Plus it'd economically F up Europe. And go down horribly with the German-American populace.
The Sun, The Stars and The Sickle: Alt-WWII and a Tripolar Postwar World
- Thread starter WaterproofPotatoes
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Jai Mahakali ayo Gorkhali!
The Gurkhas will kill you. The Maori will kill you and feast upon you for your mana!
France is viewed positively in Japan as well. It certainly helps that the Chief of General Staff in the IJA, Prince Morimasa Nashimoto is also the president of the Franco-Japanese Society.
Much ado is made of France's suffering under German occupation and how France refuses to give up- France's intact honour does much to bolster her reputation in Japan.
Paris, in Japanese estimation, is also the "cultural capital" of Europe.
As it stands,TTL the Maori Battalion exists, and is still in Freyberg's division. They are currently preparing for service in either Burma or Malaya.
On this matter, there is a distinct and positive portrayal of Japan in the Commonwealth. When not depicted in full Samurai armour or (in the case of women) full Geisha garb, they are depected in Western dress and hairstyles, and with differences in features and pignentation distinctly downplayed. The contrast is particularly apparent when the Union of China is featured as well- the Japanese nearly inevitably appear more Westernized.
The connections between Japan and Britain are played up- two small islands full of noble, industrious peoples, with great navies and empires, with democratic governments, all under the watch of a noble and judicious monarch. The picture of Emperor Hirohito at his microscope in his laboratory is particularly popular, and helps with the propaganda theme of "Our leaders write books while Hitler burns books!"
Much like how Highland Scots were mythologized in Regency-era England, so too is Japanese martial prowess. The Japanese soldier, sailor and airman is depicted as fearless and self-sacrificing, and ready to charge directly into danger for his Emperor and the Alliance without heaitation. Military leadership is usually symbolized by a studious Admiral Yamamoto or a smiling General Count Terauchi.
I imagine Marshall Petain's martyrdom has further stoked Japanese sympathy and support for the French.
To be fair, that's not propaganda. The City of Lights has been the icon of European culture even before WWI. Not even the British tried to contest that. London is home and the heart of the Empire, but Paris is where Western art and culture bloomed the the brightest.
I imagine that much ado is also made in America that Admiral Yamamoto is an Annapolis graduate. One of their own, they might even say.
Indeed it has, as has the King and Queen of the UK remaining in London.There is much outpouring of public support for Japan's suffering allies, and against Nazi treachery and aggression- the same aggression that sponsors terrorism against the IJN and agitates against the legitimate government of Manchuko.
As for Yamamoto, while there is a lot of wariness surrounding Japan in the USA (they have only been allies for a few months), but having an American-educated admiral pull off such a resounding victory was certainly a step to warmer relations.
Admiral Nimitz, CIC of the US Atlantic fleet, extended particularly hearty congratulations for the victory at Murmansk, while admirals Yamamoto and Fraser extended theirs to him for the bravery of USS Edsall in attacking the much larger Lützow while the latter was attempting a diversionary raid.
Absolutely! I should have qualified that statement
. Only Vienna would be able to contest such a claim, but with the current most famous Austrian in power, there is something of a blemish...This is true, on both counts. Prague could also be a contender, at least with regard to music.
Are there actual racial theories like "Japanese must descend from ancient white settlers", "Japanese are not actual Asians", etc ?
Yep, the close military relations between Japan and US/UK in terms of education are going to be a pillar for further propaganda to smooth the public perception of each country.
Or that ITTL, all the high-ranking IJA officers studied at military academies in France. Considering how iconic Petain was, I imagine the old man's death would incense plenty of French-educated Japanese officers and nobles.
One thing that stands out to me iTTL. Japan's economy is probably in *much* better shape than iOTL. They may be spending more money percentagewise on the war than the US or UK are, but they have access to most of their trading partners from the last decade, can likely buy oil with minimal problem (The DEI should be quite willing to sell even with the Netherlands under occupation) and aren't particularly worried about shipping to anywhere other than (perhaps) the United Kingdom.
The country not getting bombed, and combat losses being far lower, do wonders for Japanese economy too.
Other than some salacious theories in pulp magazines, this is an issue that is pointedly avoided by Allied press. They're on our side and that's good enough- plus, anything that might offend the Japanese is something to avoid. Allied authorities are especially strident in cautioning the press to be very careful with how the Emperor is depicted.
This is indeed the case. Japan's economy, with a booming 5 prewar years, and unrestricted access to oil, and governing Manchukuo effectively so it's Japan's breadbasket and iron mine rather than a horrorshow of senseless violence and criminality, and investing in her merchant marine all help. The major shipping lines (NYK, OSK, K-Line) are all part of major zaibatsu as well (Mitsubishi, Mitsui and Kawasaki respectively), so they have easy access to investment funding. Japan can buy British, Dutch and even American oil with no problems.
