Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I was watching World at War documentry and saw something interesting, when they were on the segement about the aftermath and reconstruction it goes in depth about how and why germany was split up like it was, then briefly states that Japan was Ours (USA) and we let no one else in, not the Brits, not anyone, definatly not the Russians, because we wanted it under our specific influence and needed it back up and runnning as soon as possible.
I'd like to speak a little about this, here are a few points....
1. How did our allies feel about this, obviously Russia probably knew why we didnt let them in but how did the UK who we fought alongside in the Pacific feel about this, or were they to broke to worry?
2. How did China feel about this, or did we expect them to match up with the Soviets and we had little care for how they felt about the situation (Russia got to extract its revenge on Germany, China did not get to with Japan)
Basically just talk a bit about it and also how the dynamics of splitting up germany went, I found it pretty interesting..
The difference between Germany and Japan and their occupation status is quite simple: The United States shouldered the lion's share of the burden to defeat Japan and there was never any real doubt about who would be calling the shots as far as Japan's future. Let's go through the other countries who fought Japan, one by one, in approximate order of their contribution to victory. 1. Great Britain
Unlike in Europe, where the British were nearly equal partners with the United States in fighting Germany, and in fact where they had been in the fight already by the time we joined them, their role in Asia was much more limited. The only major ground fighting the British did was to push the Japanese out of Burma. And while this was not a small effort, it does pale in comparison to the various United States ground offensives such as (but not limited to) the Phillipines, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. Towards the very end the British did field a naval task force, but it was more symbolic than anything else. 2. China
The Chinese suffered horribly under Japanese occupation, but their country was too poor, too corrupt, too divided, and too disorganized to put up any real resistance to the Japanese. They did tie down large numbers of Japanese troops right up until the end, however, and that was their main contribution. So while we were allies with Nationalist China, they were very much the "little brother" in that partnership; we poured enormous money in the form of supplies and armament to Chiang Kai-shek but received relatively little in return. 3. Australia
Very early on, for example in New Guinea, Australian troops fought valiantly as the United States struggled to get up to speed. But as time went on, their contribution dwindled down to very minor status, for a variety of complex reasons. 4. The Soviet Union
The Soviet participation in the war against Japan started on August 9, 1945, just a couple of weeks before the Japanese surrender, with a massive attack into Manchuria. They were the Johnny-come-lately to the conflict, and Stalin was mainly interested in grabbing what spoils he could from an already defeated Japan. Stalin made an outrageous demand to participate in the occupation, but he was rebuffed by the United States, and properly so.
The terms for the post-war occupation of Germany and Japan were established by the Potsdam Conference in July of 1945. The United States, Britain, and the Soviet Union had all fought the Germans and it was agreed that each country would have an occupation zone. In fact, it was also agreed to give France an occupation zone in Germany as well. There's an old saying that goes "to the victor belongs the spoils" and this was no exception. However, the western powers were remarkably good about exacting retribution on Germany and instead helping to rebuild it as a country. The Soviet Union which had suffered the most during the war, did exact some sort of retribution on Germany in which they carried off whole factories to the Soviet Union following the war. They also kept hundreds of thousands of German soldiers prisoner until the 1950's. Many of these worked as slave laborers for the USSR. Administration of post-war Germany was always a little bit difficult because the ruling body was the "Control Commission" made up of representatives from the four occupying powers. It was unwieldy and only existed because of a necessary compromise between the occupying powers.
The USA was very ambivalent about dividing up Germany into zones of occupation. Perhaps, on some level, we understood there would be future problems with the Soviet Union. When it came to Japan, Escort Rider is correct, the USA had by far borne the lion's share of this battle. We had some minimal help from Britain and Australia, but the Soviet Union did not declare war on Japan until the final couple of weeks of the conflict. President Truman and the State Department quite properly felt that Japan would be much easier to administer during the postwar era if the USA was the only occupying power.
