Conflict in the Pacific Notes PDF

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HSC Notes Conflict in the Pacific Survey: Growth of Pacific Tensions -

Japan ☹ after Paris Peace Conference (no racial equality clause) America becomes lone wolf, isolationist Japan begins to expand into China Euro + US colonisation in Asia US Concerns: oil, security, war in EU, politics (election) and therefore neutrality acts

Economic and political issues in the pacific by 1937 Washington Naval Conference 1922 - Highlighted mounting tensions between Japan and western nations - 5:5:3 battleships - Japan had less area and population, didn’t limit much - Britain and US agree not to have bases in western pacific - 9 Power Agreement -> ensures territorial integrity of China - 4 Power Treaty (BR, FR, US, J) no changes in pacific Great Depression Hits Japan in 1930 - Impedes trade - Japan lacks raw materials - Manchuria offers materials Japan naturally lacks and would help in Chinese takeover - Racist tariffs - Spurs nationalism and protectionism Manchuria - Occupied Sept 1931 - Independent state by 1932 - Breached LON but no one wanted another war - Everyone rebuilding from depression (money, food, manpower, industry etc) - Japan leaves LON after they disagree about Manchuria Stimson Doctrine 1932 and USA - US response to Manchuria; nonrecognition of states acquired through aggression - US becoming more isolated as time goes on - FDR Defence Plan 1.1 billion had strong public opposition despite growing tensions in Germany - Neutrality? Japan not feeling any love from old WWI allies and are still desperate to be an equal

Japanese Foreign Policy 1937-41 Growing nationalism and militarism. Following Euro example of power through colonisation - Bushido - Since its opening, military = power (western influence) ∙ Didn’t want to end up like china (opium wars = weak, divided) - 1932-37 becoming war economy, protecting themselves from the west - Thought of themselves as the Asian superior race (most modernised) STATUS J Foreign Policy

AUTONOMY

POWER Second Sino-J War (1937) - Marco Polo Bridge in Peking - Escalated very quickly - August: Beijing - November: Shanghai - December: Nanjing (rape of Nanjing)

SECURITY

New Order in East Asia (precursor to co-prosperity sphere) - Grouping Japan, China and Manchuria together Co-Prosperity Sphere – Asia without Europe Idealistic theory: 1. Break out of anglo politics 2. Everyone under Japan 3. Gradual independence gained 4. Gradual independence tutored (be like J) 5. Some become colonies 6. Close relations with all Asian nations 7. Japanisaton

Asia for the Asians

Reality: - Brutal overlords (racist) - Occupied by military for political gains - Used to justify colonialization - Fostered hatred towards J and revolts - Waste of resources - Tried to promote an ‘asian brotherhood’ while attempting to liquidate some races - Weren’t prepared for long term = poor management Tripartite Pact 27th September 1940

ECONOMIC NEED

US and British policies in the pacific 1937-41 -

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Constantly underestimate Japan (didn’t think they could pay for rearmament) ∙ Racist undertones November 1938, New Order announced New Order + rejection of 9 Power treaty = angry from US and BR ∙ BR cut off raw materials ∙ US didn’t do anything 1940, Japanese government reshuffle = Tojo as war minister 1941 Japan invades French Indochina ∙ US freezes assets, bans oil exports ∙ Effectively cuts off 90% of their oil supply and reduces Japanese trade by 75% Both US and BR quite hostile to Japan

Focus Outbreak and Course of the Pacific War strategic and political reasons for the bombing of Pearl Harbor - Lacking natural resources ∙ Embargoes and tariffs on imports - US was the only threat in south pacific, attempt at removing the threat - Delay the American entry by at least two years by destroying aircraft carriers, oil reserves, submarines etc. - Could negotiate with US after the bombing (had the upper hand) - Restoration of pride + vengeance US response to PH - “Day of Infamy” - Declaration of war - Propelled unity and support for interference amongst the public - Used to justify the war and maintain support - Industry immediately turned into war production ∙ Outdid every country in terms of production - War bonds - Women working again

