WW2 - The War in Asia before the battle of Midway
The Pacific War
Japanese expansion in East Asia began in 1931 with the invasion of Manchuria (China). On September 27, 1940, Japan signed the Tripartite Pact with Germany and Italy, thus entering the military alliance known as the "Axis."
Seeking to curb Japanese aggression and force a withdrawal of Japanese forces from Manchuria and China, the United States imposed economic sanctions on Japan. Faced with severe shortages of oil and other natural resources and driven by the ambition to displace the United States as the dominant Pacific power, Japan decided to attack the United States and British forces in Asia and seize the resources of Southeast Asia.
On December 7, 1941, Japan staged a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, damaging the US Pacific Fleet.
Background briefing: The battle of Midway
In the first months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japan had significant military success. The turning point came in June 1942 at the Battle of Midway, the first American victory. The Japanese fleet sustained heavy losses and was turned back. In August 1942, American forces attacked the Japanese in the Solomon Islands, forcing a costly withdrawal of Japanese forces from the island of Guadalcanal in February 1943. Allied forces slowly gained naval and air supremacy in the Pacific, and moved methodically from island to island, sustaining significant casualties. The Japanese, , successfully defended their positions on the Chinese mainland until 1945.
1. Japanese invasion and occupation of China 1931 - 1945
Japan secures resources
The Japanese invasion of Manchuria had far-reaching consequences for Asia and the world. After successfully occupying the region, Japan established the puppet state of Manchukuo in 1932, installing the last Chinese emperor, Puyi, as a figurehead ruler
Japan's primary strategic aims in invading Manchuria were:
Resources: Manchuria is rich in natural resources (including coal and steel) that would allow Japan to grow its industrial economy and build up the military.
Territorial Expansion: Japan had plans to expand its empire in Asia.
Strategic Buffer: Manchuria would provide a buffer zone between Japan and the Soviet Union, which Japan viewed as a potential threat.
Fun facts:
The Japanese occupation of Manchuria is seen as the dawn of Japanese military aggression in East Asia, accelerating Japan's path to war
For discussion:
What were the US actions that led to Japan’s invasion of Manchuria (northern China)
Use a map to describe the key strategic benefits of occupying Manchuria.
Second Sino-Japanese War. 1937 - 1945
The Second China -Japanese War lasted from 1937 until Japan's defeat in 1945. By 1939 Japan controlled the coastal regions and most major ports. Despite heavy losses, China continued to resist and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the Nationalist Party [KMT] stopped their civil war to combine against the Japanese. However the war was a stalemate, China’s massive population, geographical size and lack of infrastructure meant Japan was unable to defeat Chinese forces.
Fun facts
The USA provided support to Chinese resistance by air and on the 'Burma Rd'.
The war was charecterised by atrocities and enormous loss of life, with estimates of up to 20 million Chinese casualties.
For discussion:
Identify the four main reasons Japan was unable to fully conquer China.
Why was it in the Allies interest to support the Chinese resistance with supplies?
Identify three similarities between the German invasion of Russia and the Japanese invasion of China
2. Japan expands - War in the Pacific Part 1.
Activity 1. Japan expands
Understand the strategic relevance of these events for Australia and the wider war in the Pacific.
To do: Create an historical folio that examines the first significant battles in Asia.
Include the following information for each battle:
Who was fighting?
Who won the battle?
The relevance to Australia.
The wider strategic significance in the Pacific war.
Use maps and images to illustrate your research
Pearl Harbor. December 1941 - Pearl Harbour - The war times journal
The fall of Singapore. 1942 - The fall of Singapore - Australia's War
The bombing of Darwin. 1942 - Bombing of Darwin - awm.gov
The battle of the Coral Sea. 1942 -
The battle of Midway
Activity 2: Kokoda Track timeline map
When Singapore fell to the Japanese in February 1942. 14000 Australian soldiers were taken captive. Australia finally realised how vulnerable it was to invasion by the Japanese.
