concerted effort by the government to clean up the reputation of the military and political leadership of the time,

I am not aware of this.
Can you point out some examples please?

The current understanding of the history of this period has been building for about 30 years.
The new books contain nothing new on that score.
Are you suggesting that there is a conspiracy among historians to push a false version of history?
Why would they?
Who would it benefit?

It may be that the historians have all got it wrong, in which case I am wrong too.
Otherwise, I am right.