pacific war

J. Marshall, 2007

1. Why would Japan attack the USA?

a) Low opinion of USA

• Drunks

• Lazy

• Lack fighting spirit

b. Influential military command

• The public thought the

politicians were weak.

• The military had

brought Japan glory.

c. Japan was expanding in the Far East

• USA exerting economic pressure (ie Manchuria).

• Oil stoppage.• Roosevelt’s demand for Japan to leave

mainland Asia (fall, 1941).• Had to limit U.S. reach in the Pacific - oil

and rubber in Borneo and Malaya.

d. USA unprepared for war BUT…

• Pearl carriers out to sea?

• Pearl oil moved underground?

• Pearl radar - B17s inbound?

• Washington coder crackers - time zone snafu in warning?

• SHIPS/PLANES REPLACABLE - CARRIERS ARE NOT!

But…

Admiral Yamamoto

warned of waking the

SLEEPING GIANT.

2. Why was Japan initially so successful?

a) USA/UK unprepared

• Japan had lots of recent war experience

Mukden, 1931

b) No soldiers fought like the Japanese

Bushido code• Ferocity• Live off land• Strict obedience

For example…

• Atrocities

• Kamikazi

• The Bushido code also linked surrender to dishonour.

c) Initially local populations welcomed the Japanese

“liberators.”

• From whom were they

liberating Asians?

Asia for the Asians

d) The British were stressed and the U.S. forces were

mostly in N.America =

TIME FOR JAPAN

3. Why did Japan ultimately lose?

a) American public support

This

Declassified memo (dated May 3, 1942) to FDR re:

Doolittle Raid

b) Massive economic/military power of USA

• Once mobilized that is!

• Factories were safe across the Pacific.

• Images of Pearl + propaganda galvanized the nation behind the President.

• Now the economic might could go far beyond Lend-Lease…

c) Japan had only 10% of U.S. economy

• Japan had few resources (oil/iron).

• Difficult to replace capital ships.

• After Leyte Gulf the Imperial Navy ceased to exist!

c) cont. Japan needed food

• Japan had only 3% of U.S. agricultural capacity.

• Had trouble feeding its people.• Thus: since raw materials rare, factories

not the prime targets (they are dying by themselves - TARGET CITIES.

• For every 40 factory bombs, 100 land on cities.

d) U.S. subs sank 55% of Japanese shipping

e) Island Hopping

• Attack main islands and isolate minor ones - “left to wither on the vine.”

• Thus limit U.S. casualties (remember Bushido code).

• On the Asian mainland the British and Commonwealth fought…

The famed Chindits - early special forces often behind enemy lines.

Part of the Forgotten Army

f) In addition to…

• U.S. leadership

U.S. victories: Success Breeds Success

• Iwo Jima

and, U.S. might..

The planners still feared an assault on the “home islands”

g) Intelligence warned of 1 million + casualties

• This would be unacceptable to the U.S. public.

• The Manhatten Project was the answer.

• Why would the U.S. use the bomb against Japan but rely on traditional munitions for Germany?

Hiroshima, August 6

Nagasaki, August 9

4. The Surrender

Ultimately:

• Historians agree it really was a foregone conclusion - the USA was just too strong economically with too much military potential.

• It is a testament to the ferocity and commitment of the Japanese fighters that the war took as long as it did.

• Easier geography also would have sped the inevitable conclusion.

end