Japan
Quiz over slides 62-
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 (holy) origin
-descendent of the Sun Goddess
-played minor role in the government
-he was above politics
-shogun had the political power
-ruled in the name of the Emperor
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
2. modern army
3. strong navy
Showed off new power in several wars
1. Sino-Japanese War (against China)
-1894-95
-Japan won
2. Russo-Japanese War
-1904-05
-Japan shocked the world by beating Russia
-gained partial control of Manchuria
3. World War I
-allied with the US
-gained German Islands in the Pacific after the war
1920’s
-gave all men the right to vote
-signed the 4 (reduce naval size), 5 (respect each others land) and 9 (open door policy) Power Pacts
-joined the League of Nations
-signed the Kellog-Briand Pact
1930’s
-Great Depression changed everything
-people blamed the government for tough times
-military leaders stepped in and took control
-said Japan had to expand in to Asia to help economy
-assassinated political leaders that opposed them
-took away people’s rights
Japanese Military Honor
1. fight to the death
2. commit suicide rather than surrender
3. gekokujo
-open defiance of superior officers by junior officers
-seen as a positive thing
-shows the spirit of the soldier
Japanese Invansion of Manchuria
What did this situation prove?
1. The League of Nations could not enforce its authority.
2. A major power could get away with using force.
3. GB and France wanted to avoid war at all costs.
4. Other powers would see this as a sign that they too could get away with the use of force.
5. The League also losts its most powerful member in the Far East and ultimately Japan was to unite with the two other nations that broke the Leagues rules-Germany and Italy.
Ethiopia invaded by Mussolini 1936
Italy lost its Ethiopia colony in Africa at the1896 Battle of Adua.
One of the worst colonial disasters of modern history.
Feb. 23, 1935, Italy sends large forces into Ethiopia.
Oct. 7, 1935, League declared Italy the aggressor.
Italy/Ethiopia Invasion
Nov. 18, 1935, Leagues sanctions begin
-arms embargo, financial embargo, non-importation of Italian goods.
Feb. 1936-League couldn't agree on critical oil sanctions mainly because FDR refused-U.S. controlled 50% world oil trade.
Feb. 29, 1936, FDR signed the 1936 Neutrality Act
1. mandatory arms embargo (don't trade) with warring nations
2. mandatory ban on loans to warring nations
May 5-Italy occupied Addis Ababa-annexed all Ethiopia May 9
***China was to Japan as was the Soviet Union was to Germany***
Japanese treated China terribly
Rape of Nanking-1937- a lot of targeted civilians were killed, raped and stabbed, and Japanese were labeled as terrible soldiers.
Quarantine Speech-1937
FDR's speech that talked about the Allies need to come together and to look after the Axis. Taking sides on the world.
Appeasement Policy
"a diplomatic policy aimed at avoiding war by making concessions to an aggressor"
Great Britian and France used this policy throughout the 1930's.
Helped give Japan, Italy, and Germany confidence that they would face no consequences for their actions.
Considered to be a huge mistake by historians.
Panay Incident-1937
Boat was sent in there to clear out people. The Japanese thought it was a Chinese ship so they destroyed it. Said they didn't know it was the U.S.
Anschluss (Union) With Austria-1938
Hitler and Germany were uniting with Austria. Austrians let Hitler and Germany take Austria because they didn't want to go to war with him. League of Nations let it happen said oh well.
Sudetenland/Munich Conference-1938
Hitler wanted Sudetenland to unite German speaking people.
Munich Conference: Neville Chamberlain-Great Britain, Adolf-Germany, Benito Mussolini-Italy, and Edouard Daladier-France.
Munich Pact-Appeasement: Germany was given Sucdentland of Czechoslovakia. Czechoslovakia had the option to accept Pact or deal with Germany by themselves. Czechoslovakia lost it's defensible borders and fortifications. Czechoxlovakia also lost 70% of its iron/steel, 70% of its electrical power and 3.5 million citizens to Germany as a result of the settlement.
After this Hitler said he just wanted to bring German people together and said he was done. Actually he wanted to take the rest of Czechoslovakia.
Munich Conference Chamberlain: "Peace for our time"
Got peace and didn't go to war.
