WWII Pacific Review

Hidezo Kando

1933 joined newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun as a political cartoonist and then joined the magazine Manga published by the Propaganda Bureau

Wang Jingwei

1940 puppet regime in Nanking led by ____. Ruled all of China and presented as Sun Yat-sen's successor

Treatment of POW

4/10 American prisoners died of starvation, illness or abuse More than a quarter of Western PoWs lost their lives in Japanese captivity. This represented deprivation and brutality of a kind familiar to Russian and Jewish prisoners of the Nazis in Europe, yet shocking to the American, British and Australian public. 40% of the 27,000 Americans taken prisoner died in captivity - this compares with 1% of the American prisoners who died in German POW camps The Japanese made no attempt to identify ships carrying PoWs. At least 10,000 perished following Allied attacks. An officer of the Gordons who protested against sick men being forced to work was also tied to a tree, beneath which guards lit a fire and burnt him like a Christian martyr. POW were basically used as slaves and either dies or lived to be freed. Prisoners were beaten, starved and abused, and forced to work in mines and war-related factories in clear violation of Geneva conventions Towed behind boats and used to test if there were mines in the water

Importance of Air Power in allied victory

After the capture of Saipan, Japanese home islands were easier to access for the US. B-29s were used to reduce a significant portion of Japan's urban areas, since they were built out of wood. Incendiary bombs were first favored for this reason. The bombing campaign began in earnest in the spring of 1945. Instead of subjecting the city to high explosives, the US decided to attack at a low level with incendiary bombs. The Japanese air force was unsure as to how to respond. While the death toll was high, the raids did little to damage Japanese industrial capacity. However, the Japanese industrial economy had little capacity left. Japanese firebombs were overall unsuccessful in the US -- only caused one death Development of the atomic bomb and the dropping on Hiroshima on August 6 and Nagasaki on August 9 decimated Japanese opposition

Operation Downfall

Also known as Operation Olympic Allied plan for Japanese invasion in two parts, Kyushu and Kanto in October 1945

Japanese American Relocation

Anti-Japanese sentiment in California at turn of the 20th Century 90% of all immigrants in California were of Japanese descent Californians had been concerned about Japanese immigration for a long period of time -- segregated against them in schools, prevented them from purchasing land, etc. At the time of the Pearl Harbor attack about 112,000 Japanese Americans lived on the West Coast and about 150,000 Japanese Americans lived in Hawaii Fear that they could be conspiring with Japanese overseas, even though many no longer had ties Alien Registration Act of 1940: required the registration and fingerprinting of any "enemy alien" aged 14 or older; additional information collected by the FBI and compiled in the Custodial Detention Index (CDI) Included Germans and Italians in addition to Japanese US not even at war with any of these countries at this point Presidential Proclamation 2525 (December 7, 1941): declared Japanese nationals as enemy aliens and authorized the use of the CDI to locate foreign nationals from Japan "a viper is a viper no matter where it was born" Executive Order 9066 February 19, 1942 Authorized military commanders to establish military areas and gave them authorization to exclude "enemy aliens", whether citizen or not, from those areas

Unit 731

Biological and chemical research unit of the Imperial Japanese Army that employed lethal experiments on people during the Second Sino-Japanese War. It instigated some of the most notorious war crimes committed by Japan. Based in Pingfang district of Harbin (largest city in Japanese 'puppet state' of Manchukuo). Initially was set up under Kempeitai military police of the Empire of Japan, but was overtaken by General Shiro Ishii until the end of the war. Biological warfare included: plague, anthrax, cholera, etc. Research conducted included "field testing" of plague bombs by dropping them on Chinese cities to see where they could outbreak plagues: they could. Japan's biological weapons program was born in the 1930s partly because Japanese officials were impressed that germ warfare had been banned by the Geneva Convention of 1925. They reasoned that it biological warfare was so awful that it had to be banned under international law, that it must make a great weapon. US Army granted immunity from war crimes prosecution to doctors in exchange for their data US then helped to cover up the human experimentation Can be seen as an attempt to justify discoveries that the US wanted to make, but did not want to violate their moral code making -- the fact that the Japanese had already made these discoveries allowed for the US to evade backlash

