Fascism 04-03-08 and War Lecture Summary: 1. Divisions of Armed Forces 2. Fascism I 3. War in China 4. Fascism II 5. Road to Pearl Harbor Armed forces in Politics Army vs. Navy War ministries split into the army and navy with separate funding Army is preoccupied with Russia/Soviet Union and the navy is more preoccupied with naval forces like Great Britain Army tends to be more cavalier towards their attitude of working with other powers b/c mainly dealt with only Korea and China until 1939 when they confront Russia. Navy is more educated in the West and is more knowledgeable about military mobilization Army divided into the control and imperial way factions "Control Faction" Tj Hideki Prime minister of Japan when surrendering to the US Cream of the crop, university graduates, higher class "Imperial Way Faction" Lower ranking officials Ex. of Imperial Way member - Araki Sadao reintroduced samurai swords, during the Meiji period would use Western swords "February 26 Incident" Another coup attempt Took control of major government offices in Tokyo, occupied the Diet building Killed Prime Minister, also killed Takahashi Korekiyo Takahashi was pro-capitalist but was for management of the economy Targeted Saionji Kinmochi who was pro-Westernization because he was a traditional enemy of military forces and supporter of political parties Not a good idea to kill the Emperor's best friend, Emperor Hirohito angry and had radicals found and punished As long as the emperor is against getting rid of the Diet, the Diet cannot be destroyed Fascism I Fascists were unable to take control and military takes over and all policies are focused on military mobilization There was no fascist force strong enough to overcome the military like in China and Germany However, there were attempts to establish a fascist government After Feb. 26 Incident, there was a decline in Seyuikai power, particularly because Seyukai was largely promilitary Minseito gains immense power after the Feb. 26 Incident Japanese people weren't clamoring for military dictatorship or oligarchy in the Meiji period Only 11 years since universal male suffrage Unpopularity of Fascism in Japan People's Alliance, Far East Society Parties that promoted fascism, were unpopular
04-03-08 Far East Society at their height had 11 seats in the House of Representatives; Minseit had 175 representatives at that time Minseit, Agrarianism Hirota Koki Supported civilian government against the army Made a fatal error in the re-introduction of the rule that only active admirals and generals could serve as army ministers this will be his undoing. Military threatens government by threatening to step down, increasing military spending Inflation becomes a major problem in Japan even before the war Signed an anti-commentoring Act ??? Targeting Stalin and the Soviet Union Unpopular because it was pushing Japan into a possible confrontation with Russia "Three Principles" China, Japan and Manchukuo All of Asia needs to unite under the leadership of Japan who can only fight against communism Basically saying that any actions by the Chinese nationalist government was irrelevant Wants to erode confidence of Chinese government and have Japan perceive Chinese nationalists as it's enemy Army wants to create an alliance with Italy and Germany to go against Russia 1936.12 Xian Incident Convinced to stop anti-communist wars and direct its attention on Japan China abandons internal fighting Guanmindong wasn't gong to stop but just abandon for now United Front against Japan, focusing all attention to removing China off the Konoe Fumimaro Noblemen, member of Privy Council, powerful man, was pro-military Established the group called the Showa Research Association Showa Research Association Became the major think tank for fascism in Japan Some of the men become important bureaucrats in government "War" in China July 7, 1937 "Marco Polo Bridge Incident" Japanese garrison right next to Chinese garrisons where always have tension building up Japanese government decides to use this site for their incident Northern Chinese forces was headed by ___ who was an enemy of Chiang Kaisek Both governments that are responsible for signing a cease fire have no idea what's going on Song runs away with all his soldiers and abandons Chinese nationalists It almost looks like Northern China collapses and Japanese think it'd be easy Konoe wanted it to happen but didn't want it to be a full blown out war just wanted land through negotiation War in the North going on and both sides trying to negotiate it 8.9.1937: "Oyama Incident" Peace Preservation Corp (para military group that is full of sort of civilians that are angry Chinese nationalists) causes a major incident between Japan and China because Oyama is killed Japan starts asking for unreasonable demands like all military has to abandon Shanghai. Withdraw everything except former police force from Shanghai was the last request By the 13th of August, Chiang Kai sek orders army to drive the Japanese into the ocean Both governments after lots of negotiation launch total war