To be specific:
1. The Russians were unhappy, but grudgingly accepted the notion they could not have their way because of the late date they entered the war with Japan. Also, to some degree, they did get their way at the end of the war when they occupied the Chinese province of Manchuria.
2. Chiang Kai-Shek and the Chinese leadership were too busy worrying about domestic events to worry about occupying Japan. The Chinese Civil War literally began the minute World War II ended. It lasted from 1945 to 1949, with victory coming when the communists seized the last nationalist stronghold in the country, Shanghai.
Actually parts of Japan were divided up and given to the USSR, China and America. The USA got Okinawa, Bonin Islands including Iwo Jima and Islands under Japanese Trusteeship (Marianas, Marshall Islands, Caroline Islands and Pelieu. The USA gave Okinawa and the Bonin Islands back to Japan in 1968. The Soviets got the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin Island that Japan had taken from the Russians in 1905. Another territory was a place called Chosen which the Japanese took from China in 1895. The people who live in Chosen call the place Korea. The US and USSR agreed to partition Korea at the 37th Parallel. The Americans and Russians handled Korea like Germany and set up friendly regimes in their sectors. The final part of the Empire of Japan taken by the Allies was a large Island off the coast of China which Japan called Formosa. Formosa was a Chinese province taken by Japan in the same war with China in 1895. .Iy was given back to China and got its Chinese name back. It was Taiwan.
I for one never understod why we gave Iwo Jima back to Japan. So many Americans shed blood on that god forsaken rock and think of all the Americans buried there. It should have remained forever part of America as a hallowed ground. Istead the Rising Sun flag flys over that little island
Actually parts of Japan were divided up and given to the USSR, China and America. The USA got Okinawa, Bonin Islands including Iwo Jima and Islands under Japanese Trusteeship (Marianas, Marshall Islands, Caroline Islands and Pelieu. The USA gave Okinawa and the Bonin Islands back to Japan in 1968. The Soviets got the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin Island that Japan had taken from the Russians in 1905. Another territory was a place called Chosen which the Japanese took from China in 1895. The people who live in Chosen call the place Korea. The US and USSR agreed to partition Korea at the 37th Parallel. The Americans and Russians handled Korea like Germany and set up friendly regimes in their sectors. The final part of the Empire of Japan taken by the Allies was a large Island off the coast of China which Japan called Formosa. Formosa was a Chinese province taken by Japan in the same war with China in 1895. .Iy was given back to China and got its Chinese name back. It was Taiwan.
I for one never understod why we gave Iwo Jima back to Japan. So many Americans shed blood on that god forsaken rock and think of all the Americans buried there. It should have remained forever part of America as a hallowed ground. Istead the Rising Sun flag flys over that little island
Thanks for this excellent post which completes the story about what happened to Japanese territory after the war. I was remiss in not stating in my post that I was talking only about the disposition of the home islands. The fact was I was too lazy at the moment to look up the information you have given (to be sure it was all correct). This is one of the great things about forums: If one post is incomplete, someone will come along and complete it.
The difference between Germany and Japan and their occupation status is quite simple: The United States shouldered the lion's share of the burden to defeat Japan and there was never any real doubt about who would be calling the shots as far as Japan's future. Let's go through the other countries who fought Japan, one by one, in approximate order of their contribution to victory. 1. Great Britain
Unlike in Europe, where the British were nearly equal partners with the United States in fighting Germany, and in fact where they had been in the fight already by the time we joined them, their role in Asia was much more limited. The only major ground fighting the British did was to push the Japanese out of Burma. And while this was not a small effort, it does pale in comparison to the various United States ground offensives such as (but not limited to) the Phillipines, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. Towards the very end the British did field a naval task force, but it was more symbolic than anything else. 2. China
The Chinese suffered horribly under Japanese occupation, but their country was too poor, too corrupt, too divided, and too disorganized to put up any real resistance to the Japanese. They did tie down large numbers of Japanese troops right up until the end, however, and that was their main contribution. So while we were allies with Nationalist China, they were very much the "little brother" in that partnership; we poured enormous money in the form of supplies and armament to Chiang Kai-shek but received relatively little in return. 3. Australia
Very early on, for example in New Guinea, Australian troops fought valiantly as the United States struggled to get up to speed. But as time went on, their contribution dwindled down to very minor status, for a variety of complex reasons. 4. The Soviet Union
The Soviet participation in the war against Japan started on August 9, 1945, just a couple of weeks before the Japanese surrender, with a massive attack into Manchuria. They were the Johnny-come-lately to the conflict, and Stalin was mainly interested in grabbing what spoils he could from an already defeated Japan. Stalin made an outrageous demand to participate in the occupation, but he was rebuffed by the United States, and properly so.