Lytton Commission

Blamed Japan for the Manchurian Incident

Initial Japanese success

Bonsai Culture- surrender was a disgrace and soldiers fought to the death Allies were overwhelmed by Japanese surprise attacks: Discounted Japanese military strength Largely discounted the possibility of Japanese espionage Didn't think that they would have spies anywhere, despite the fact that American propaganda always depicted the Japanese as being sneaky Not prepared for fighting in the jungles of Asia Didn't believe in the fight to the death American disagreement on who to focus on: Japan or Germany? Japan first largely supported by Republicans, the West/Midwest, and the Navy Germany first largely supported by Democrats, the East, and the Army FDR: Germany most important but fight the Japanese at the same time Divided our strength -- Germany still given a slight preference over Japan

Importance of Naval Power in Allied Victory

By 1943, the US already had a clear advantage. With close to 17,000 aircraft at its disposal, compared with the Japan's nearly 3,000, the US dramatically gained the upper hand Japan had enjoyed at the beginning of the war. Japan lagged behind but also kept constructing and converting new carriers. American carrier aircraft were responsible for more Japanese warship tonnage sunk than any other agent. They were responsible for no less than 70 percent of Japanese fleet carrier sinkings and 55 percent of battleship sinkings. Numbers aside, the American legacy was also due to the larger number of carriers operated by the USN and the ultimately superior tactics it developed. Militaries around the world had started experimenting with launching aircraft from a carrier since the 1920s, and by the 1930s all major powers had some for of purpose-built aircraft carriers. This style of fighting increased the combat effectiveness of surface fleets. The Japanese began the war with one of the best carrier-borne fighters of the war; however, by 1942, the US also possessed an excellent carrier-borne fighter.

Comfort Women

Forced prostitutes in 1930s and 1940s Concept was that if women were provided for Japanese soldiers, the rate of rape would decrease -- proved to be unsuccessful Estimated 20,000-400,000, mainly from China and Korea (and other countries) Only 10% survived the war 24-40 men per day Young women were abducted and held at brothels, often mistreated and raped Often the young chinese girls could not run away because their feet were bound and deformed Lawsuit filed in 1991 for compensation and many comfort women came forward, formal apology issued in 1993 South Korea wants government to apologize and issue state compensation (all compensation now comes from private donors) and address what actually happened - the Japanese government wants to stop apologizing for the past There are only 47 comfort women remaining Most have received no help or compensation from Chinese or Japanese government (South Korea has provided some) Most women didn't speak out until the 1990s for fear of persecution No lawsuits have been successful

Operation Starvation

Goal- disrupt trade by creating a total naval blockade of Japan 1000 parachute mines were dropped on the first day of the operation- by the end of the war over 12,135 mines were dropped in Japanese territorial waters Mined inland waterways to end remaining coastal traffic Result: trade was almost ended: Trade from Kobe, Japan, declined by 85% In the last six months of the war more Japanese tonnage was destroyed than during the rest of the war

Why Japan LOST

In 1940, the US Signal Intelligence Service decoded the Japanese code. The intelligence discovered from this was nicknamed Magic. The discovery of the Japanese code allowed for the US to anticipate attacks prior to their taking place. At times, the US was able to decode Japanese messages before the Japanese were. Lack of resources Kokutai and Pan-Asianism encouraged the Japanese to expand into the Eastern hemisphere because their isolated position prevented them from obtaining the necessary resources, such as oil US embargoed oil (part of the moral embargo), leaving Japan in a shortage necessary for their wartime supplies Stockpiles of resources decreasing at home, since the Japanese industrial infrastructure was too fragile to sustain modern warfare Initially, the Japanese were quite successful in their land campaigns, having dominated Singapore and Hong Kong with ease; however, the American advance across the Pacific and the innovative strategy of island-hopping began to challenge Japanese status in the Eastern hemisphere. The Japanese, after 1942, were essentially fighting a war on two fronts, as they continued to fight in the Second Sino-Japanese War to the West, and the Pacific War to the East, leaving their resources considerably strained. Abstract idea of kokutai (the warrior spirit) was the defining battle belief -- thought that they could fight on goodwill, with an abstract dedication to their concept, but was not good for strategy Slow rate of technological production *see above with naval and air strategies for Allies*

