Hell in the Pacific
One of the most bitter battle arenas of the Second World War, Pearl Harbor represented the trigger that led America into the greatest conflict ever recorded and the eventual liberation of the people of Asia and the Pacific.
On the 7th December 1941 Japan launched surprise attacks across the Pacific region, setting battleships ablaze in Pearl Harbor, then routing the British in Malaya and capturing Singapore itself: the greatest humiliation in British war history.
The Japanese now seemed unstoppable and after being at war with China for a decade, and shocking the world with atrocities like the Nanking Massacre, they believed their destiny was to rule Asia under the Emperor, for them, a living god.
Inferno - Dec, 7th 1941 and Japan launches attacks across the Pacific region, killing thousands in Pearl Harbor and capturing Singapore - a vicious and bloody battle ensues.
Purgatory - The plight of those who fell into Japanese hands during WWII. Over 100,000 prisoners of war endured appalling conditions in camps whilst doctors were raped and murdered.
Armageddon - In a war conducted far from the sight of the Geneva convention thousands of soldiers were captured, tortured and killed, both on the battlefields and in prison camps.
Apocalypse - As Japan weakened, her resistance grew - some committed suicide; with supplies dwindling others turned to cannibalism. But it all ended when the atomic bomb was dropped in Hiroshima.
Wow... I’m thinking the age of some of these people commenting have never lived through wartime’s, but rather in time of peace and tranquility and instant gratification. Lucky generation... I guess. Makes me feel very proud actually. As I continue my research on the horrific, torture and Grotesque death my uncle suffered in WW II in a POW Camp in the Philippines. Enjoy the freedom he died for. He did it for you. How selfish is that?
wtaf is wrong with people? how can we be so hateful and disgusting to one another? i know about the war(s) but every time i watch things like this i really question the existence of any civilizations and really wonder what im doing here.
i feel horrible after i watch docs like this. i cant imagine any of the things they say they did to people and i would sooner die than kill anyone. i hate how people are...
Before I will ever answer protests about using the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki lets first talk about the Rape of Nanking. The Japanese military murdered more civilians at Nanking than Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined. When being driven out of Manila they murdered 100,000 civilians. Had we not force the war to close (using the atomic bombs) the American looses were estimated to be around 500,000, Japanese civilian loses were estimated to be around 10,000,000, South Korea would be communist and Half of Japan would have been under the bamboo curtain. It's real easy to look back 70 years later and play arm chair general/president but those making the criticisms didn't live through that time period.
People today can't comprehend how brutal that war was and often wonder out loud about dropping the bomb but I'm here to tell you growing up in the 50's and hearing the vets talk amongst themselves about the brutality of it all and how lucky they felt about not having to invade Japan leaves no doubt whatsoever about that outcome. In reality Japan got off lightly for they did things that brought it all down around their heads.
The US was all set to invade Japan after Okinawa (Operation Coronet) and that fight was one of the roughest of the war. The next step being Japan proper was going to be one helluva fight, we couldn't just surround it with subs and hope for the best as many think. Look at what happened when the Desert War of '91 pulled up short. You just can't look at a war and try to arm chair quarterback it from todays prospective. Too many people today look back and do the the 'what if' blame game. All wars are started over one thing money...one word for wanting what the other guy has call it greed call it 'Manifiest Destiny' call it 'Lebenstrum' call dictatorial power what ever label it boils down to one thing. Back in the day people settled things with fists now they pull out a gun and shoot...we haven't changed a bit just the perspective. Being born in the 40's and listening to those vets in the 50's talk about how rough it was and them thanking god the bomb stopped the damn thing will never be forgotten. Like those guys said then.....'they started the shit and by golley the allies finished it.'
incredible so many posts on here think it was the A-Bombs that ended the war with Japan i guess most of these posts are from Americans and thier twisted one sided version of History.
I wonder if they realize that the Soviets invaded Manchuria (one of the most stunning victories in Military history) as well as the British general Slim doing amazing things and the Chinese too ALL had a massive effect on the Japanese and incidently the 'fire' bombings killed a hell of a lot more Japanese and did a lot more collateral damage than the Nukes that dropped.
Thats the problem with Internet 'historians' i suppose.
I lived through WW2 as a child and my oldest brother served in the Navy.
Additionally, I have been a life long stufent of history. Some people play golf. I study history.
Consequently it is depressing and discouraging to read so many pathetic observations about the use of the A-bomb, particularly Mr. McDermott's arrogant and unenlightened conclusions.
If you want to know why the bomb was used, begin with studying what happened at Okinawa.
Excellent documentary. We all complain about the Japanese relocation camps being sooo bad but no one alive today can understand the pure hatred and fear we felt toward Japan at that time. Imagine what the Japanese would have done to whites that lived in Japan during the war. I guarantee you they'd have done a lot more than just relocate the population. ;)
America did what they had to to uphold national security. It's so hard to see that nowadays when we are cloaked in warmth and security and have liberty to speak our minds while nursing off the teat of our ever-stable government; sheltered, babied, spoiled. When your way of life is threatened, you will react differently. Hard times, they were. All we can do is remember, empathize, and never forget.
It is actually quite a coincidence that in my language 'pokorni' means the submissive one, compliant :)
I advocate to not blame the Japanese. If you knew their history, you would understand. Besides, without Japan you wouldn't have the technology that exists today. Imagine, no plasma tvs, no new cars, no video games, no anime!?!? It would be a sad world. <3 Japan
This was the real world, and you have to deal with it/
I wish we had NOT a-bombed Japan. I would rather be looking at the documentary about Stalins invasion of Japan. The punishment of the Japanies would have been much more complete and have lasted till the USSR fell. We could be looking at how well the Japanies are doing since their liberation in 1989.
Would'nt THAT be a great documentary.
Decent but ever so slightly biased documentary, they managed to get a few interesting characters on the japanese side. My problems however are; how can they possibly be interviewing a kamikaze pilot? and the ginger american (US ARMY) seems a little young to be reminiscing the war.
Interesting also slating the vulgarity of the japanese, yet stories of theft from their own, treason and prostitution whilst prisoners of war seemed to come from the American soldiers, so does it tell you anything about how the american government prepared its troops for war? and what they were really there defending?
would be nice to have had a more in depth commentary of such matters
how can they be interviewing a kamikaze pilot? and how young is that ginger american?
I smiled when I saw Lee Kuan Yew with the title Student, Singapore.
I'm Singaporean and currently Student, Singapore too.
Who knows what I''ll accomplish in 60 years time! Maybe Minister Mentor, Singapore?
I smiled when I saw Lee Kuan Yew with the title Student, Singapore.
I'm Singaporean and currently Student, Singapore too.
Who knows what I''ll accomplish in 60 years time! Maybe Minister Mentor, Singapore?
Very good war doc,,The price for freedom is not cheap..SEMPER FI
You would think god would be omnipotent enough to fight for himself huh?
But naaaw he needs an army of dark-age mentality goat-herders, bible-belt god botherers and political theocrats.
I have watched some of the religion docs in the site and i have the felling I will have to go trough with something like that in the near future...
Just watched the whole series.
Truly amazing. What the hell are we still fighting for?
..oh yeah oil and god.