The Revisionist Attitude Towards The Pacific Theater

Bilge_Rat · 07-14-10, 08:42 AM

The PTO has always been viewed as a sideshow or secondary theater. There are many reasons for this. Most european countries had no interest or troops in the conflict. It really only interests the USA and Japan.

During the war, the coverage was limited. Nothing came out of Japan. The US had most of its troops/resources put into defeating Germany first and this was viewed as the main front.

Unlike the German propaganda machine which trumpeted German triumphs and turned Prien and Rommel into household names even in the UK, the US kept a tight lid on information. Submarine operations in the Pacific received no reporting at all. News was heavily filtered. For example, the news of the Battle of Savo Island in early august 42 (an Allied defeat) was not released until mid-october 42 when they could announce the victory at Cape Esperance at the same time.

Japan, unlike Germany, has still not totally admitted or faced its role in WW2. The Japanese have managed to portray the myth that they fought a tough, but clean war, even though they murdered more civilians in Asia than the Nazis did in Europe.

Of course, the lack of coverage or interest is nothing new. Entire wars receive little or no coverage compared to WW2 (Korea, Vietnam, Middle east wars). Even within WW2, you have different level of interests: ETO is more popular than PTO; Land war is more popular than Naval or Air War; Within ETO land war, NWE 44-45 tends to suck up all the oxygen.

07-14-10, 08:42 AM	#11
Bilge_Rat Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: standing watch... Posts: 3,856 Downloads: 344 Uploads: 0	The PTO has always been viewed as a sideshow or secondary theater. There are many reasons for this. Most european countries had no interest or troops in the conflict. It really only interests the USA and Japan. During the war, the coverage was limited. Nothing came out of Japan. The US had most of its troops/resources put into defeating Germany first and this was viewed as the main front. Unlike the German propaganda machine which trumpeted German triumphs and turned Prien and Rommel into household names even in the UK, the US kept a tight lid on information. Submarine operations in the Pacific received no reporting at all. News was heavily filtered. For example, the news of the Battle of Savo Island in early august 42 (an Allied defeat) was not released until mid-october 42 when they could announce the victory at Cape Esperance at the same time. Japan, unlike Germany, has still not totally admitted or faced its role in WW2. The Japanese have managed to portray the myth that they fought a tough, but clean war, even though they murdered more civilians in Asia than the Nazis did in Europe. Of course, the lack of coverage or interest is nothing new. Entire wars receive little or no coverage compared to WW2 (Korea, Vietnam, Middle east wars). Even within WW2, you have different level of interests: ETO is more popular than PTO; Land war is more popular than Naval or Air War; Within ETO land war, NWE 44-45 tends to suck up all the oxygen. __________________