War in the Pacific

* SEQ Examinable

What is an Expansionist Power?

A state that takes over countries & keeps extending territory whenever & wherever it can.

Imperialism - the policy of extending the power and dominion of a nation especially by direct territorial acquisitions

The revamped Jp military was hungry for more action

Japanese Imperialism before 1930

1st Sino-Jp War (1894-95) – Gained Formosa or Taiwan

Russo – Jp War (1905) – Gained Port Arthur in Manchuria, S. Sakhalin & Liaotung

1910 – Annexed Korea 1919 – Gained

Shantung Peninsula from WW I settlement Korea as the “dagger pointing to the

heart of Japan”

Japan’s Foreign Policy Aims

To build an empire in the Asia – Pacific

To free Asians from western control

To find room for Jp’s growing population

To control resources & raw materials

By the 1930s, the Japanese military was one of the most advanced in the world & was ready for action

Building an Empire in the Pacific

Jp wanted to become the leading power in the Asia Pacific region

To do this, it needed to build an empire

Jp was casting glances over territories in the Far East.

To “Liberate” Asia Most of SEA under western

colonial control Jp initiated propaganda to

“liberate” them “Asia for Asians” – Asians should

stand up against western imperialism

“Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere” – Resources should be for the benefit of Asia, not westerners.

Jp as the leader of Asia, should lead the fight against western colonial powers. A propaganda poster on Asian

cooperation

Colonialism in SEA

Find Room for Population

Population in 1870: 30 million

Population in 1930: 70 million

Jp could no longer find living space & food for its exploding population

Needed to resettle its population elsewhere Tokyo in the early 1900s. Japan

was fast becoming over-crowded

Control Natural Resources

The Great Depression made it hard for Jp to import resources & exports its goods

Overseas territories would provide resources & give Jp a market to sell its goods.

Manchuria was a prime target: Cheap abundant manpower Raw materials like coal, timber, iron, grain & gold An overseas market

Where in the world is Manchuria?

Manchuria was extremely rich in natural resources which Jp coveted. Only problem: it belonged to China

Mukden Incident, 1931

A bomb exploded on the S. Manchurian Railway track in Mukden which was owned by Jp

The Jp army accused the Chinese govt of sabotage.

Events shrouded with controversy

The scene of the railway “sabotage”

Kwantung Army Acts In retaliation, the Kwantung

Army stationed in Manchuria attacks Chinese positions

It’s excuse was to “defend Jp interests” in the region

Manchuria is soon captured They established the state of

Manchukuo with the last Qing emperor, Pu Yi, installed as its puppet ruler

Kwantung Army marches into Manchurian cities

Henry Pu Yi, The last Emperor of China

Japanese Govt Powerless

Kwantung army acted independently of Japanese Govt

PM Ki Inukai protested against the invasion, but was powerless to do anything PM Inukai’s opposition to

the Kwantung Army would cost him dearly.

League of Nation’s Response (or lack of)

Convened the Lytton commission to Manchuria to investigate

Commission declared Manchurian invasion illegal & that Japan should withdraw immediately

Jp did withdraw… but from the LON in 1932 LON took no further action & Jp was convinced

the west were too weak to prevent it’s expansionist ambitions

League of Nation’s Response (or lack of)

West were too busy recovering from Great Depression to care about Manchuria

LON also had no army to force Japan to do anything

Newspaper article on the Mukden Incident

Fascists Unite!

Anti – Comintern Pact (1936) Nazi Germany & Japan

pledge to fight communism

However, Japan was concerned with the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact in 1940.

Tripartite Pact (1940) Italy, Germany & Japan

become allies

Axis representatives signing the Tripartite Agreement.

Why did War break out in the Pacific?

Japan’s desire to conquer China Japan’s neutrality with the Soviets Europeans more worried about Hitler Worsening relations with the U.S. Appointment of Hideki Tojo as PM.

Jp’s Desire to Conquer China

Historically, Japan had always been China’s tributary.

Wanted to assert its dominance over China once & for all.

Wanted access to China’s rich port cities & resources

China was also weak, having civil war. Zaibatsus were also pushing for war to gain assess

to lucrative Chinese markets, industries & resources

China in Turmoil

The Chinese were too busy fighting among themselves than to worry about the Jp threat. Left: Mao Zedong leads the Chinese Communist Party while Chiang Kai shek on the right leads the Nationalists.

Marco Polo Bridge Incident – 7th July 1937

A misunderstanding led to an exchange of fire between both sides at Marco Polo Bridge.

Jp demanded that Chinese troops withdraw but the latter refused.

Became a full-scale invasion of China

The Pacific War had begun

Chinese troops engage Jp forces at MP bridge

Neutrality with Soviets

Jp initially coveted Soviet lands as well.

However they were defeated in battles at Changkufeng & Nomonhan.

Sued for peace & signed neutrality pact with Soviets in 1941 to concentrate on China

The Imperial Jp Army took a beating at Nomonhan by the Soviets.

European pre-occupation with Hitler

Hitler had been re-arming Germany since the mid 1930s

Britain, France & Holland were more concerned about defending their own countries.

Could spare little resources to defend SEA colonies.

The west obviously gave priority to Europe rather than Asia. This would come back to bite them later.

General Tojo Becomes PM

With the appointment of a general as PM, it was obvious that Jp would pursue an aggressive foreign policy stance

Tojo, a former Kwantung Army commander, believed war with the U.S. could not be avoided.