Potsdamn Declaration

Issued by the US, Britain, and China on July 26, 1945 Called for the unconditional surrender of Japan or it would face "prompt and utter destruction"- rejected by Japan on July 28

Why US bombed Japan

Japan was deploying two million soldiers and an additional four million auxiliaries to defend the Home Islands as well as the mobilization of the entire civilian population Schools had been closed and schoolchildren were being trained to fight US estimated an invasion of Japan would result in at least one million US casualties Based casualty numbers on the fight to the death battles on Saipan, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa Didn't see how they could explain to soldiers and families not using the weapon US didn't see the use of the atomic weapon as any worse than the US firebombing campaigns on Japanese cities like Tokyo US had invested $2 billion in the Manhattan Project US was concerned about prospective Soviet participation in the war- saw using the bomb as a way to minimize Soviet involvement and make Stalin more 'manageable' after the war

Hideki Tojo

Japanese army general who became Prime Minister on October 16, 1941 and ordered the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 Both War Minister and Minister of Home affairs Dismissed as prime minister following the Battle of Saipan on June 15, 1944

Japanese Propaganda

Japanese education focused on the idea of "right thinking" Centered around militarism and emperor worship Opening pages of texts: "Advance! Advance! Soldiers move forward!" All subjects had military themes: music was war songs, phy ed was war games, science was racial theory/explosives/mines, math used divisions and units Use of severe corporal punishment Cult of Death- willingness and eagerness to die for the emperor Japan targeted its propaganda at three primary audiences: Its own citizens Occupied Asian states Allied soldiers Specifically targeted minority groups Why fight a war for a country that was a racist state?

Operation Z

Japanese posed at tourists at the naval base -- took photos all over in order to create a map that would be useful in the attack on Pearl Harbor

ABCD Line

July 26: US froze all Japanese assets in the US and placed a total embargo on trade with Japan -- same act followed by the British, the Chinese, and the Dutch Imposition of the ABCD Line after the Japanese occupation of Indochina Backed Japan into a corner- in 1940 80% of all Japanese oil came from the US, meaning Japan had roughly 1.5 years of reserves left Fed into the idea that the Japanese were never going to be seen as equals Military became more determined to act to take the East Indies, meaning probable war with the US and UK because of the need to neutralize Singapore and the Philippines to secure the East Indies raw materials needed

Moral Embargo

July: US canceled its 1911 commercial treaty with Japan (all trade relations between US and Japan)- wanted to use trade as leverage to control Japanese behavior Trade after that point was on solely a month-by-month basis Hoped that US would be able to force Japan to act responsibly internationally With it started the "moral embargo" of Japan Would not sell Japan anything that Japan could potentially use against civilians in war Intentionally broad Say Yes! to not giving our enemies weapons! 81% of Americans approved of it -- showed increasing hostilities towards Japan from the public Used by the Japanese to show that the Americans would never see them as equals Essentially an act of war against Japan -- but not ready to declare official war

Battle of Midway

June 4-6, 1942 final Japanese offensive in the Pacific- attempt to destroy US aircraft carriers in the mid-Pacific; a decisive US victory- considered the major turning point of the war -- US now on the offensive

General views/mistrust of US and Japan

Lytton Report, ABCD Line, etc. -- US always trying to box Japan in and reduce imperialistic efforts after the Japanese invasion into Manchuria in 1931 Japanese atrocities in China, especially the Rape of Nanking, turned American public opinion from Japan and further complicated US-Japan diplomacy Japan constantly exercised their imperialist efforts, beginning in Korea and Taiwan and expanding into Manchuria and the rest of China after 1937 Constant desire to be seen as a significant global power Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere Caused relations with the US and European nations to deteriorate US began to impose various economic and immigration sanctions on Japan in order to discourage their behavior -- instead of containing them, it fed into the Japanese ultra-nationalist sentiment Reinforcing each other's mistrust constantly