04-03-08 Emperor Hirohito says it's the Japanese mission to massive blow to China, destroy Guanmindong War in China was an utter disaster Japan meets fierce resistance/opposition between Shanghai and Wang Jing Millions of Chinese refugees Both countries fight a dirty war China use Buddhist monks, civilians, Red cross to use as spies and attack Civilian casualties in the millions 2/3 of best men of Chinese men in Shanghai were killed Financial disaster to Japan, took 4 months to takeover Shanghai when they thought it would take only 4 years Brings down the first Konoe cabinet Chinese unwilling to negotiate at all unless they completely withdraw all military forces from China Chinese militarist regime was poorly misunderstood the by Japanese Japanese government started using chemical warfare Chongging occupied until 1945 1940 Repubic of China, Wang Jingwei Left wing member of Chinese nationalist party Becomes an enemy, stinging betrayal to the Chinese nationalist government Establishment of the puppet regime, later become supporters of the Communist parties 1940 "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, Matsuoka Yosuke Declaration to foreign economic parties that you can't trade here Doing this for the betterment of the Asian people 1939 "Nomonhan Incident" Japan gets involved in disastrous incident with the Soviet Union The fact that this wasn't a declared war is important b/c if it was declared Soviets would have had to been more forceful if that had happened Japanese would have been in big trouble Region between Mongolia and Northeast China where Soviets and Japanese had a puppet military presence They had a border skirmish leading to full out fight Stalin sends most of the talented to the east, thought that Hitler wouldn't be a problem Japanese weren't up to speed with tank warfare *Both wars were technically not declared wars. 1939 Non-Aggression Pact with USSR Japanese ask for a non-aggression pact with USSR Stalin wasn't someone who respects treaties/pacts but lasts until 1945 After this failure at Nomonhan, the Japanese army especially the radicals are widely discredited. At this point, navy gets more of an upper hand in Japan Southern advancement become more popular Fascism II Japanese Proletarian Party The only group that opposed war in China and spoke out against the war Were immediately suppressed Konoe made sure anyone who opposed the war were immediately suppressed "The Popular Front Incident" Roughly coincides with Nanjing incident Japanese never had interest in eliminating the Chinese people but rather anyone who was associated with the Chinese nationalist People who threatened to report these killing of civilians were arrested and clamped down
04-03-08 Use accusations and criticisms that you're not supporting the troops / you're supporting communism Organ theory dude is attacked for disrupting lese majeste Holy war against China Saito Takao Says it's a way of funneling money into the military and not a holy war For saying this he's kicked out of the Minseito 3.1938 National Mobilization Law Takes more concrete steps to establish fascism Curtails free speech even more than Peace Preservation Law Makes labor unions illegal but also disciple the factory management b/c Japan is one In fascism, state is the ultimate authority Makes sure all actions are directed to increase military mobilization Like Manchukuo but the fascists are trying to control Imperial General Headquarters Konoe establishes the Imperial General Headquarters Konoe is frustrated by the fact that the army doesn't listen to what they are told Use the authority of the emperor to bring in the military, doesn't work at all Army rejects this because in a time of national emergency, they shouldn't be told what to do Tries to use the state to control the market Deliberative attempt to control capitalism through the controlling of prices Konoe wants this to be persist even after war Central Price Committee Coordinates ministries under fascists including ministry of education People of Konoe's staff are filtering into ministries Only the ministry of finance wasn't controlled by the fascists Japanese capitalism is preserved but don't cross the state so doesn't threaten the war effort "Central Planning Board" 1938 "Principles of the National Polity" Principles of the national body The idea that they can't be split Promotes a Japan centric world, divinity of the emperor, Shintoism as Japan's only religion, promotes bushido Promotes militarism Konoe goes down primarily due to military failure against Soviet but also because of opposition of the ministry of finance and the zaibatsu, fascists came out losers Admiral Yonai Mitsumasa After the fall of Konoe cabinet, admiral Yonai comes into power Taxes get hiked through the roof to pay for the war Sign a Tri-apartheid Pact Puts themselves into bed with Germany and Italy Was quite moderate and was interested in working with US as much as possible Konoe comes back in 1940 Konoe says he was going to quit the Privy Council
04-03-08 People begin to abandon their political parties Even Minseito gives up their political party to work together in unity Imperial Rule Assistance Association Absolute closest Japan gets to become a fascist country Abolished labor unions in favor of state run and negative towards leftists "Neighborhood Associations" Patriotic Women's Association, Women's Association for National Defense Last party / group By 1942, all gobbled up by Imperial Rule Assistance Association See competition as threatening to the nation Aviation businesses would still compete b/c imperial rule aa couldn't control them b/c need them Started creating 5 year plan Actually had production quotas Moves towards a fascist government but fails The Showa Research Association had Communists in its organization without knowing it Fascism: Failure Ozaki Hotsumi, Sorge spy ring Wada Hiroo Wasn't communist but was so far right that he was arrested "Planning Board Incident" The IRA leaders keep on pushing the emperor to abolish the Diet and constitution but he says no Zaibatsu resistance Zaibatsu doesn't want to be told what to do Consult with the state frequently 1941.9 US oil embargo Rise of Tojo, Control Faction Have a system established by fascists for the state to Fascists develop the system but adopted by the military when they come into power United States starts to pull an aggressive :( against Japan US decided to get involved A lot had to do with Evangelical Christianity who had gone to China who told how awful the Japanese are