Comments by "Voryn Rosethorn" (@vorynrosethorn903) on "Poor Combat Performance of Waffen SS & NKVD Divisions? #WW2" video.

  1. To cover a number of things here. The Japanese most certainly suffered from quality issues as a result of the war with china, but as the video this is in the comments section of attempts to demonstrate, fanaticism did not necessarily equal or result from quality training and leadership. The mindset of the Japanese during the period is practically it's own subject but to attempt to give a short overview it can be said to result as much from homefront indoctrination (mostly through the education system, but the whole society of the time reinforced it) rather than the particular effect of military training, it should however be remarked that a culture of casual violence towards inferiors within the military structure, belief in the divine racial and social superiority of Imperial (emphasis on the Imperial) servicemen over civilians and non-Japanese and the social climate in a collectivist society were all big factors. The social climate ironically lead to a breakdown of discipline as reigning in troops or punishing lower ranked men for actions taken could be construed as unpatriotic or disloyal, as a result lower ranked officers were often at there own devices, much of this was indeed social perception with Christian officers and high ranking officials gaining instant control so long as they were in person to put their foot down, but misbehaviour would still continue if individual soldiers didn't think anyone was wise to them. The political climate probably also counted due to how common political assassination by young officers of people not seen as fanatically patriotic enough or belonging to an opposing military faction, senior officers likely took this into account if they were thinking of making decisions that couldn't be defended as in the sole interest of the state if unpopular. The Japanese folded in the North against the Soviets largely because of mass internal confusion and chaos caused by the result of the atomic bomb, the Japanese had plans in the event of war with the Soviets in place (and they were about as pleasant as the ones for the defence of the home islands) but were to busy with contradictory commands and rumours of an imminent millitary coup back in Japan (one that would in fact happen, but would be unsuccessful) to act of them. They engaged in a total farce of a defence, even massacring their White Russian troops in fear of them switching sides (which was never a danger, the Whites knew that capture but the Reds would equal a slow death for themselves and their families and in the west very often committed suicide rather than fall into their hands, they were probably their most reliable troops under the circumstances).
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