Japan
Dictatorship also came to Japan
-not through a political party but the military
History
-rich military tradition
-feudal clans fought each other for dominance in Japan
-The Emperor presided over the Japanese government
-came form divine origin
-descendent of the Sun Goddess
Japanese society
1. Landowning clans dominated
-protected by the samurai
2. Wealthy merchant class
3. Peasants
-most of the people of Japan]
Japan was very isolated until 1853 when US Commodore Matthew Perry sailed in to Japan and forced them to open their ports
In the late 1800’s many Japanese were tired of being controlled by foreign countries.
-adopted western ways in hopes to keep Western Powers out of their country
1. heavy industry
Japan Invasion of Manchuria
League of Nations condemed it. Told them to leave.
Showed that Japan was serious and strong
Showed Hitler and Mussiolini that League of Nations could not enforce its athority
Policy
Munich Pact Appeasement:
Germany Was given the sudenteland of Czechslovkia
Nazi- soviet non-aggression act:
russia gave raw materials to germany in exchange for money
both agreed to stay neutral if the other entered the war
Main Powers: Germany, Japan Italy
Maginot Line:
Was a line of concrete fortifications, tanks, obstacles, artillery casemates, machine, gun posts, and other defenses
Great Britain only Country left standing- Hitler Respected G.B he believed they were Aryans, he respected them, so he had no choice but to take them over. That never happened
Battle of Britain- he wanted to boomed Britain in submission-
Nazi Goals
- Destroy the Royal Air force- Before invasion was possible-hopefully by 9-15
- Attack and Destroy The British Navy
- Attack British Troops
After gaining air superiority, the invasion of Great Britain would begin if G. B had not already surrendered
He never even achieved goal number 1.
German bombers did so poorly against the RAF that thety started bombing at night only- randomly attacking cites- that way people would surrender, by fear, Business, houses, churches would get hit.
G.B was aided heavily by radar and Ultra- Top secret until the 1970's- one of the top reason we won the war- we were able to intercept and decipher Germany's codes.
Pearl Harbor
In July, 1941, Japan invaded French Indochina
In response, the US stops trading with Japan
Due to embargo, Japan felt it had three options:
- 1. abandon ambitions in South East Asia
- 2. compromise with the US
- 3. attack Dutch and British possessions in the Pacific and US bases in the Pacific
Yamamoto felt that if Japan had any chance of winning a war against the US it must destroy the US Pacific fleet in a surprise attack
A surprise attack would give Japan at least six months to dominate SE Asia unopposed
Japan thought that the US then would face a long, bloody struggle and would settle for a negotiated peace that would allow Japan to do as it pleased in Asia
Tojo replaces Konoye as Premier of Japan. Konoye wanted to negotiate with the US. Tojo didn’t and had a low regard of the US
Tojo wanted war but Emperor Hirohito wanted on last peace attempt.
Japan offered this:
1. Open door policy everywhere and Japan would withdraw from
French Indochina
2. US would stop Lend-Lease Aid to China and start trading with Japan again
3. Japan would start peace talks with China
US refused plan on November 29th
US took a hard line stance with Japan now because we had deciphered their diplomatic code(Magic) and knew that they had some type of attack plan.
Magic Information
“November 29th is the deadline”
“things are automatically going to happen”
Japan felt that the key to success in the Pacific was air and sea power
-especially launching airplanes from aircraft carriers and submarines attacking enemy ships
Japan had ten aircraft carriers to our three in the Pacific(based in Pearl Harbor)
Japanese Pearl Harbor Attack Plan
- 1. destroy three aircraft carriers, eight battleships, seven cruisers and other small ships
- 2. attack Wake Island and Guam
- 3. attack Malay and Hong Kong
- 4. attack Philippines, Dutch East Indies and Burma
Japanese attack force consisted of:
- 1. Six aircraft carriers
- 2. 360 airplanes
-Kate High level bombers
-dive and torpedo bombers
-Zero fighters
- 3. two battleships, three cruisers, eight destroyers
Admiral Nagumo commanded the force
To succeed, Japan had to travel 3,500 miles without being detected. That meant absolute radio silence and travelling through a vast, lonely expanse of the Pacific Ocean. This attack had to be a complete surprise.
“Backdoor to War” Conspiracy
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