Remember Pearl Harbor

Japanese advance 1941–1942 and the impact of the fall of the Philippines, Singapore, Burma and DEI - Secured resources - Diminished western influence, extended theirs - Kept fighting away from home - ‘6 months of the rising sun’ Fall of Singapore (and Malaya) – became their main strategic fortress - Most humiliating British defeat ∙ Anticipated the attacks but still outmatched and unprepared

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∙ BR outclassed and outnumbered in the air ∙ Swift defeat (70 days) ∙ Singapore was considered ‘impregnable’ Landed on Malay pensinula to distract British troops ∙ Main army lands in Singapore Allied command ∙ Indian troops (language barrier) ∙ Not well trained in jungle warfare Went down to the Malayan peninsula, didn’t fight in the jungles where J was 14/12/1941 northern Malay lost 7/1/1942 Central Malaya lost 15/2/1942 surrender ∙ 134,000 allied POWs

Fall of the Dutch East Indies - DEI resources ∙ Oil ∙ Rubber -

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∙ Rice ∙ Timber

Little resistance since there is ∙ no local support ∙ AUS in SE Asia, Middle east Japan uses naval and amphibious attacks along the archipelago Borneo, Timor & Sumatra (cuts link from Java to Darwin), Java in March ABDA formed ∙ 24/1/1942 they sink J ships off Borneo ∙ 27/2/1942 they attack the J fleet approaching Java Battle of Java Sea ∙ J do heavy damage with torpedoes ∙ Outclassed, BR naval incompetence again ∙ Java surrenders

Fall of Burma - Same defence as Singapore ∙ Compromised as J has Indochina - December 1941, J enters through Thailand - Backup from US, China and India - BR keep being pushed back ∙ March 1942, retreat to central Burma - J keeps being reinforced - BR ∙ Low morale ∙ Shortages ∙ Outnumbered

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BR retreat into India ∙ Monsoon season stopped J attacking India

Fall of the Philippines - USA controlled since 1898, civilians pro-US - JP territory surrounding them = vulnerable - Most US aircraft destroyed before J even landed - Macarthur decides to retreat to the Bataan peninsula ∙ Good position but bad command ∙ Tropical diseases ∙ Outflanked - Macarthur ordered to leave 12/3/1942, “I shall return” - Surrender by May ∙ Bataan death march

Turning points in the war: Battle of the Coral Sea 4-8 May 1942 - First solely air battle - J wanted to extend their perimeter in the Pacific (Port Moresby in PNG) ∙ Outnumbered US and had superior carriers - USA cracked ‘magic’ - J tactical V (destroyed more), USA strategic V (stopped J from achieving their goals) - Outcomes: ∙ J failed to get Port Moresby ∙ Lost 2/6 carriers and 75% of bomber pilots ∙ US had the capacity to repair/replace their ships, J didn’t ∙ Advance to PNG stopped Battle of Midway 4-6 June 1942 - J thought it would be surprise attack ∙ 2300km NW Hawaii - US planned defence (3 carriers) since Magic and Catalina boats saw incoming J fleet - Outcomes: ∙ Irreparable losses for J Battle of Guadalcanal - Allies approach from NZ from 3 sides - Amphibious landings 7/8/1942 ∙ Security of pacific resting on this campaign, do or die - J committed to the offensive (Guadalcanal key to southern conquests) ∙ Pouring in reinforcements (waste) ∙ Battle to the death ∙ Starving, diseased, malnourished, limited supplies ∙ Defended well; sunk 4 ships and damaged 3 in one night - J fleet intercepted by the USA 24/8

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9/2/1943 J formal surrender ∙ Losses: 22k vs 1k for allies

