Quote:
Originally Posted by Bilge_Rat
As I understand it, most Kamikazes were not even volunteers. They were assigned to Kamikaze units and felt they had no choice but to obey.
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I would like to see some citations supporting your assertions. The reading I have conducted indicate otherwise.
Was there at least one Kamikaze who was coerced? probably. Were most of them coerced? Probably they coerced themselves.
There are reports of volunteers using family influence to get into the Kamikaze units sooner. It is probably hard for occidentals to understand the mindset of going into battle, not risking death, but having death a certainty. The idea that by sacrifacing one life (yours) you could deliver an in-proportional amount of damage to the enemy. Not part of the occidental culture, but part of the oriental (Japanese) culture.
Hence the occidental viewpoints that they were
1. Insane
2. Drugged
3. Forced
4. Stupid
It is hard to consider being so loyal to your government/society that you are willing not to only risk, but to sacrifice yourself in battle.
That type of dedication is awe-inspiring even if I find the act abhorrent.
But then we make the same judgements against suicide bombers these days.