May I suggest you grab a copy of John Koster’s recent “Operation Snow” which documents the post Soviet records showing how White forced the Japanese attack and war entry at Soviet direction.
This had been covered in asian reporting but not here and his heavily documented book was ignored in the press.
The Soviet spies and moles in the FDR team caused the Japanese to feel that they had no choice but make war.
Awesome book, and distressing the misery from their actions so documented.
Respectively disagree that Japan felt it had no choice. Japan wanted war. It had assigned itself the role of leader of Asia. Asians felt humiliated by the dominance of European powers and the United States in their countries. (France Indochina, Netherlands Indonesia, Britain Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and India, United States Philippines and interference in China, even Portugal in China) Japan after its victory over Russia in 1905 and role in WW I viewed itself as the nation that would assume the historic burden of ridding Asia of these demeaning interlopers. It is the motivation that is not appreciated or understood by most Westerners. However it should be understood. Today China assumes that role. It absolutely abhors American involvement in Asian affairs whether it be in Korea, Vietnam, or anywhere in Asia.
Respectively disagree that Japan felt it had no choice. Japan wanted war. It had assigned itself the role of leader of Asia. Asians felt humiliated by the dominance of European powers and the United States in their countries. (France Indochina, Netherlands Indonesia, Britain Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and India, United States Philippines and interference in China, even Portugal in China) Japan after its victory over Russia in 1905 and role in WW I viewed itself as the nation that would assume the historic burden of ridding Asia of these demeaning interlopers. It is the motivation that is not appreciated or understood by most Westerners. However it should be understood. Today China assumes that role. It absolutely abhors American involvement in Asian affairs whether it be in Korea, Vietnam, or anywhere in Asia.
We all knew MacArthur was starving them for oil and other things.
Still the Rape of Nanking was inexcusable as was the treat the Japanese gave our own troops that were captured.
The cause can be argued , but not the barbaric way they fought the war.