for the second time around I am listening to the Audio Book renditions of the Ian Toll trilogy of the Pacfic war. It is a depth of informaion from all sides.
While the official policy was Europe first, and there was constanct friction between us and the British regarding actions in the Pacific—the US definitely hated the Japanese. Was it racial? Maybe a small part, but mostly because IMO of the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor. It did not take much to cast the Japanese rulers and people of that time as horrendous monsters. Of course during war, all enemies have to be cast as evil, etc...to generate motivation to kill—on a massive scale.
I highly recommend Toll’s trilogy. The biops of all the Admirals, Generals, and other offices on both sides is fascinating.
“...mostly because IMO of the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor... Of course during war, all enemies have to be cast as evil”
But it’s funny, I don’t think the Italians were ever thought of evil. Mussolini was certainly mocked but I don’t think even he was hated.