Battle of Coral Sea

May 4-8. 1942 Japan wanted to capture Port Moresby, New Guinea, to get bases within striking distance of Australia; large naval battle- first naval battle ships fought without being in sight of each other; Allies lost more tonnage but were able to stop the Japanese drive on Australia

Battle of Corregidor

May 5-6, 1942 heavily fortified island in Manila Bay; Japan wanted to end US resistance in the Philippines- stormed the island with tanks and led to the US surrender- 80,000 US soldiers taken prisoner

Cairo Declaration

November 1943 Used as a propaganda tool Allied statement that declared that: The war was not being fought for Allied territorial expansion Japan would need to accept unconditional surrender Japan would be stripped of all territorial possession seized since 1914 All territory taken from China would be returned to China- Manchuria, Taiwan, and the Pescadores Korea would become independent

Battle of Leyte Gulf

October 20, 1944 Allied attack on the Philippines; largest naval battle in history and first Japanese use of kamikaze attacks; established Allied air supremacy in the Pacific, destroyed Japanese naval power, and opened the Philippines to invasion (fell April 1945)

Hull Note

Proposal to Japan for negotiations US would end some of the embargo (on oil and rice) immediately Japan would not send any additional troops to China or Indochina Japan would leave the Tripartite Pact Japan would agree to US mediation to settle the China Incident Prime Minister Tojo took the proposal as an ultimatum- ordered the Combined Task Force to leave for Hawaii Represented the last attempt at negotiations before Pearl Harbor

Manhattan Project

Research development undertaking during WWII that produced the first nuclear weapons Led by the US

Tripartite Pact

September 27, 1940 Called for a declaration of war against any power not already involved in the European war or the China Incident if that power attacked Germany, Italy, or Japan Sent a message to the US that if it entered a war against Germany or Japan it was risking a fight in two fronts Despite this Hirohito was still attempting to ease tensions -- not in favor of Tripartite Agreement or aggressive Japanese militarist pact Negotiations with the US still deemed to be futile -- Japanese unsure whether to give in or go all out (favor the latter)

Rape of Nanking

Six weeks of violence beginning with the fall of the Nanjing, 300k+ girls were raped

Operation Meetinghouse

The American bombing of Japan to destroy industrial production, demoralize Japan, and destroy its ability to resist Largest: Firebombing of Japan on the night of March 9, 1945- 3 hours of 3 bombing runs dropped 2000 tons of white phosphorous and napalm bombs on Tokyo causing firestorms (temperature reached 1800 degrees in some places)- 100,000 people were killed, 63% of commercial areas, 18% of industry, and 267,000 buildings were destroyed. By the end of the war 60 Japanese cities were completely destroyed

China Incident (Manchurian Incident/ Cont. Japanese Aggression)

The Japanese invasion of Manchuria began on September 18, 1931, when the Kwantung Army of the Empire of Japan invaded Manchuria immediately following the Mukden Incident. The Japanese established a puppet state called Manchukuo, and their occupation lasted until the end of World War II.

Pearl Harbor Japan failures

The Japanese military thought the U.S. was unprepared for war (a 'paper tiger') and would be demoralized completely with an initial Japanese victory. The U.S. had broken the Japanese code, Magic, and knew that the Japanese were planning attack, but didn't know where (they assumed it was going to be in the Philippines). U.S. forces were put on alert on November 27 and told to prepare for a surprise attack at any time In the long term was a failure- American productivity quickly repaired or replaced the damaged planes and ships (in fact three ships were back in action within a month), none of the aircraft carriers were destroyed, fuel storage tanks were not destroyed, ship repair yards were not destroyed, no American submarines were damaged, and it rallied the nation against Japan (Admiral Yamamoto: "I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve.")