I still find Manchukuo being governed *that* effectively being somewhat ASB. There just aren't that many Japanese there. This isn't the British Colony of Canada or Australia. I'd say somewhat closer to TOL British India or *maybe* French Indochina. If they are *very* lucky, equivalent to Japanese Taiwan or Korea, both of which they have had at least a generation longer.
It's not so much that it's a saintly government because ~*Glorious Nippon*~, but also that there is a big pool of cheap labour, lots of land, and said labour pool is in no small measure groups escaping persecution in their homelands, and Chinese seeking more stability than warlord-era northern China. Low taxation in addition to cheap and plentiful resources make it a relatively easy colony to govern.
Granted, the only big industrial centres are Harbin and to a lesser extent Hsinking, with much of the other industrial activity focused on agriculture and resource extraction.
Dairen and Ryojun have longer established industries, but they are part of the Kwantung Territory rather than Manchukuo.
ETA: I should have phrased it colonies in general as opposed to just Manchukuo specifically.
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If they haven't, then it won't be long in the coming. The island is Japan's crown jewel, where the locals fully embrace Japanization, and a rare example of colonization actually working.
Taiwan is indeed nearly fully integrated. Less repressive treatment on the whole has made the Taiwanese, the Takasago people in particular, especially loyal subjects.
One thing that hasn't been butterflied away is this famous picture:
This portrayal of Sir Winston proved to be quite popular, and German propaganda calling him a gangster and murderer backfired.
The Tunis Conference
Excerpts from the Internet video series "Diplomatic History Visualized", 2017
THE Tunis Conference, the first major meeting between the "Big Five" Allied powers, took place between April 2nd and April 10th, 1942, in Tunis, Tunisia.
The leaders present were Sir Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the United States; Paul Reynaud, Prime Minister of France; and Prince Fuminaro Konoe, Prime Minister of Japan. Due to the situation in the Soviet Union, Stalin did not attend, instead electing to send Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov from April 3 to 6.
Churchill, Roosevelt and Konoe each arrived in one of their respective nations' most modern battleships- Roosevelt in USS Louisiana, Konoe in HIJMS Akagi, and Churchill in HMS Duke of York, her role as Fraser's flagship in Operation Tiger aiding in her selection. Reynaud and Molotov's arrivals were much quieter affairs.
The agenda across the multi-day conference covered several important topics for how the Allies would wage the wars, and other principles to come into Allied consideration.
The first item discussed was the priority for the war effort: "Germany First" or "China First"?
The Allied leadership agreed unanimously on "Germany First". China was not deemed to be an existential threat to any of the five nations, and unlike Germany, China was already fractured, with the Union of China gaining more popular support as the Nationalists' situation deteriorated. The Nationalists also did not wage a war of extermination, unlike the Nazis, and did not carry out atrocities in the manner of the Nazis. With their lack of a navy and strategic bomber force, the Nationalists also lacked the ability to attack Japan, or project force beyond contiguous borders- while they could attack Burma, for instance, they could not attack Britain or Hawaii.
Nazi Germany, on the other hand, waged an aggressive war of conquest and had to be stopped, whatever the cost. There remained some debate over whether a conditional surrender from Germany would be accepted if Hitler were overthrown, but Roosevelt and Stalin, through Molotov, expressed their extreme distaste for such a situation.
Thus, the Tunis Declaration would state that the Allies' held as their chief priority the defeat of Nazi Germany, "by any means necessary"; demonstrating conviction to the goal, but leaving room for said means to be further refined.
The second major item was discussing the liberation of France. This was made much more difficult due to the French military leadership's relatively poor standing among the Allies. De Gaulle was regarded as arrogant, vain and bellicose, whereas his naval counterpart, Darlan, was deemed equally vain and a shameless opportunist. The French favoured an amphibious landing with the aim of taking Toulon, which could be used as a harbour to support the landings, and which had been thus far spared severe damaged by the Germans. The Americans favoured a cross-channel invasion, and while Churchill had his misgivings about such an operation, indicated that he would support it if necessary. The Japanese delegation agreed to send a small expeditionary force, and provide for support for the landings with combat, landing and merchant vessels, as an expression of gratitude for Allied aid in China.
Timing was the other major issue- the United States and Britain, while arguing the necessity of the landings, nonetheless stated that they were unlikely to be ready to conduct such an operation until summer-fall 1944. The French and Soviets (who wanted pressure taken off their front), by contrast, wanted a landing as soon as possible, as soon as early spring 1943 if conducted in the Mediterranean. The Allies did not have the necessary experience to conduct such operations, so the French made a major step in what would eventually lead to the liberation of Europe: France allowed Madagascar to be used as the site of a series of massive practice landings, beginning in autumn 1942.
