For the class blog

1. War in the Pacific * SEQ Examinable

2. 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

3. 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”

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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

7. Colonialism in SEA

8. 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

9. 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

10. Where in the world is Manchuria? Manchuria was extremely rich in natural resources which Jp coveted. Only problem: it belonged to China

11. 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”

12. 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

13. 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.

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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

19. 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.

20. 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

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. 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

24. 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.

25. 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.

27. 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.

28. “A Date Which Will Live in Infamy” Mitsubishi Zero Fighters, preparing to launch from their aircraft carrier. Sinking of the USS Arizona USS Arizona Memorial today

29. 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)

30. A Very Brief Summary of the Pacific War *Non-examinable

31. 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.

32. 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

33. 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

34. 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

35. At the height of its empire…

36. American Wartime Propaganda

37. 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

38. Island Hopping

39. 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!”

40. 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

41. Truman drops the Bomb Top & left: Hiroshima flattened. Right: Radiation burns from survivors

42. 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.

43. 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

44. 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?

45. 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.

46. 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.