over the Pacific Ocean in 1943- 1944
Abstract
The development of military and political events during the Second World War, determined by the main position of the Soviet-German front. Progress of World War II operations in the Pacific theater depended on the outcome of huge battles in Europe.
The Soviet armed forces their struggle and victories won in 1941-1942., Predetermined the defeat of Hitler Germany and its European vassals, which, in turn, sealed the final defeat of imperialist Japan. The struggle of the Soviet Union against Nazi Germany enabled the United States and Britain to mobilize its human and material resources.
In the spring of 1942 the United States and Britain managed to halt the Japanese advance in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. In May and June 1942, two major sea battle in the Pacific (in the Coral Sea off Port Moresby and Midway) ended in failure which discover the superiority of American aircraft. The defeat of the elite "Nazi troops at Stalingrad" has made on Japan a strong impression. The blind faith of the Japanese ruling circles in the Nazi Germany fell sharply. This meant that the foundations of the Japanese strategy was shaken
Influence of the Stalingrad victory on the situation in Japan
Historians claim that Nazi Germany based Japanese imperialism on the calculations about crash the Soviet Union. The Japanese people experiencing the greatest test of all that he had ever experienced since the founding of the empire. The newspaper complained, that the military situation developed unfavorably for Japan, the Japanese people are experiencing severe spiritual tests related to a decrease in food standards. As the military situation is unfavorable for Japan's international position, which turned out to Japan, it does not allow any optimism. (Newspaper: «Mainichi Shimbun», 1943). Front was ending with a warning that "the scene of the decisive battles will be proper to Japan or areas adjacent to" it. "August 6, 1943 the representative of the "Imperial Rule Assistance Association," Suzuki, speaking on the radio, said: The successes of the Soviet Union won for the past week, and the events in Italy require us to stress of all forces for the speedy defeat of our enemies. Only in this way, we will be able to eliminate the danger that threatens our country and throughout the Greater East Asia The Japanese army has gained great wealth. War of Greater East Asia entered its last period, and it takes another all-out effort to end the war brilliantly.
A characteristic feature of the current phase of the war is the fact that the axis powers since the beginning of this war, the first pass through the greatest crisis. The situation on the Eastern Front can not be called no other than to serious The war with the Soviet Union made a huge change in attitude of the Germans in the war. Stalingrad battle also made a strong impression on the Germans. (Newspaper: "Yomiuri", 1942).
The defeat of Hitler Germany and the rise of difficulty for Japanese imperialism
The military defeats that was applied by the Soviet Army on the German fascist troops and Hitler's satellites, was allowed by the ruling circles of the United States and England to sabotage the opening of a second front in Europe, concentrating considerable forces in the Pacific theater of World War II. The quantitative superiority of the United States Naval Navy and Air Force and the UK over the Japanese fleet and aviation backlog military-industrial base of Japanese imperialism gave itself felt.
Military events developed less favorable for imperialist Japan. Chinese patriots, partisans of Vietnam, the Philippines and other countries in South-East Asia inspired by the Soviet victory over German fascism, intensified armed resistance to Japan. It multiplied the military and political difficulties of imperialist Japan. The food situation dramatically worsened. Even in the military there were industries starved of raw materials, fuel and skilled labor. Japanese monopoly showed dissatisfaction with the lack of "flexibility" policy Tojo government, which has failed to provide the industry the necessary labor and raw materials.
In November 1943 at the request of the major concerns, it was decided to establish a ministry of armaments. The Ministry of Trade and Industry, as well as the planned Cabinet Office have been eliminated. Questions of consumer goods and trade have been transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture that was reorganized into the Ministry of Agriculture and Trade. This reform was to supply non-military production industry in the worst conditions. Instead, the Ministry of Communications and the Ministry of Railways was organized by the Ministry of trade. In such way, there was reinforced militarization of the Japanese economy, the subordination of all sectors of the economy interests for aggressive war. Since Japan was preparing for a long war.
Complete failure of Nazi "blitzkrieg" strategy, frustration on the German ally, the loss of the fascist "axis" capitulated in 1943 in Italy to a large extent undermined the prestige of the Tojo government leading capitalist circles. Gen. Tojo had twice (September 1943 and February 1944) to produce a reorganization of his cabinet to withdraw from its membership too compromised fans of Hitler Germany and to include the persons who closely associated with monopolies.
Thus the war, which was conducted in the interest of the Japanese ruling class, provided to the huge profits by the Japanese monopolies. However, the ruling circles of Japan were increasingly convinced that the outcome of the war does not determine temporary and fragile territorial conquests, which were the implementation of the initial phase of the war. The development of military operations in the Pacific proceeded clearly unfavorable for the Japan. At the end of January 1944 began the landing of American troops on the islands of the Marshall Islands. (Newspaper: "Mainichi Shimbun", 1944) openly stated, "The present war as a whole develops unfavorably for Japan."
The Japanese offensive in China and buildup of troops and military equipment in Manchuria clearly pointed out that Japanese imperialism does not leave their plans of aggression against China and the Soviet Union. The withdrawing armed forces under the pressure of superior Anglo-American forces from south to north, the Japanese imperialists hoped to gain a foothold in northern China, in order to make it a base for further operations. On the Asian continent, rather than on the Pacific islands the outcome of war had to decide.
A compromise peace with the United States and Britain
July 18, 1944 the government of General Tojo went in resigned. The reason for the resignation was the occupation by American troops Saipan, where US bombers could carry out regular raids on Japanese territory. In place of the office of General Tojo came to office Koie. It was known in the past for he had critical attitude to Nazi Germany and was removed as a supporter of cautious policy. Government Koiso - Ionai is the result of the recognition of the ruling elite of total bankruptcy targeting to Hitler's Germany and emulating it. However, a more "liberal" facade of the Japanese government does not mean a change of policy of Japanese imperialism.
Koiso government continued to wage aggressive war. In October 1944, a law was passed on the conscription of persons who have attained 17 years of age. In order to overcome the shortage caused by the war of labor in industry and agriculture Koiso government forcibly import to Japan of Korean workers. However, Japan's military situation was deteriorating by the day. In October 1944, American troops began landing in the Philippine Islands.
Speaking on the radio on the anniversary of the declaration of the Great East Asia,
"Few people in Japan have taken these words seriously. All efforts Koiso government were designed to maximize tighten the war, put the United States and England, significant losses, to attack the USSR, and then try to make a separate peace with the Americans and the British, "persuading" them that Japan performs "sacred mission anti-communism. "
The Japanese imperialists had reason to believe that the reactionary circles in the United States and Britain are inclined to favor "soft" Peace with Japan. The influential American diplomat Grew, former US ambassador to Japan, openly advocated the need for "orientation" in the Japanese monarchy as a "calming effect" that could prevent the revolutionary explosion in Japan in the event of defeat. American strategists planning the attack on Japan by successive occupation of a number of Pacific islands that could serve as a base for air raids on Japanese territory, refused to operations on the mainland, while Manchuria and Korea is not only a center of concentration of land forces of Japan, but also an important industrial raw material database of Japan.
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