General (later PM) Hideki Tojo – 1884 – 1948

Worsening Relations with the U.S.

U.S. declared Chinese invasion illegal. Placed trade embargo on oil, steel & scrap

iron to Japan. Forced Jp to look at SEA for for resources. Despite this, both sides were keen to avoid

war & had last ditch talks However, Jp refused American demands to

withdraw from China & talks broke down.

American Pacific Fleet

U.S. had a powerful fleet stationed at Pearl Harbour, Hawaii

This posed a huge obstacle to Japanese advance into SEA.

The solution was obvious…..

American President Franklin Roosevelt pushed for a tough stance on Jp aggression in the Pacific.

Pearl Harbour – 7 Dec 1941

Without warning, Jp bombers attacked the Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbour.

2400 killed, 1200 wounded 3 cruisers, 3 destroyers, 188 planes destroyed Despite heavy losses for the Americans, the Jp

failed to knock out fuel storage & maintenance capabilities

This enabled America to rebuild their fleet later on.

“A Date Which Will Live in Infamy”

Mitsubishi Zero Fighters, preparing to launch from their aircraft carrier.

USS Arizona Memorial today

Sinking of the USS Arizona

American Response

1st ever attack on America

America declare war on the Axis

Hitler & Mussolini declare war on America.

U.S. enters WW II on the side of the Allies

Formally ends American policy of isolationism

Allies against the Axis: From left, Winston Churchill (PM of Britain), Franklin Roosevelt (American President), Joseph Stalin (Soviet Leader)

A Very Brief Summary of the Pacific War

*Non-examinable

Japan vs. China

After M.P. bridge, Jp forces pour into China

However, realised China was too huge for Jp to conquer.

Had to settle for China’s rich coastal cities like Beijing, Nanjing, Shanghai etc...

Jp rule was extremely brutal

Jp forces march into Nanjing, the capital of the Nationalist govt.

Rape of Nanjing Wanton looting, murder

& rape by Jp army Casualties ranged from

100,000 – 300,000 Even infants & elderly

women were not spared rape

Jp textbooks today play down the Nanjing Massacre, a source of contention between Jp & China. These 2 Jp Officers had a contest to

see who can collect 100 Chinese heads first

Sons were forced to rape their mothers, fathers were forced to rape daughters. One pregnant woman who was gang-raped by Japanese soldiers gave birth only a few hours later; although the baby appeared to be physically unharmed. Monks who had declared a life of celibacy were also forced to rape women.

An eye-witness account of the Rape of Nanjing

Mass graves containing massacred Chinese infants

Japan Sweeps into SEA

Attack on Pearl Harbour coordinated with advance into SEA.

1941 – Hong Kong, Malaya, Philippines & Burma fell

1942 – Singapore & Dutch East Indies fell Thailand signed alliance with Jp to avoid

being conquered French Indo-China became Jp ally as well. SEA came under Jp control by 1942

At the height of its empire…

American Wartime Propaganda

The Tide Turns…

America rebuilds Pacific Fleet by 1943 & was out for revenge.

Naval battles at Coral Sea & Midway saw America cripple Jp Navy.

U.S. marines begin the “island-hopping” strategy hatched by Gen. Douglas McArthur.

American navy wins a decisive battle against the Jp at the Pacific island of Midway

Island Hopping

By early 1945…

Allied forces had retaken Philippines, fighting to retake Burma, & preparing to retake Malaya.

Island hopping brought U.S. marines within striking range of Japan.

General Douglas Macarthur – “I have returned!”

Approaching Japan Costly battles at Iwo Jima &

Okinawa convinced Americans that invasion of Japan would result in high casualties.

Jp kamikaze tactics showed desperation

The solution?The iconic American flag raising at Iwo Jima. The battle gave the U.S. marine corps its highest casualty rate in any battle in history.Kamikaze plane

in action

Truman drops the Bomb

Top & left: Hiroshima flattened.

Right: Radiation burns from survivors

Aftermath Emperor Hirohito declares

unconditional surrender Jp comes under American

occupation Hirohito absolved from all

blame. Tojo & many Jp tried &

executed for war crimes. Zaibatsus & military

dismantled Jp becomes staunch U.S.

ally in Cold War

Hirohito with Macarthur, who was the Supreme Allied Commander for occupation forces in Japan.

Why did Japan Lose?

Economic Collapse US submarines sank more than 75% of Japan’s

merchant ships US bombing destroyed Japanese homes &

factories 1945 - people starving & collapse of industrial

production

Why did Japan Lose?

Resources Over-stretched Rapid conquests ==> had

too large an area to control & defend.

No allies & not enough troops

Many of the conquered territories were vulnerable by sea & Jp had no more control of the seas after 1943.

How do you defend an empire as large as this?

Why did Japan Lose?

Air & Sea power of USA Battles of Coral Sea, Midway

and Leyte Gulf, Americans gained command of sea & air.

Essential for successful operations in Pacific Islands.

Superior Resources US able to produce more

aircraft, aircraft carriers and weapons than Japan due to its industrial power.

Jp factories constantly bombed, diff to sustain production

Incendiary bombing of Tokyo – bombed to the stone age.

Why did Japan Lose?

Atomic Bomb Showcased firepower of US The destruction shocked the Jp military &

Emperor No way Jp could compete with such weaponry.