August 15, 1945 Japan accepted the Potsdam Declaration, and [ end of the war ], More than 70 years have passed.
Currently, under the Abe administration, Japan has become the basis for the restart of Japan after the war [ Constitution of Japan . ] Is being discussed over the interpretation. Discussions on Japan's postwar regime, such as the specification of the Self-Defense Forces and the security of the Japan-US alliance, will continue.
I think most of the people reading this article were born after World War II. I am one of the postwar generations.
We, who have not experienced a direct war, must think about World War II. It's not a question that you can find the answer right away, but isn't it important to know at least from World War II to the end of the war when thinking about war in the future?
Flow from World War I to the Pacific War
In order for us in the postwar generation to think about the previous war, it is important to first learn how Japan headed for the war.
The number of generations who can actually experience the war and talk about its reality is aging and decreasing year by year.
The reason why there is no teller of the actual experience, which cannot be conveyed only by images and historical materials, is [ Why shouldn't we go to war? ] There is concern that the consciousness may diminish.
In fact, we cannot experience World War II.
However, we can learn the same history from materials, testimonies, and records.
First, let's find out what triggered the war.
The Great Depression that triggered the Great War
World War I World War I and World War II there is.
Looking at the connection between these two wars, we will consider World War II.
So easily, World War I ...
World War I was 1914-1918 It is the first global war of humankind that has continued since then. The Allies won the battle between four allies such as Germany and Austria and 27 allies such as Britain, the United States, France and Russia.
After World War I, the League of Nations was advocated by the United States for the purpose of making efforts toward peace. Will be launched. It was the moment when the first international peace organization in history was born.
The United Nations has succeeded in disarmament and international cooperation will continue for some time, but it will not continue 1929 . Great Depression Will occur.
This Great Depression Triggers World War II have become.
Great Depression Is economic panic caused by the collapse of the New York stock market is.
New York, USA, has been an important part of the world economy since that time, and its influence spread to each world in an instant.
Measures for each country against the Great Depression
Each country will take the following measures.
- America ⇒ [ New Deal Policy ] Attempts to prevent economic and labor corruption
- United Kingdom ⇒ Invocation of [block economy] to strengthen economic ties with colonial and cooperative countries
- Germany ⇒ A large amount of compensation for the defeat of World War I and the Great Depression make it even more confusing, and Hitler's Nazis rise with violence and ethnic discrimination
- France ⇒ Deepen cooperation with related countries
- Italy ⇒ Mussolini's Fascist Party strengthens foreign aggression
- Japan ⇒ The double punch of the Showa Depression and the Great Depression in Japan has confused the country, and as a solution, we will establish a policy to expand control over China
Looking at the policies of each country, tensions have emerged in which war will occur again.
Manchurian Incident
In this tension, 1931 Liutiaohu Incident Will occur.
The Liutiaohu Incident is a self-made case by Japan in which the Japanese army that had advanced to Manchuria blows up the South Manchuria Railway and claims that it is a work by the Chinese army.
Japan caused the Liutiaohu Incident for the cause of the invasion of China and proceeded with the military invasion of northeastern China. It was a local battle, but at this point the war between China and Japan began. At this time, it was a skirmish between the Japanese and Chinese forces, so it was not a war between countries, but the Marco Polo Bridge Incident on July 7, 1937. With this as a trigger, we will expand into the Sino-Japanese War.
At the same time, in China, Mao Zedong =Chinese Communist Party And Chiang Kai-shek =Kuomintang Two political parties were in conflict. At that time, China had to deal with foreign and domestic enemies.
China, which cannot compete with Japan as it is, has agreed that the Kuomintang and the Communist Party will temporarily join hands to fight. This is a national agreement Is called.
1932 The Kwantung Army takes the form of a nation and tries to create an established fact that it is not an aggression [ Manchuria ], But it was clear that it was a puppet state, and it was not approved by the United Nations.
Outbreak of World War II
1939 during the Sino-Japanese War Germany invades Poland I started.
Allied Britain and France declare war on Germany against this invasion of Poland And
World War II Begins.
1940 Italy joins Germany on its side , The battle situation will expand.
1941 Japan declares war on the United States and Great Britain I did.
With the participation of Japan in East Asia, the war of World War II spread to the Asia-Pacific region.
Attack on Pearl Harbor, which is the key to the opening of the war between Japan and the United States
There are some things we need to know when the war between Japan and the United States begins.
December 8, 1941 Pearl Harbor Attack is.
It's a historically important day, so it's a good idea to remember the exact date.
* I'm going to test ~
The reason why this date is important has to do with international law.
1907 Burke Treaty So, to start the war [ Declaration of War ] Was required in advance.
Nevertheless, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii before declaring war.
This act will be criticized by each country for breaking international law.
Writing down how Japan declared war on the United States and Great Britain, 2:15 am Japan time on December 8, 1941 Landing on the British Malaya Peninsula Then, the Japanese Army started fighting, and the same day Japan time 1:30 am , Surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, American territory Has started.
If you want to give advance notice under the Burke Treaty, you have to do it before this, but Japan declared war on December 8 at 4:20 am . " Memorandum of Understanding for the United States It is said that he handed over.
Although it was only a few hours apart, the attack and handjob were reversed and the Pacific War began.
This event will be Japan's turning point in World War II.
Thus, Japan / Germany / Italy VS USA / UK / France Allied Powers The composition is completed.
This is the flow from the beginning of World War II to the outbreak of the Pacific War.
The Great Depression, an economic panic that occurred on the way to regaining peace from World War I, gave birth to the movement of World War II.
In another article, I would like to introduce the movements of each country after the start of World War II.