well put.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mwruckman
Actually parts of Japan were divided up and given to the USSR, China and America. The USA got Okinawa, Bonin Islands including Iwo Jima and Islands under Japanese Trusteeship (Marianas, Marshall Islands, Caroline Islands and Pelieu. The USA gave Okinawa and the Bonin Islands back to Japan in 1968. The Soviets got the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin Island that Japan had taken from the Russians in 1905. Another territory was a place called Chosen which the Japanese took from China in 1895. The people who live in Chosen call the place Korea. The US and USSR agreed to partition Korea at the 37th Parallel. The Americans and Russians handled Korea like Germany and set up friendly regimes in their sectors. The final part of the Empire of Japan taken by the Allies was a large Island off the coast of China which Japan called Formosa. Formosa was a Chinese province taken by Japan in the same war with China in 1895. .Iy was given back to China and got its Chinese name back. It was Taiwan.
I for one never understod why we gave Iwo Jima back to Japan. So many Americans shed blood on that god forsaken rock and think of all the Americans buried there. It should have remained forever part of America as a hallowed ground. Istead the Rising Sun flag flys over that little island
actually the russians invaded the islands you indicated, they were not given to russia except that the US and japan were not wanting to go to war with russia to get them back. and korea was divided at the 38th parallel. vietnam was divided at the 17th parallel, and indochina was given back to the french, while singapore and hong kong were given back to the british.
actually the russians invaded the islands you indicated, they were not given to russia except that the US and japan were not wanting to go to war with russia to get them back. and korea was divided at the 38th parallel. vietnam was divided at the 17th parallel, and indochina was givenback to the french, while singapore and hong kong were given back to the british.
Vietnam used to be called French Indochina - they are one and the same. It was some years after the end of World War II that Vietnam was divided at the 17th parallel.
3. Australia
Very early on, for example in New Guinea, Australian troops fought valiantly as the United States struggled to get up to speed. But as time went on, their contribution dwindled down to very minor status, for a variety of complex reasons.
If you know what these complex reasons are, I think it would be an interesting addendum to this thread.
Without any particular knowledge, my first guess would be that the largest portion of Australia's very limited military strength was drawn off into the European theater of war during the 1939 to 1941 period. That would then explain Australia's near complete dependence on U.S. protection from the Japanese invasion threat during the summer of 1942. If I recall correctly, even Australian troops that remained stationed in Australia were placed under MacArthur's command. The WWII experience with its threat of invasion caused a complete reorientation of Australia's diplomatic and military policy.
Again, just speculating here, I wonder if further Australian military assets during the 1943 to 1945 period went to bolster existing Australian units either in Europe or India, simply because that's where the original units had been sent.
Vietnam used to be called French Indochina - they are one and the same. It was some years after the end of World War II that Vietnam was divided at the 17th parallel.
Vietnam used to be called French Indochina - they are one and the same. It was some years after the end of World War II that Vietnam was divided at the 17th parallel.
Not to nitpick but French Indochina also included Laos and Cambodia. Vietnam was (the biggest) part of it but they are not one and the same.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Slight correction
