Tom Goodrich Summer of 45

Summer, 1945–Germany, Japan and the Harvest of Hate.  As some of you already know, Summer, 1945  is the follow-up to my previous book, Hellstorm–The Death of Nazi Germany, 1944-1947.  This new book (right )  is the culmination of over three years of research and writing.  It is  also a project that had to overcome hurricanes, divorces and several  major moves and setbacks in my life.  With all that said I am pleased to  announce that those who have read the initial draft of Summer, 1945, believe the book’s impact equals that of Hellstorm; I am even more pleased to state that some who have read the rough draft feel the book’s impact greatly surpasses that of Hellstorm.  An  author is, of course, the last person on earth to determine whether his  book is greater or less than his last; that little detail is left up  entirely to you, the reader.

As was the case with Hellstorm, there was no pleasure in  writing this book.  Quite the opposite.  Similarly, other than the  satisfaction of finishing what was started, there is no thrill in the  actual  release of this book.  Anyone who has heard of Hellstorm  or anyone who has actually read it can well understand what someone  goes through when writing such a book.  Why then did I write it?   Because no one else had.  It’s that simple.  Despite being perhaps the  most pivotal moment of the modern era, despite books devoted to  virtually every other aspect of World War Two, over the past seventy  years none has seen fit to devote a book to these critical four months  of world history–the summer of 1945.  In those crucial four  months—months of so-called “peace” for Germany, months of absolute hell  for Japan—the worst crimes known to man, the worst crimes committed by  man, the worst crimes committed against man, all occurred and all were committed, then hidden, under a virtual shroud of silence, secrecy and darkness.