Sec 4N Hist (Elec) Chapter 7: Japans Defeat
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Transcript of Sec 4N Hist (Elec) Chapter 7: Japans Defeat
Japan’s defeat in WWII
How far do you agree that the defeat of Japan
could only have ben brought about by the dropping
of the atomic bomb
Context
Japan’s invasion and occupation of Southeast Asia
Japan achieved excellent progress in the early stages of World War II—it rapidly took control of the entire region.
Allied forces in Asia Pacific region were ill-equipped and unprepared for battle.
Hence, they were unable to response effectively against the Japanese.
Although the British reinforced their military strength with troops from Australia and India, these forces were not trained to fight in tropical Southeast Asia and were poorly equipped.
The US also needed time to recover its naval strength and shift its economy and industries towards supporting the war effort.
Context
Japan’s rapid advance and eventual defeat
Japan had launched simultaneous invasions of
several countries in Southeast Asia and the
attack on Pearl Harbor.
With the US Pacific fleet crippled, it could not
challenge these Japanese invasions.
Japan planned to seize control of the resources
necessary to its war effort, as well as to set up
a perimeter defence around this zone to protect
its conquests.
However, despite its early dominance, Japan
was eventually defeated in World War II.
Key Reasons for Japan’s Defeat in WWII
Strengths of the USA
1. Economic
2. Military
Overextended Japanese
Empire
Desire of Allies to
achieve quick victory
Allied victory in Europe
Dropping of the atomic
bomb
How did the United States government
respond to the bombing of Pearl Harbour?
Strengths of the US
Economic strength
Largest industrial producer in
the world at the time
The USA also had many
previously unemployed people
(because?). They proved to be
better workers than the forced
labour used by the Axis
powers.
Strengths of the US
In contrast, Japan did not have such a strong
industrial foundation or capabilities to support
their war effort.
Japan was also unable to protect their merchant
fleet from attacks by American submarines.
This weakened the Japanese economy and the
people suffered shortages.
The Allies also bombed many of the Japanese
factories, while the American factories remained out
of range from Japanese attacks.
Strengths of the US
Contribution of women to the war effort
Allied countries actively encouraged women to contribute to the war efforts.
USA: Woman Ordnance Workers (WOWs) worked in factories to contribute to the war effort. Others even joined in the armed forces, serving as nurses or soldiers.
Japan & Germany: emphasised the role of women as mothers and child-bearers who should stay home.
This meant that after entering WWII, it was able to quickly switch over from producing consumption goods to military equipment. (link)
Strengths of the US
Military and naval
strengths
Pearl Harbor did not
cripple US Navy
3 aircraft carriers of the
Pacific Fleet was
unharmed
3 key battles that
showed US resolve /
military strength
TB pg 196 - 197Doolittle Raid on
Tokyo
• Japan assumed that US would not be bombed as it was out of range.
• However, the US Doolittle Raid saw 16 bombers attacking Japanese cities in April 1942, in retaliation to the Pearl Harbor attack.
• The USA planned to fly over Japan and land the bombers in China.
Battle of the Coral Sea
• Japan planned to control Port Moresby and use it to launch an attack on Australia.
• The Americans anticipated the attack and brought in two aircraft carriers against the Japanese carriers.
• Result: attack on Port Moresby was cancelled. Japan’s southward advance was halted.
Battle of Midway
• Midway islands were significant for their airfields and location on the route to Pearl Harbor.
• Japan planned to bomb the island defences and use the Midway Islands as a base for Japanese naval and air forces.
• The USA held the element of surprise in the battle.
• Result: Japan lost four air craft carriers and almost three-quarters of their experienced pilots.
• This weakened their naval and air capabilities for the rest of the war.
Continued bombings on
mainland JapanLater years of the war: the USA continued aerial bombings of mainland Japan.
They also captured strategic island bases such as Philippines and Iwo Jima.
