the most important World War II battle most people have never
heard of' (p. 5). Rightly or wrongly, most people in the West, if
they know the battle at all, identify it through the Russian or
Mongolian version of its name--Khalkin Gol--rather than the
Japanese version used in the title of the work--Nomonhan. Divided
into seven chapters--and a number of sub-sections within each
chapter--Goldman's book not only demonstrates his mastery of the
material to hand, but also great thought in what is an admirably
balanced and even-handed account of a much too-long neglected
battle in the history of events leading to the outbreak of World
War II in 1939." —Europe-Asia Studies
"This book is well researched, using both Japanese and Russian
sources. Goldman does an excellent job tying together the various
events such as the Nomonhan battle, the Soviet Nonaggression Pact
with Germany and the start of World War II...This is a must read
for all those with an interest in World War II and subsequent
events." —The Past in Review
"Stuart D. Goldman has not only written a powerful account of the
Red Army's lopsided victory over Imperial Japan but also included
the impact the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact had on the war,
paving the way for Hitler to invade Poland a few days after
hostilities at Nomonhan had ended." —WWII History
"Compelling." —Publishers Weekly online review
"Knowing what the "little war" triggered -- and Dr. Goldman
justifies his claims -- makes reading the detail of his
beautifully-crafted book even more compelling. And he gives context
which is important to us today in understanding Asia. Great book!"
—Defense & Foreign Affairs Special Analysis
"This is a brilliant battle study highlighting the military
blunders and political decisions, actions, and blunders." —Military
Officer Magazine, December 2012
"Nomonhan, 1939 is Stuart Goldman's brilliant military and
political history of 'the first instance in the modern age of
limited war between great powers.' Students of military and
political history will find this book to be a valuable resource for
their understanding of the dynamics of military and political
decisions that directly impacted World War II. And it makes for
exciting reading." —New Maine Times Book Review
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