Yom Kippur War Factoid

As I said, I have been reading the Yom Kippur war by Abraham Rabinovich.

If the 6 day war came to symbolise Israeli power and triumph then the Yom Kippur war is symbolic of mass Israeli failure. (This despite the fact that although Israel suffered massive setbacks in opening of the war, by then end it held more territory than it held when Egypt and Syria sprung the surprise attack.)

Here is the interesting and depressing factoid:

Israel lost amost three times as many men per capita in nineteen days of fighting in the Yom Kippur war as did the United States in Vietnam in close to a decade.

Comments

[David Gerstman]

I have not read Rabinovich's book, but I have read "Adjusting Sights" by Chaim Sabbato. The disbelief of Israel's predicament is very well conveyed in the book.

[Steve]

I believe the Rabinovich war to be the best available book on the war at this moment. It unfortunately doesnt go deeply enough into the macro war - the political machinations and effects it had on the super powers. It does delve into it but notenough. Rather it details many micro military details. This makes up for the fault i mentioned because it makes the war more human, you read about what the soldiers went through, about specific battle details. The book however also doesnt go enough into the Arab perspetive. Still, it is the best available book according to Michael Oren, author of six days of war, which is without doubt the best book on the 6 day war. Oren's book makes extensive use of both Arab and Israeli sources and criticises Rabinovich for not doing the same. but he also offers alot of praise for the book, as I said, regarding it as the best available book on the war.
It was a powerful...and sad read

[Jimmy D]

Hi - I'm in NZ and researching the ijmportance of morale on the Golan Heights 1973. Does any one have access to, " Chaim Sabbato, Adjusting Sights", or any pther relevant information - thanks

[Steve]

Sorry I dont have it. Sounds like interesting research. I understand morale ebbed and flowed and but was mainly pretty low?