9 March 1945: bombing campaign saw a quarter of Tokyo destroyed.
Japanese factories suffered further shortages
Workers fled the cities for the countryside
As a result, the Japanese economy was at the brink of collapse. (link)
Fire-bombing of Japan
Ineffective defence of
overextended Japanese
Empire
Key military defeats
experienced by JapanIsland hopping strategy
A military tactic involving a series of battles
whereby the military forces attack strategically
important islands one by one establishing a
stronghold there and then moving on to the next
island
These defeats inflicted heavy damage to the
Japanese military and weakened its ability to
defend its empire
Desire of the Allies to secure
a quick victory in the Asia
PacificLiberation of Allied Prisoners-of-war
Japanese used forced labour to solve its manpower shortage.
Forced labourers faced harsh conditions, malnutrition and basic health facilities.
Prisoners-of-war (POWs) were also used as forced labourers.
The Japanese secret police units (Kempeitai) also tortured the prisoners.
Japanese hostility towards Allied POWs were highlighted in Allied propaganda.
This strengthened the determination of the Allied powers to end the war. (link)
Minimise Allied losses from kamikaze attacks
Kamikaze—suicide missions by Japanese pilots against Allied ships with the intention to inflict maximum damage.
Kamikaze attacks were increasingly used by the Japanese to attack the Allies as they tried to gain control of Japanese islands.
The Allied leaders were worried that continued kamikaze attacks would lead to extremely high number of casualties.
Thus, they were determined to secure a quick victory to minimiselosses. (link)
Desire of the Allies to secure
a quick victory in the Asia
Pacific
Japanese Kamikaze Squad
Tokkotai
Allied victory in Europe
Japan’s success in the war in the
Asia Pacific was partly dependent
on the fact that the Allies were
distracted by Hitler’s armies in
Europe.
When the USA formally entered
the war, Roosevelt and Churchill
agreed that the Allies should
concentrate on defeating Germany
first.
Even before Germany’s defeat in
the war in May 1945, it was clear
that Japan could not hope to win
the war.
Demand for unconditional
surrenderThe Allies demanded an unconditional surrender from Japan:
It desired a complete victory
It wanted to avoid a repeat of the situation in World War I in Europe
Allies were outraged at Japanese atrocities and wanted to see them totally defeated.
However, the Japanese were determined not to surrender.
Japanese leaders could not bring themselves to reveal their weakness to the Allies, let alone surrender.
Little Boy
Hiroshima (6 Aug 1945)
Fat Man
Nagasaki (9 Aug 1945)
J Robert Oppenheimer, the scientist who oversaw the building of the bomb, famously said after the first test
detonation: “Now I am become death, the destroyer of worlds.”
The co-pilot, Captain Robert Lewis,
commented, "My God, what have we
done?"
Video
Dropping of Atomic Bomb
Allied scientists began
working on the atomic
bomb since 1942 under
the Manhattan Project.
American leaders
considered using the
atomic bomb when
The Asia Pacific war
became increasingly
violent
Japan showed it would
not accept unconditional
surrender.
Dropping the Atomic Bomb
The Allies also wanted to impress the Soviet Union, and to defeat Japan without the Soviet Union’s help.
Although the Soviet Union had worked with Britain and USA to defeat Germany, they were divided by ideology.
Dropping of Atomic Bomb
Hiroshima (Little Boy)
6 Aug 1945, the 1st atomic bomb was dropped
1/3 of the population died instantly and many
more died soon
USA repeated its demand for ‘unconditional
surrender’
Soviet Union declared war on Japan on 7 Aug
1945
Japan refused to surrender
Nagasaki (Fat Man)
9 Aug 1945, 2nd atomic bomb dropped on
Nagasaki
Another 40,000 people died instantly
15 Aug 1945, Emperor Hirohito announced
Japan’s unconditional surrender to the Allies
WWII came to an end
Key Reasons for Japan’s Defeat in WWII
Strengths of the USA
1. Economic
2. Military
Overextended Japanese
Empire
Desire of Allies to
achieve quick victory
Allied victory in Europe
Dropping of the atomic
bomb