The Battle of the Coral Sea 1942 stopped the Japanese from invading Port Moresby by sea so they landed at Buna and attempted to invade overland. This required them to travel overland on the Kokoda track from Buna in the north.
Use the following timeline and resources to create a map of the Kokoda campaign.
Include the following elements on your map:
A map of the Kokoda timeline (significant events)
The reason the Japanese were attempting to capture Port Moresby.
A description of conditions on the track.
Kokoda timeline (significant events):
21 Jul 1942 – Japanese forces land at Buna, Gona and Sanananda on the northern beaches and head inland along the trail (or track)
22 Jul 1942 – First contact between Australian and Japanese troops at Awala, 40 km north of Kokoda
6-8 Sep 1942 – The Battle of Brigade Hill. Japanese forces overrun Australian positions with disastrous results, hence, its name change to Butchers Hill.
11-16 Sep 1942 – The Battle of Ioribaiwa. This as far as the Japanese advance, within sight of Port Moresby. The Emperor directs them to withdraw
17 Sep 1942 – The Australians make a last and final stand on Imita Ridge. The Japanese never arrived
26 Sep 1942 – The Australians begin the offensive
16-29 Oct 1942 – The Battle of Eora Creek and Templeton's Crossing area. Australians fight stubborn Japanese resistance to clear the area at great cost
15 Nov 1942 – The Battle of the Beachheads commences. 1522 Australians are killed and thousands wounded in the ensuing battles.
Extra. A Japanese perspective on the Kokoda Track: Kowai Kiomi
‘Our commander did not like my cautious approach. He seemed to be anxious for a quick victory but it was not easy to attack the enemy without knowing where they were. Being too eager for a victory could result in delaying the pursuit and increasing our losses. This is the last thing a commander should do.’
‘I thought it unusual for the hard working Australians to give up a position so quickly. But it was good news and took a load off my mind. Our loss since yesterday amounted to 17 dead and 27 wounded. This day we buried our dead in the mountains for the first time since landing in New Guinea. I issued an order to start the pursuit at 7am. Number 7 company, the most exhausted, was sent back. Numbers 5 and 6 company rested where they were while 8 and 12 companies took up the pursuit.’
I had one artillery piece. It is usually not done to fire artillery at night but human psychology is kind of beyond tactics. My plan was that after firing a few shells at the enemy position and terrifying them out of their senses we would charge with bayonets and they would be in fear of us in the darkness of the jungle. It all went as I had hoped. After hard fighting my men got in among the Australians. I then ordered them to hold their positions as I expected a counter attack. It never came and at dawn we were surprised to find that the Australians had again retreated.’
Resources
The Kokoda Track 1942 - kokoda.gov.au
The Australian engagement with a Japanese invasion force, was perhaps the most significant battle fought by Australians in World War II.
Major Kokoda Battles - kokoda.com
A list of the major battles fought during the Kokoda campaign
Sketchmap of the Kokoda track - kokoda.com
A wartime cross section of the Kokoda track
3. Sources Task: The Burma Railway
10 Sources Analysis Answer Guide
Don’t forget: Quote often and begin your response with name of the author, not the Source number. Put the source number in brackets at the end of the quote/paraphrasing.
For example:
This is supported by Jones who states that 'History students would be more popular at parties if they used this method.' (Source 3)
More successful responses:
contain relevant evidence (quotes and observations) from sources when required.
Less successful responses
provide responses without reference to any evidence from the source
state that sources are limited without explaining why using evidence
do not assess the nature of sources clearly
do not explain how the nature and origin of the sources are a strength or limitation
do not include the source in the response.
Sources Task: The Burma Railway
The Burma-Thailand railway (known also as the Thailand-Burma or Burma–Siam railway) was constructed in 1942–43. Its purpose was to supply the Japanese forces in Burma, bypassing the sea routes which had become vulnerable when Japanese naval strength was reduced in the Battles of the Coral Sea and Midway in May and June 1942.
