Japan's surrender was not a simple on/off switch

[Stealhead]

Originally Posted by Commander Wallace

I had no idea this ever happened but shouldn't be surprised. I had read the accounts of Japanese sailors who revealed 2 American Dauntless dive bomber pilots were shot down in the battle of Midway and were subsequently interrogated and were bound and chained with weights and tossed over board alive.

Makes one mad and sad all over again.

Our side did some pretty nasty things as well such deeds may have been more common on the Japanese side but they where not uncommon on the American side either. War brings out the best and worst in humans.

[Commander Wallace]

Originally Posted by Stealhead

Our side did some pretty nasty things as well such deeds may have been more common on the Japanese side but they where not uncommon on the American side either. War brings out the best and worst in humans.

I'm sure you're probably right. No one wants to think they are the bad guy . I'm guessing there are many stories that have never seen the light of day. Every side wants to think they are wearing the " white hat "

War bringing out the worst in people makes it a thing to be avoided. Hopefully we all have learned that.

[vienna]

The Imperial order to the Japanese Military and the general population, also known as the Imperial Rescript, contains a paragraph with one of the greatest examples of understatement ever:

But now the war has lasted for nearly four years. Despite the best that has been done by everyone – the gallant fighting of the military and naval forces, the diligence and assiduity of Our servants of the State, and the devoted service of Our one hundred million people – the war situation has developed not necessarily to Japan's advantage, while the general trends of the world have all turned against her interest.

.."developed not necessarily to Japan's advantage"; gee, ya think?...


<O>

[Torplexed]

Originally Posted by Commander Wallace

War bringing out the worst in people makes it a thing to be avoided. Hopefully we all have learned that.

The Pacific War had a ugly racial tinge to it that the war against the Germans didn't. Prior to hostilities breaking out, the Japanese were seen as diminutive, buck-toothed and bespectacled sub-human specimens who couldn't shoot straight and, having started an endless war against the hapless Chinese they couldn't win, certainly couldn't be highly regarded a soldiers.

What's amusing is how quickly the subhumans of 1941 mutated into the superhumans of 1942 after conquering a vast empire in four months. In the wake of defeat after defeat, rumors began to fly among Allied soldiers that the Japanese possessed preternatural senses and abilities. Like bats, they could see in the darkness. Like panthers, they could move soundlessly through the jungle. Like ants, they could communicate with their own kind by some unspoken brainwave. They could live endlessly off the land, never needing rations. Unlike men they had no fear of death. The new myth, like the one it displaced, was based on absurd racial canards. But it struck fear into the men who had to face these reputed "superwarriors" on the ground, and for a while it proved to be self-fulfilling.

[Commander Wallace]

Originally Posted by Torplexed

The Pacific War had a ugly racial tinge to it that the war against the Germans didn't.

I disagree there. Certainly there was an ugly racial tinge that fueled the " final solution " in Europe. But more than likely fueled it in the pacific too. However, The Japanese of that time also regarded anyone who was not of the Japanese race to be subhuman. They brutalized the Chinese as well. As you said though, it is amazingly easy to underestimate an opponent though.

I saw a piece on the history channel where a military official ( I can't remember the name ) " had traveled extensively in Germany in the 1930's and decided to pattern his forces after the SS. Maybe someone knows who I mean and who his name was.

I do think the brutality that took place in Europe and in the Pacific had never been seen before. I'm sure a world war 2 veteran could attest to that which I'm not. Each side then will say the other was more brutal.

I would say the entire war was brutal.

[August]

I don't think WW2 was particularly racist compared to any other multi ethnic/cultural war in human history. Just better documented and fresh in the public's mind which is why it seems more, but war always has an ugly racial tinge to it. It's a very handy way of demonizing ones enemy without having examples of insult or transgressions to rally the people.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Commander Wallace

I do think the brutality that took place in Europe and in the Pacific had never been seen before. I'm sure a world war 2 veteran could attest to that which I'm not. Each side then will say the other was more brutal.

If you care to study history and read up on the books available, browse the internet etc. I'm confident you will find examples from hundreds of conflicts which will disagree with your current opinion.

Originally Posted by August

I don't think WW2 was particularly racist compared to any other multi ethnic/cultural war in human history. Just better documented and fresh in the public's mind which is why it seems more, but war always has an ugly racial tinge to it. It's a very handy way of demonizing ones enemy without having examples of insult or transgressions to rally the people.

Agreed

[Commander Wallace]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

If you care to study history and read up on the books available, browse the internet etc. I'm confident you will find examples from hundreds of conflicts which will disagree with your current opinion.



Agreed

I did read them and stand by what I said although to clarify jim, I should have said the scope of ww2 or ww1 for that matter. It just seems so much technology in ww2 was invented for whole sale destruction. Other wars I think were in a relatively regional scope or as you put it, conflicts. The world wars, especially WW2 saw an explosion of technology equal to the skewed ideology that used them. They were called world wars for a reason.
Then again, I'm not a historian.

There is always a great danger when high technology is at hand and the wisdom to use it hasn't matured .


August is right though. Every thing is better documented now almost as though it were a spectator event, which it's not.