Winston Churchill
Thought that GB and France weren't tough enough and thougth Hitler would take more land from Czechoslovakia.
Hitler Takes the Rest of Czechoslovakia-March, 1939
Great Britain and France started mobilizing for war.
Nazi-Soviet Non-Agression Pact 1939
That they didn't trust each other but they worked together.
Russia gave raw materials to Germany in exchange for money and weapons.
Both agreed to stay neutral if the other entered the war.
Secretly agreed to invade and split Poland. Germany would get the western half and USSR the eastern half.
Russia would get Finland, Estonia and Latvia and Germany would get Lithuania.
How did the world react to this pact?
Shock. Poland was in a very tough spot. Hitler thought it would force Great Britain and France to back out of their promise to help Poland if attacked.
German Invasion of Poland Blitzkreig-Lightning War
Goal was to win as quickly as possible. Attack with airplanes first take out enemy things that could take out airplanes, then communications and other stuff. Then infantry and tanks attack Poland. Mechanized groups like trucks with troops go around and outflank the enemy positions and attacked from the other side.
Sitzkreig-The Phony War
US called it the phony war because war was declared but nothing happened for 6 months. Germany called Sitzkreig sitting war not much happened.
Tripartite Pact is Signed Axis Powers
Axis Powers: Main Powers-Germany, Italy, and Japan and Other Powers-Albania, Bulgaria, Finland, Romania, Thailand, and Hungary.
Allied Powers: Main Powers-Great Britain, Soviet Union, United States, China, France, Canada, and Australia. Latin America countries too.
German Invasion of Denmark and Norway-April, 1940
Easily defeated both but Norway was a little tougher because they had to attack by sea.
The Battle of France 1940
Germany surrounded France by attack from both sides beat them in about a month.
Maginot Line
Was a line of concrete fortifications, tank obstacles, artillery casements, machine gun posts, and other defenses.
France constructed this along its borders with Germany and Italy after what happen to them in WWl. Built from 1930-1940.
Miracle of Dunkirk
Good victory to save men. We still lost though. City in Belguim where hundreds of thousands of British French and Belguim men were evacuated. Get out of Dunkirk and go to Great Britain.
Vichy Government
Government in France that Hitler allowed to be in control of Southern France and led by Marshal Henri Petain. Pro-German Nazi.
Free French Underground
Led by Charles de Gaulle, based in London, goal to free france from German control.
Great Britain
Hitler had great respect. Aryans. Would sign a non regression act. Germany had plan to invade.
Nazi Goals
1. Destroy the Royal Air Force (before invasion was possible-hopefully by 9-15)
2. Attack and destroy the British Navy
3. Attack British troops.
4. After gaining air superiority, the invasion of Great Britain would be begin if Great Britain had not already surrendered.
**Germany never succeeded in achieving #1
**German bombers did so poorly against the RAF that hey started bombing at night only-randomly attacking cities.
**Great Britain was aided heavily by the radar and Ultra-intercept enemy codes and plans for attacking.
Operation Sea Lion-Never Happened
Was Hitler's operation or plan to attack Great Britain.
Luftwaffe
Herman Goering the leader of the german airforce.
Bases for Destroyers-September, 1940
US gave Great Britain old destroyers and in return Great Britain gave the US leases on naval bases.
1940 Election
FDR vs. Wendell Wilkie and FDR was the only president to win election 3 times. Actually kind of close election.
FDR Signs the Lend-Lease Act-March, 1941
Lent supplies to countries that need our help that were allies powers. NOT AXIS
War in the Atlantic
Germany did good with German U Boats.
Wolf Pack
German Invasion of USSR-June 1941
Final Plan for Operation Barbarossa.
Largest military operation in history in both manpower and caualties.
Leningrad-surrounded and starved the Russians, Stanlingrad-got, and Moscow-could not get to
Scorched Earth Policy
Stalin demanded this of the Soviet troops as they retreated. What is this? burning bridges and stuff to stop the German forces. Germany pushed hard to get to Moscow. Germany couldn't get to it. Loss of resources and oil.
Atlantic Chapter
We are NOT neutral.
FDR talked to Great Britain.
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 at Pearl Habor
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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