The Pacific War-The First Story: The Background of the Pacific War
The Seeds of War Are Sown
The territory of Japan during the Pacific War (including colonies)
This first part of our series on the Pacific War (1941-1945, US vs. Japan) focuses on its background, exploring why these two nations clashed.
The Great Depression (1929 onwards) severely impacted Japan, a major silk exporter to the US. Declining demand pushed Japan towards territorial expansion for self-sufficiency.
Japan’s Territorial Expansion and the Creation of Manchukuo
Exploiting China's instability after the fall of the Qing Dynasty, Japan occupied resource-rich Manchuria in 1931 (Mukden Incident) and established the puppet state of Manchukuo in 1932, installing Puyi as a figurehead.
Japan’s Strategy to Dodge International Scrutiny
Japan created Manchukuo as a seemingly independent state to avoid international backlash against territorial expansion after WWI. However, China refused to recognize it, leading to frequent clashes.
These conflicts escalated into the Second Sino-Japanese War (starting July 7, 1937, Marco Polo Bridge Incident), a prolonged and difficult war for both sides.
The Second Sino-Japanese War and the International Response
Despite capturing Nanjing in 1937, China continued to resist, hoping for international support against Japan's aggression.
Western powers, critical of Japan's actions, imposed economic sanctions (US embargoes on steel and oil in 1940-1941) and provided aid to China (Soviet weapons, British assistance).
Japan’s Dilemma and the Spark of the Pacific War
Japan believed cutting off Western support to China was necessary for victory. Negotiations with the Allies stalled over demands for Japan to withdraw from Chinese territory, including Manchukuo.
Faced with tightening sanctions and unwilling to concede its gains in Manchuria, Japan chose war, launching a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
Naval Confrontation and Japan's Initial Strategy
Japan planned to gradually weaken the US fleet in the Pacific before a decisive battle near Japan, mirroring their Russo-Japanese War strategy.
Yamamoto’s Opposition and New Proposal
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| Yamamoto, Isoroku's portrait photo |
Yamamoto Isoroku, having witnessed America's industrial might, argued against the outdated strategy and proposed a "short-term decisive strike" to inflict heavy damage and force a favorable peace.
The Birth of the Pearl Harbor Attack Plan
Yamamoto's plan targeted Pearl Harbor in Hawaii to cripple US naval capabilities and push their operations back to the mainland, aiming for a swift victory.
Yamamoto’s Psychological Warfare and Military Discord
Yamamoto hoped the attack on US territory would foster an anti-war movement. Despite initial opposition favoring the old strategy, Yamamoto's conviction led to the execution of the Pearl Harbor attack.
Execution and Results of the Pearl Harbor Attack
On December 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, sinking or heavily damaging eight US battleships with minimal losses.
Failure Within Success
While tactically successful, the attack failed strategically. Key infrastructure like repair docks and fuel tanks were largely untouched, and Pearl Harbor remained a functional US base.
Yamamoto's full vision wasn't understood by all commanders, some still focused on a later decisive battle.
America’s Unity and the War’s Turning Point
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A fleet commander, fearing retaliation, ordered a withdrawal, missing an opportunity for further damage. President Roosevelt used the attack to unify the American public with the "Remember Pearl Harbor" slogan, strengthening their resolve for war. The attack, though a tactical victory, strategically failed to break American will.