Pearl Harbor Japan successes

US assumed that they would be attacked in the Philippines -- caught off guard Was a short term success- for the next six months the U.S. was unable to play any significant role in the Pacific Japan was able to quickly take Hong Kong, the Philippines, Guam, Wake, Indonesia, Burma, Singapore, and Malaysia and had formed an alliance with Thailand

Iva Toguri d'Aquino (Tokyo Rose)

US born daughter of Japanese immigrants (parents tried to deprive her of all Japanese ties to make her completely American); traveled to Japan in 1941 to visit a sick aunt and was trapped after the attack on Pearl Harbor; forced in November 1943 to begin broadcasts with NHK as part of their "Zero Hour" programming directed at Allied troops -- actually criticized the Japanese in a joking manner and became popular amongst the Allied troops; arrested and tried in 1945; released from prison in 1956 and pardoned by President Ford in 1976

US Propaganda

US targeted its propaganda largely at its own citizens Could be dropped from planes as a form of distribution No point in distributing propaganda to Japanese soldiers encouraging them to surrender because they were culturally ingrained not to surrender Frank Capra "Why We Fight" movie series Like ads before motion picture Euro aimed ones are fair, Pacific ones are wildly racist Walt Disney Dr. Suess Norman Rockwell More positive propaganda, for freedom cartoons Spoke out against other racist propaganda Mel Blanc Looney Tunes US framed itself as strong, good, and innocent Pearl Harbor was an unprovoked act of treachery Americans were the force of good- Japan the force of evil Japanese were portrayed as snakes, rats, or monkeys to undercut their humanity- since they were animals they had no conscious, no repentance, and needed to be destroyed completely Exaggerated slanted eyes and buck teeth Japanese were villains determined to destroy the peace Were sneaky and treacherous- Pearl Harbor Japanese didn't value life because they were not civilized "Yellow monkeys", "Little yellow dwarf slaves"

USS Panay Incident

USS Panay was evacuating American citizens from Nanjing when it was attacked by Japanese aircraft and sunk, killing three Americans Not the only ship there -- Lady Bird was also there for the British Americans issued a condemnation Japan claimed it was a mistake, apologized, and paid the US $2,214,007.36 Led to the establishment of an uneasy truce between the US and Japan over China- Japan's aggressive behavior was threatening US interests in Asia Afterwards led Roosevelt to call the US's relationship with Japan an "undeclared war," although he did not share this assessment with Congress or the American people Negative attitudes towards the Japanese, but not enough to declare war

Island Hopping

capture strategic Japanese held islands while "neutralizing" and bypassing others. Goal was to get closer to Japan itself to launch massive air attacks, improve the submarine blockade, and if necessary invade the Home Islands themselves US Navy wanted to go straight across the Pacific, fight a climactic battle with the Japanese Navy, and blockade Japan to force its surrender US Army wanted to move north from Australia, invade and occupy islands, and then invade Japan FDR: adopt both- US essentially fought three wars against Japan Navy- move across the Pacific from Hawaii Army- move north from Australia Air Corps- bomb Japan Iwo Jima and Okinawa were both part of the island hopping strategy

1940 Export Control Act

codified the moral embargo- president could ban the export of any material to any country if he felt it was in the country's best interest Increased fear from the Japanese -- oil could easily be the next thing that was banned Led to efforts from the Japanese to attempt to gain oil from the Dutch East Indies but were refused -- increased anger against the West for blocking their advance to global power status

Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere

late 1930s Based upon the concept that it was only under Japan's leadership that Western imperialism in the region would be ended. This in turn would create a cooperative economic order that was intended to benefit all Asians in the region who had previously been oppressed.The goals of the Co-Prosperity Sphere were stated as a desire to create a self-sufficient block of Asian nations that was led by the Japanese and free of western influence. The real goal was that Japan wanted resources for its war against China. The Co-Prosperity Sphere was an attempt to strategically plan ahead for Japan; however, they lacked the resources to effectively implement it.