New Guinea - Wanted to limit the usefulness of Australia as a base (PNG as Aus territory) - Battle of Milne Bay ∙ AUS and NZ repel J forces ∙ J new plan to capture territories until reaching Port Moresby - J had jungle warfare xp - USA and AUS D through Kokoda trail ∙ August 1942 militia fighting retreat to Port Moresby where regular army arrived ∙ Steep, narrow, tropical climate - Nov 1942 J weakened by disease and malnutrition - Allied victory = end of threat of home invasion for Aus Strategies used by Allied forces against Japan 1942–1945 Amphibious Attacks - Landing troops - Supported by air and naval gunfire Operation Cartwheel: Island Hopping - Steppingstones to the home islands - Select the advantageous islands, ignore the rest - Very successful despite fierce resistance Technology - Magic code cracked - Radar Fire Bombings and Raids - Humiliation to Japan (USA propaganda victory) - Destroyed light industry and homes ∙ Reduced city output by half A-Bomb Japan - Fewer planes - Fewer pilots - Fuel shortages ∙ Development of kamikaze

Civilians at war, including: social, political and economic effects on civilians in occupied territories in SouthEast Asia - Social ∙ Slave labour

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∙ Militia ∙ Malnutrition, hunger ∙ War brought to the colonies Political ∙ Change in leadership Economic ∙ Japanese needs > theirs ∙ Resources stolen

life under occupation: collaboration and resistance, the use of slave labour Philippines: Resisted - Americanised, Anti-Japan ∙ Banned the American culture that they were proud of - Underground guerrilla movements - Americans in internment camps Burma and Thailand: Collab then resist - Elite classes preferred being ruled by Asians rather than white people - Forced labour - J promised their independence if they co-operate - Country was a battlefield (America + commonwealth vs J) ∙ Destruction of mines, rice fields, factories, oil wells, ports etc ∙ Disease ∙ militia death toll - Begin fighting J in 1945 China: Resisted - Ravaged by famine - Years of racism - Resistance movements (communism) - Unit 731 (human experiments) DEI: Collaborated - Welcoming as they were already revolting against the dutch - Age of Maize Prophecy ∙ Eventual independence - Increased nationalism - Japanisation, controlled by military - Dutch interned and forced labour - Militia Slave Labour - Influenced by Bushido ∙ Punishment for not accepting death over defeat - Disregard for human lives (illnesses, overworking, malnutrition)

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Thai-Burma Railway Terror tactics Propaganda

As the war went on, the less J could provide for their colonies. Everyone suffered the effect of the war on the home fronts in Japan and Australia Japan - Government ∙ controlled by military ∙ Emperor had limited control - War economy + production ∙ Expansion to get more resources (oil, rubber, rice etc.) ∙ Imports limited = shortages in basic materials ∙ Black market ∙ “extravagance is the enemy” - Japanese schooling ∙ Military drills = militarism and nationalism ∙ Taught ‘spirit of Japan’ - Censorship ∙ Widespread propaganda (false victories and stats) ∙ Boost morale ∙ Foster anti-westernism - Police ∙ Secret police: kempetai ∙ Thought police: tokko - Local organisations (tonarigumi) organised rations, rallies, air raid drills, fire fighting and helped police eradicate anti-war sentiments - Women and children ∙ Men to the front, women to the workplace ∙ Increasingly long hours and decreasing pay Crime, malnutrition ∙ QOL down as sicknesses went up and loss of political - Slave Labour freedoms ∙ POW ∙ Hardest jobs (mining, construction, production) - Rationing/Restrictions ∙ Wood pulp clothes ∙ Reverted to medieval style (no western) ∙ Bartering and trade ∙ Victory gardens - Bombings ∙ Wooden cities burnt down and susceptible to extreme damage ∙ Couldn’t keep US planes away. Strategy: Napalm drop then boiling oil ∙ Air raid shelters = death traps

