Move to Global War: Japan II
Second Sino-Japanese War:
- (1937-1945) All out invasion by Japan beginning in 1937 that interrupted Jieshi's efforts in eliminating the communist party - Left nationalist and communist forces struggling to get them out and Japanese had to leave in 1945 due to loss in WWII - When the Guomindang and the Communists were fighting, Japan started invading so the Guomindang and the Communists had to work together in this war, unsuccessfully, to repel them - War between China and Japan over the control of Korea that resulted in the nominal independence of Korea and the Chinese cession to Japan of Formosa and the Pescadores
Pearl Harbor:
- 7:50-10:00 AM, December 7, 1941: Surprise attack by the Japanese on the main U.S. Pacific Fleet harbored in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii destroyed 18 U.S. ships and 200 aircraft - American losses were 3,000, Japanese losses less than 100 - In response, the U.S. declared war on Japan and Germany, entering World War II
Semi-isolation:
- A policy of having limited involvement in international diplomacy - The USA adopted this and was thus not part of the League of Nations - Partly the result of a US public that did not wish to become entangled in international machinations such as those that has led to the First World War - Believed that imperialism and territorial competition among European states had been one of the main causes of the First World War - There was also a large anti-war movement and a complete lack of political desire to increase taxation to pay for large numbers of shops and troops - Unofficial US government policy in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries where the USA did not form alliances with or interfere in the affairs of European powers, while developing economic relationships with them
Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere:
- A region of Asian states to be dominated by Japan, and in theory, to benefit from Japan's superior civilization - Name given to Asian region that Japan wanted to conquer, kick out Europeans, and control resources in - A group of nations whose combined resources would allow independence from Wester control - Proposal was presented as an economic benefit for the region, but it was another attempt to build a Japanese empire - Japan's plan to create and dominate an economic defense union in East Asia, using force if necessary - Japanese compared it to the US power in Latin America - advocated "Asia for Asians"
Nanjing Massacre:
- After Japanese captured the city of Nanjing, China, the Japanese troops went on a murderous rampage killing Chinese soldiers and civilians - At least 100,000 (some say 300,000) men, women, and children were killed - One of the Second Sino-Japanese War's early battles during which Japanese troops captured the city after which the event is named and also killed many Chinese soldiers and civilians - Followed by Japan's takeover of Shanghai, in which troops believed would take much shorter and instead it lasted four months (angering the Japanese)
Nazi-Soviet Pact:
- Agreed upon in August 1939 - More correctly known as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, Germany and the Soviet Union agreed that neither country would attack the other or help other states attack the other - Additionally, there were economic aspects and secret sanctions that divided parts of central and eastern Europe into Soviet and German spheres of influence - An agreement between Hitler and Stalin to remain neutral if the other went to war, also, German acknowledgment of Russia's sphere of influence in the Baltics and a secret clause agreeing to the division and takeover of Poland
Tripartite Pact:
- An alliance involving initially Germany, Italy, and Japan - Came into effect in September 1940 and was eventually joined by Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, and independent Croatia - Signed between the Axis powers in 1940, where they pledged to help the others in the event of an attack by the US - Also known as the Berlin Pact, was an agreement signed in Berlin on 27 September 1940 by, respectively, Adolf Hitler, Galeazzo Ciano and Saburō Kurusu - It was a defensive military alliance that was eventually joined by Hungary (20 November 1940), Romania (23 November 1940), Bulgaria (1 March 1941) and Yugoslavia (25 March 1941), as well as by the German client state of Slovakia (24 November 1940) - Yugoslavia's adherence provoked a coup d'état in Belgrade, and Italy and Germany responded by invading Yugoslavia (with Bulgarian, Hungarian and Romanian assistance) and partitioning the country - The resulting Italo-German client state of Croatia joined the pact on 15 June 1941
French Indochina:
- Area of southeast Asia controlled by France during Imperialism - Included Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam - During World War II, Japan invaded Vietnam and attempted to take over - Because Vietnam was a colony of their enemy (France) they claimed Vietnam under Japanese protection
South Manchurian Railway:
- Built and controlled by the Japanese, this railway lies through Manchuria - Transports goods from China to Japan - Japan was becoming increasingly alarmed as China had begun construction of rival railways that were starting to operate at full capacity - This would mean decreased revenues for Japan and increased ones for China's government - Location of the Mukden Incident on September 18th, 1931
Marco Polo Bridge Incident:
- Chinese and Japanese troops fought briefly here, near Beijing, in July 1937 - Japan's government demanded an apology from China and Chiang Kai-shek's government refused - By the end of July, both Japan and China had sent large armies into northern China and fighting began - The Japanese instigated conflict with the Chinese and was the last happening in a series of events that helped lead to war between Japan and China - Japanese were doing military practice, but "forgot" to tell the Chinese - Chinese heard gunfire and think they're being attacked, so they respond with gunfire, which leads to all-out war
Lytton Commission:
