Comments on: I hate this time of year http://www.froginawell.net/japan/2008/08/i-hate-this-time-of-year-2/ The Japan History Group Blog Wed, 03 Mar 2010 03:08:31 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Jonathan Dresner http://www.froginawell.net/japan/2008/08/i-hate-this-time-of-year-2/comment-page-1/#comment-155747 Jonathan Dresner Fri, 15 Aug 2008 03:43:13 +0000 http://www.froginawell.net/japan/?p=389#comment-155747 As an historian, it is my job to be concerned with historical causality. The attitudes of the many US and <a href="http://hnn.us/roundup/entries/53230.html" rel="nofollow">Japanese</a> military personnel and civilians is an historical datum, not an historical investigation or argument. In fact, the Soviet entry into the war <i>was</i> very important. Not because they could invade Japan -- though they did immense damage very quickly to the remnants of the Kwantung Army and Korea <i>was</i> considered part of Japan at the time -- but because it meant that Japan was completely encircled by enemies. Instead of "bandits" on the continent, they faced one of the great war machines of the 20th century. The psychological effect on the leadership is very well documented. As an historian, it is my job to be concerned with historical causality. The attitudes of the many US and Japanese military personnel and civilians is an historical datum, not an historical investigation or argument.

In fact, the Soviet entry into the war was very important. Not because they could invade Japan — though they did immense damage very quickly to the remnants of the Kwantung Army and Korea was considered part of Japan at the time — but because it meant that Japan was completely encircled by enemies. Instead of “bandits” on the continent, they faced one of the great war machines of the 20th century. The psychological effect on the leadership is very well documented.

]]> By: K. M. Lawson http://www.froginawell.net/japan/2008/08/i-hate-this-time-of-year-2/comment-page-1/#comment-155745 K. M. Lawson Fri, 15 Aug 2008 03:38:14 +0000 http://www.froginawell.net/japan/?p=389#comment-155745 I have little doubt that is true. Which is one reason it is fortunate that soldiers such as those of the 96th Infantry Division weren't left with the heavy responsibility for making those fateful decisions. These annual debates, especially among historians of Japan and Asia are important ones, for they help historians participate in the discussion of where we draw the lines of human decency. I have little doubt that is true. Which is one reason it is fortunate that soldiers such as those of the 96th Infantry Division weren’t left with the heavy responsibility for making those fateful decisions. These annual debates, especially among historians of Japan and Asia are important ones, for they help historians participate in the discussion of where we draw the lines of human decency.

]]> By: Lirelou http://www.froginawell.net/japan/2008/08/i-hate-this-time-of-year-2/comment-page-1/#comment-155733 Lirelou Fri, 15 Aug 2008 02:59:06 +0000 http://www.froginawell.net/japan/?p=389#comment-155733 Had you been an infantryman in the obscure 96th Infantry Division during the Pacific War, you would not have cared one whit for "counterfactuals, personality/psychological considerations, cultural considerations, long-term strategic or moral implications" of the bombings. Rather. you'd have been counting yourself lucky to have survived Okinawa (nearly 3,000 of the division killed in action, over 10,000 seriously wounded) and have been dreading the hardly unexpected news that your division was slated for the invasion of the Japanese homeland. The fact that the Russians joined the war in the Pacific on 9 August would have meant little. They were, after all, a land army, with only limited means of projecting their power across the Korean Straight. Had you been an infantryman in the obscure 96th Infantry Division during the Pacific War, you would not have cared one whit for “counterfactuals, personality/psychological considerations, cultural considerations, long-term strategic or moral implications” of the bombings. Rather. you’d have been counting yourself lucky to have survived Okinawa (nearly 3,000 of the division killed in action, over 10,000 seriously wounded) and have been dreading the hardly unexpected news that your division was slated for the invasion of the Japanese homeland. The fact that the Russians joined the war in the Pacific on 9 August would have meant little. They were, after all, a land army, with only limited means of projecting their power across the Korean Straight.

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