Several smaller agreements were also reached. These included:
-Possible purchase of overseas bases for the USA, with the stipulation that the people in said territories also agreed
-An agreement to provide the Soviets with as much aid as possible
-The disposition of ships, aircraft and armies throughout the various theatres
-The proposed introduction of formal "Supreme Allied Commanders" in said theatres to streamline operations
-A declaration of support for self-determination of all peoples
and finally,
-An overarching commitment to fight for a world without want and fear.
While this conference did not answer all the questions it sought to, it got the participants to frankly and freely discuss their mutual struggles, and would do much to shape the conferences that would take place in the future.
THE Tunis Conference, the first major meeting between the "Big Five" Allied powers, took place between April 2nd and April 10th, 1942, in Tunis, Tunisia.
The leaders present were Sir Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the United States; Paul Reynaud, Prime Minister of France; and Prince Fuminaro Konoe, Prime Minister of Japan. Due to the situation in the Soviet Union, Stalin did not attend, instead electing to send Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov from April 3 to 6.
Churchill, Roosevelt and Konoe each arrived in one of their respective nations' most modern battleships- Roosevelt in USS Louisiana, Konoe in HIJMS Akagi, and Churchill in HMS Duke of York, her role as Fraser's flagship in Operation Tiger aiding in her selection. Reynaud and Molotov's arrivals were much quieter affairs.
The agenda across the multi-day conference covered several important topics for how the Allies would wage the wars, and other principles to come into Allied consideration.
The first item discussed was the priority for the war effort: "Germany First" or "China First"?
The Allied leadership agreed unanimously on "Germany First". China was not deemed to be an existential threat to any of the five nations, and unlike Germany, China was already fractured, with the Union of China gaining more popular support as the Nationalists' situation deteriorated. The Nationalists also did not wage a war of extermination, unlike the Nazis, and did not carry out atrocities in the manner of the Nazis. With their lack of a navy and strategic bomber force, the Nationalists also lacked the ability to attack Japan, or project force beyond contiguous borders- while they could attack Burma, for instance, they could not attack Britain or Hawaii.
Nazi Germany, on the other hand, waged an aggressive war of conquest and had to be stopped, whatever the cost. There remained some debate over whether a conditional surrender from Germany would be accepted if Hitler were overthrown, but Roosevelt and Stalin, through Molotov, expressed their extreme distaste for such a situation.
Thus, the Tunis Declaration would state that the Allies' held as their chief priority the defeat of Nazi Germany, "by any means necessary"; demonstrating conviction to the goal, but leaving room for said means to be further refined.
The second major item was discussing the liberation of France. This was made much more difficult due to the French military leadership's relatively poor standing among the Allies. De Gaulle was regarded as arrogant, vain and bellicose, whereas his naval counterpart, Darlan, was deemed equally vain and a shameless opportunist. The French favoured an amphibious landing with the aim of taking Toulon, which could be used as a harbour to support the landings, and which had been thus far spared severe damaged by the Germans. The Americans favoured a cross-channel invasion, and while Churchill had his misgivings about such an operation, indicated that he would support it if necessary. The Japanese delegation agreed to send a small expeditionary force, and provide for support for the landings with combat, landing and merchant vessels, as an expression of gratitude for Allied aid in China.
Timing was the other major issue- the United States and Britain, while arguing the necessity of the landings, nonetheless stated that they were unlikely to be ready to conduct such an operation until summer-fall 1944. The French and Soviets (who wanted pressure taken off their front), by contrast, wanted a landing as soon as possible, as soon as early spring 1943 if conducted in the Mediterranean. The Allies did not have the necessary experience to conduct such operations, so the French made a major step in what would eventually lead to the liberation of Europe: France allowed Madagascar to be used as the site of a series of massive practice landings, beginning in autumn 1942.
Several smaller agreements were also reached. These included:
-Possible purchase of overseas bases for the USA, with the stipulation that the people in said territories also agreed
-An agreement to provide the Soviets with as much aid as possible
-The disposition of ships, aircraft and armies throughout the various theatres
-The proposed introduction of formal "Supreme Allied Commanders" in said theatres to streamline operations
-A declaration of support for self-determination of all peoples
and finally,
-An overarching commitment to fight for a world without want and fear.
While this conference did not answer all the questions it sought to, it got the participants to frankly and freely discuss their mutual struggles, and would do much to shape the conferences that would take place in the future.
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