- Formed by the League in December 1931 to investigate the Mukden Incident and Japan's occupation - Began to operate in late January 1932 when it first visited the Japanese government in Tokyo, finally making it to Manchuria in February - Report was finally submitted to the League in October 1932, a full year after the invasion - Admitted that before Japan invaded there was an inefficient and corrupt Chinese government in the province and that Japan had made major financial investments - Also explained the details of the invasion, the establishment of the state of Manchukuo and the economics of Manchuria, China, and Japan - Determined that the invasion was not, as Japan insisted, a result of wanting to protect Manchurians from China's government - There was no obvious support for the new state of Manchukuo by the Chinese population of the province - Recommended that Japan pull its forces back to the South Manchurian Railway (led to Japan's withdrawal from the League)
Manchurian Crisis:
- In 1931 the Japanese stage-managed an attack on the Japanese owned Manchurian railway by "Chinese bandits" - To protect their interests the Japanese army took control of the whole region - Both China and Japan appealed to the League of Nations to arbitrate - The Japanese renamed it 'Manchukuo' and justified their actions by saying that they were modernizing and instilling western values in their new 'puppet-nation'
Manchukuo:
- In 1932 Japan established this puppet state in their conquered territories of Manchuria - In 1933 the League of Nations reprimanded Japan, and so the nation withdrew from the organization, which was at the same time as Germany withdrawing as well - Japan created the illusion that they had only helped Manchuria receive independence from chaotic China - It was presented to the world as an independent state - Imperial Army was created, along with a comprehensive postal system, primary schools, and a national sports league that included baseball and soccer - Japan applied for Olympic membership and for membership in the League of Nations, both of which were denied, because it was not considered an independent state by the international community
Anti-Comintern Pact:
- In 1936 Japan signed this with Germany and it was later ratified by Italy - It was in opposition to Communism but actually proved to be the foundation for diplomatic alliance between these three powers - Each now had allies and pushed their demands for individual success - In 1938 Mussolini was willing to accept the German absorption of Austria which he had resisted in 1934
Oil Embargo of 1941:
- In July of 1941, with the Japanese takeover of Indochina, the US introduces an oil embargo and freezes all Japanese assets in the US - Japan only has 18 months of oil left - Total embargo on all war related equipment instituted in August - Put in place because of the Sino-Japanese War and the US' economic interests in China - Japanese sink USS Paney in the Yangtze River in December of 1937 as it escorted an oil tanker
Pan-Asianism:
- Is an ideology or a movement that Asian nations unite and solidify and create a continental identity to defeat the designs of the Western nations to perpetuate hegemony - Pre-World War II Japanese Pan-Asianism was, at its core, the idea that Asia should unite against European imperialism - Spread through propaganda by Japan
Puyi:
- Last emperor of China who was a Manchu - Called the Kangde Emperor - Came to the throne aged three, abdicated at age six - During Japanese occupation he became Emperor of the puppet-state, Manchuria - Ended life working as a gardener
The Hull Note:
- November 1941, the US demands that Japan leave China and give up on its Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere - It also demanded Japan to end its participation in the Tripartite Alliance - Prime Minister Konoye wanted to avoid war and liked the US proposal - However, the militants wanted war - In October, Prime Minister Konoye is replaced by General Tojo - Japanese navy given approval for a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on November 3rd
Mukden Incident:
- On September 18th, 1931, a bomb exploded on the South Manchurian Railway - Did not prevent trains from using the railway, but had conveniently taken place near a garrison of Japanese soldiers protecting the South Manchurian Railway, operated by Japan - While Japan blamed the explosion on Chinese troops, many historians believe that it was really Japanese troops, specifically Kwantung Army officers - By doing this, Japan had a reason to invade Manchuria and did so
Stimson Doctrine:
- Policy that stated that the USA would not recognize international border changes that resulted from war - Used to protest Japan's actions in Manchuria - Named after the Secretary of State (Foreign Minister) Henry Stimson - Also indicated that the USA would continue to uphold the Open Door Policy - Had no effect on the Manchurian Crisis and the US government decided not to place any restrictions on its trade with Japan or Manchuria - In reaction to Japan's 1932 occupation of Manchuria, the US would not recognize territories acquired by force
Open Door Policy:
- Policy that was advocated by the United States and called for all nations to have equal access to China's markets - Fear that this would be disrupted as a result of Japan's invasion of Manchuria - The USA was primarily concerned with the economics of the invasion since it had no ability or desire to interfere militarily - Stimson Doctrine was a result of this fear
Lake Khasan:
- The Soviets caused Japan to temporarily suspend its attack on Wuhan by provoking a conflict here, on the Soviet Union's border with Manchukuo - Fewer than 1,000 soldiers were killed in total, but the Soviets clearly won, deploying at least 22,000 troops against less than 10,000 for Japan - Japan agreed to give the territory to the Soviet Union and resumed the attack on Wuhan (China's temporary capital after the fall of Nanjing) - While Japan was able to capture Wuhan, the delay caused here allowed the Soviets to ship large quantities of weapons to China's armies - These weapons allowed China's army to slow the Japanese invasion, allowing an orderly evacuation go civilians, factories, and the army itself
