| The
Japanese
Japanese
soldiers considered themselves the soul of their nation. They pledged
their loyalty to Emperor Hirohito and swore to protect Japan against
enemy invasion. Soldiers refused to give up because surrender brought
shame to their families. Many Japanese blew themselves up with grenades
or ran suicide charges into enemy fire when faced with defeat.
The
Japanese fought on three fronts. They mainly battled the Chinese
to the north and west, Australians, Americans, and Filipinos in
the south, and the British and Indians to the southwest. Japanese
military leaders planned to take over the Pacific quickly and fight
a defensive war against the United States. They believed the American
public would not support a long war with Japan and hoped to negotiate
a peace recognizing their new sphere of influence.
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A Japanese prisoner of war captured by
the 32nd Division in New Guinea, circa 1944
Courtesy of Monroe Schneider
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