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The military history thread
LeeC:
--- Quote from: Akima on 16 Sep 2014, 16:26 ---
--- Quote from: LeeC on 16 Sep 2014, 09:15 ---The Americans were not too happy about the British empowering the Japanese in the pacific.
--- End quote ---
I think this is an ahistorical judgement made by peering through the lens of Pearl Harbour.
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--- Quote ---I think it is also questionable to call the capture of Tsingtao (Qingdao now) the springboard for Japanese empire-building.
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Hehe the weird thing is, it was a British documentary. :-P But I do agree with everything you've stated. Based off U.S. foreign policy of the time they probably didn't really give a damn.
As for Japan's Imperialism:
1) I think it amazing that the British even reached out to the Japanese but was not surprised they kept their troops in reserve.
2) I do not know much about the Japanese occupation/annexation of Korea, other than the treaties signed, but I remember reading that the need for Japanese expansion into Korea and Manchuria was for the raw materials needed to fuel their industrialization. Now I know that was their reason in 1931 to invade Manchuria, but I cannot find much on why they annexed Kora. I forget if it was a raw material thing or setting up factories, gaining an agricultural area to feed the growing empire, or a combination of all 3.
Imperialism from the mid 1800s to the end of WW2 is a bit of history that always fascinates me. I would be lying if playing Victoria 2 didn't increase my curiosity, especially with Japan's industrialization and then imperialism (and China's attempt at westernization culminating into a few revolutions). I remember back in college taking a Chinese Revolution class (that I had to drop due to a schedule conflict) that had its main book (forgot the name) and the first few chapters was talking about how the Chinese, Koreans, and Japanese westernized/modernized/industrialized and how their respective cultures either hindered or enhanced this change. It was a really great read but I never got a chance to get beyond chapter 3 or 4 before i turned the book back in.
Long story short. Yay history.
Akima:
--- Quote from: LeeC on 17 Sep 2014, 08:23 ---1) I think it amazing that the British even reached out to the Japanese but was not surprised they kept their troops in reserve.
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Japan was Britain's ally at the time, and had declared war on Germany in August 1914. The British rather regarded Japan as the Great Britain of Asia. You know, plucky little island nation off the coast of a large continent, pioneer of industrialisation in its region, sea-faring people with a fine navy (substantially trained and equipped by Britain) and so on. When Admiral Togo attacked the Russian fleet at Port Arthur on 9th February 1904, his actions were favourably compared in London with the Royal Navy's attacks on the Danish fleet at Copenhagen during the Napoleonic War. Britain also has a long history of recruiting allies to make up for its own relatively small army, so what could be more natural viewed in the context of the time than that they should work with the Japanese?
GarandMarine:
Side note: Have I mentioned how I love this thread isn't just me posting random military history blogs? <3
LeeC:
@Akima: That is a fair way to put it. :-D It's no wonder they had such an empire at the time. Honestly I would really like to learn more about British and French Imperialism but haven't had the time or where to start.
LeeC:
Mountain pattern armor looks like a better alternative to chainmail. Would love to see a video of how both stack up to a crossbow bolt hit. Both are flexible but Mountain pattern doesn't have holes like chainmail.
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