Australia - Government ∙ Unprepared for war ∙ British in control of our foreign policy ∙ National Security Act gives Oz more power of its military - Economy + rationing ∙ War economy, producing munitions ∙ Victory gardens ∙ No interstate travelling ∙ Ration books - Conscription ∙ Insufficient volunteers + threat of invasion after Singapore fell ∙ Americans protecting us, we should defend ourselves - Women +Indigenous people ∙ More responsibilities ∙ Jobs assisting war efforts (munitions, ship building, mechanics etc.) - Local Defence ∙ Air raid shelters and drills ∙ Street wardens ∙ Blackouts ∙ Barbed wire on beaches, guns on buildings - Attacks on Australia ∙ Darwin bombings and other northern cities ∙ J submarines in Syd, suck 80k tonnes of shipping ∙ Imminent threat on invasion - Yanks ∙ Popular house guests ∙ Overpaid, oversexed and over here ∙ Many Aussie war brides ∙ inflation - Cowra breakout ∙ 1100 J POWs broke out and attacked diggers ∙ Captured, shot or commit suicide - Censorship to promote social cohesion - Citizens born in Axis countries considered enemy aliens and were monitored

End of the conflict Potsdam Declaration: ‘prompt and utter destruction’ Hiroshima 6/8/1945 - 80,000 instant death - No surrender, but communications destroyed 8/8/1945 USSR declare war

Nagasaki 9/8/1945 - 40,000 instant death - Relatively contained because of mountains 14/8/1945 surrender 2/9/1945 Formal Surrender on USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay and end of the Pacific War Reasons for the use of the A-bomb - Little choice, would bring a definitive end to the war - Japanese bushido meant they would not surrender - Avoid projected allied losses - End war on American terms - Show off to the USSR - No time for USSR to invade Japan - Racially motivated (put them back in their place, superiority complex) - Spent $2 billion public money on developing the weapon. Obligation to use it - Experimental - Revenge for treatment of POWs, losses and PH Reasons for the Japanese defeat Poor Planning - No clear objectives - Never consolidated or planned ahead - Just wanted to further gains - Weren’t prepared for counterattacks - Used the same strategies Technological Disadvantages - Magic Code cracked = no secrets - No radar (Allied had greater awareness especially in poor visibility) - A bomb - Medicine inadequate (illness, malnutrition rampant) Leadership Problems - Mismanagement of resources - Lack of unified vision and will. Army vs Navy - ½ army in China, >50% funds directed here, preparing for an invasion in 1945 Miscalculation - Thought US would be more forgiving of expansion and Co-prosperity sphere - Co-prosperity sphere became a waste of finance and resources - Unprepared for US rage from PH, came as a shock ∙ Expecting counter in 1945 - Couldn’t rival US production capacity (Industrial superpower) - Starved of raw materials as war went on

War Crimes Tribunals Potsdam “stern justice shall be meted out to all war criminals” - Inaugurated 12/1/1946 - Commenced trials 3/5/1946, went for 2.5 years - 7 leaders death by hanging, including Tojo - Emperor exempt, Macarthur helped with this - Immunity for Unit 731 workers in exchange for their data - USSR 3000 executions of J war criminals Status of the Emperor Figurehead - Just restored to imperialism - Godlike - Only condition for surrender was his safety - Prisoner of the militarist regime - Only had power in deadlock situations - Passive monarch, kept out of the loop War Criminal - Could he have surrendered earlier? - How many lives could he have saved? - How much did he know? Rebranded after the war to come off as gentle and caring Allied occupation of Japan to 1951 Aims - Rid hardcore militarism, replace with a liberal democracy - No communism - Reconstruct with stability, peace and a good economy

Demilitarised, Liberation from militarist regime

Life for the Occupation Forces - Americans 1mil and BCOF (British Commonwealth Occupation Force) 40k - Duties ∙ Dispose of weapons ∙ Patrol for illegal activities (black market, illegal immigrants) ∙ Supervise repatriation of POWs (both ways) - Privileged life ∙ J paying for their stay and maintenance of occupation ∙ Could bring family over ∙ Built western homes ∙ Free use of rail ∙ J civilians suffering (3.7mil homeless) - Prostitution rampant New Constitution 6/3/1946

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Emperor with democracy and peace Citizens not subjects Renunciation of war. Cannot use it as a threat to settle disputes

End of Occupation - Oct 1946 BR pulls out - 1948 Kiwis gone - 1950 Aussies redirected to Korean war - JP economy up, emerging capitalist power - Treaty of San Francisco 8/9/1950 ∙ Full sovereignty to J ∙ Formal conclusion to occupation...