| To belittle the Japanese army, in my opinion, is to belittle the
achievements of the men who fought the war in Burma. There is almost a
involuntary reflex to stereotype the Japanese army as near sited, short
men whose only tactic was a suicide charge (in plane and on foot) this
could not be further from the truth.
The Japanese army in Burma was probably the best ever fielded by Japan, Its Divisions were all experienced by warfare in china. Its Commanders were men of courage and intelligence. It was a Army that could exist on the thinnest of supply lines, It was trained for warfare in the Jungle and did not fear the night. The Japanese, Like the British used Automatic weapons on the squad level. “knee” Mortars were spread liberally through out the platoon and used to great effect. On the Battalion level the Infantry formation had Several mountain guns, that could be disassembled and carried through the deepest jungle and were amazingly well served by there crews in battle. The Japanese soldier could survive by foraging more readily then his counterpart. During several campaigns in Burma the Japanese lasted longer with out a supply line then was thought possible, In Fact during some attacks Japanese commanders expected to survive on only what they could forage and capture. In Battle the Japanese soldier was a brave and tenacious opponent. When ambushed he would attack almost immediately. When given a objective, they would attack until it was captured or they were dead or ordered to retreat. The fanatical devotion to there Emperor and there military code was unquestionable. The Weakness of the Japanese army was there lack of improvisation and initiative on the junior level. One Japanese general was known to order subordinates to commit suicide at the slightest offense, so staunch adherence to orders is of course understandable. Cruelty was another weakness of the Japanese. Destroying hospitals, killing prisoners and native population helped fuel the hatred for the Japanese. We often view this sort of thing, quite naturally, through the eyes of western culture, we sometimes forget that the Japanese system of beliefs is not built on the same as our own. When the Samurai class was abolished in the 19th century, many former Samurai became army officers taking with them there code of boshido. The War in Burma was fought against a experienced, hard fighting foe, who was only defeated by good courage and skill. It should stand as a testament to the men of the Far east theatre of operations that they over came there lack of training, fear of the jungle and disease to become victorious over the Japanese. |