The railway was completed in October 1943. The Japanese were able to use it to supply their troops in Burma despite the repeated destruction of bridges by Allied bombing
Source 1. Burma Railway. Anzacportal.com
'The Burma-Thailand railway was built in 1942–43. Its purpose was to supply the Japanese forces in Burma, bypassing the sea routes which had become vulnerable when Japanese naval strength was reduced in the Battles of the Coral Sea and Midway in May and June 1942. Once the railway was completed the Japanese planned to attack the British in India, and in particular the road and airfields used by the Allies to supply China over the Himalayan Mountains.’
Question S1
Use examples from source 1 to explain the purpose of the Burma Railway. (2)
Source 2. It looked like a scene out of Dante's inferno. Awm.gov.au
The railway was to run 420 kilometers through rugged jungle. It was to be built by a captive labour force of about 25,000 Japanese, 60,000 Allied prisoners of war and 200,000 romusha, or Asian labourers. They built the track with hand tools and muscle power, working through the monsoon of 1943. All were urged on by the cry “speedo!” Relentless labour on inadequate rations in a deadly tropical environment caused huge losses. By the time the railway was completed in October 1943, at least 2,815 Australians, over 11,000 other Allied prisoners, and perhaps 75,000 romusha were dead.
Questions S2
2. Is Source 2 a primary or a secondary source? Use evidence to explain your answer (2)
3. Use evidence from the source to describe conditions on the Burma railway during construction. (2)
Source 3. "Fit to work'. awm.gov.au
Some 2,710 Australians were among the 12,600 prisoners of war (POWs) who died building the railway, many from diseases, including malaria, pellagra, dysentery, beriberi, dengue fever and cholera. Others died directly from beatings and mistreatment by Japanese and Korean officers, or from complications arising afterwards. Others perished from tropical ulcers gained from toiling on the railway. Malnutrition was a key factor in the burgeoning death rate.
A photo taken in secret of three men selected by the Japanese as fit to work at
Shimo Songkurai camp on the Burma–Thailand Railway in 1943.
Questions S3
4. Use evidence from source 3 to describe what is happening in this photo (2)
Source 4. The long long road. Mt Isa to the Burma railway and back. Beard, G. 2000
'Work on the railway continued, with demands by the Japs for labour so high that quite sick men were compelled to work 12 or 14 hours a day. We found the Korean guards employed by the Japs to be just as vicious, or even more so, than the Japs themselves. Hard long hours of heavy work, coupled with a starvation diet, saw countless fine young men die ugly, unnecessary deaths. Better food and basic drugs could have saved most. We forgot how to laugh, every day was an ordeal. We were all terribly frightened, and mates were all there to keep us sane and alive. At least one good mate was essential to survive.'
Question S4
5. Examine Source 4. With reference to the origin and nature of the source, assess the strengths and limitations of the source for historians investigating conditions on the Burma Railway. (4)
Source 5. Brutality on the Burma Railway. australiansatwar.gov.au
'In another incident, a counting of the tools was taking place at the end of a particular day’s work in a British camp, when the number came up short. The Japanese guard in charge was said to have gone ballistic at the parade of men, threatening to bash and beat their front ranks, if an individual did not own up to the theft. When nobody claimed responsibility, Private Alistair McGillivray, a tough Argyll and Sutherland Highlander from the UK, was said to have come forward, to save his mates. McGillivray was beaten by the guard until he fell to the ground, then more as he lay unconscious, until he was dead.'
Source 6. A Korean guard looks back', The Burma–Thailand Railway '
'We had no training whatever in the handling of prisoners. Instead, every day we had beaten into us the military spirit, the glories of the Japanese Army, the necessity for absolute obedience, and the code of military conduct. Every day we were beaten a few times, and after two months training we were sent to Southeast Asia. One of the instructors at the training camp at Fuzan instructed us that we were to treat POWs like animals; otherwise they would look down on us.
Questions
6. To what extent does the information in Source 5 support the information in Source 6? Justify your answer with evidence from each source. (4)
7. With reference to all of the sources evaluate the following proposition.
'The majority of deaths on the construction of the Burma railway were a result of tropical diseases' (6)
