Originally posted by sluggish
The difference between now and then is that the Germans had endured over six years of total war. By the time Hitler shot himself they were mostly so tired of the war that they gave in to their loss. The same could be said for Japan, which watched two of its city vaporized. They too were shocked into capitulation.
Todays pinpoint bombing and tactics that minimize collateral damage hardly shock those who would stand against us into surrender. The war was over so fast that they hardly think there was a war; just an occupation.
Thats not entirely true - the occupations of Germany and Japan were conducted quite differently because of the two distinct populaces different states and abilities of post war "compliance" and occupation. Japan was not a defeated nation in the same sense like Germany.
This is as distinct from initial occupation numbers alone ie.
VE day Eisenhower had 61 US divisions in Germany (1,622,000 men) which was then responsible for security -ie. patrolling and checkpoints, de-nazification, and demobing the German armed forces.
After VJ day a occupation force of 370,000 was planned, but quickly fell to 270,000 due to rapid demobilization of US forces, but were boosted by 30,000 constabularies in July 1946 a short term measure until a professional German police force could be trained. By 1947 the US occupying force dropped to 200,000. Germany was broken down under military governors, and any remaining German bureaucracy disbanded. The military was in complete control of all facets of german civilian life.
Democratising was initially small scale. in 1946 communities of less than 20,000 were allowed elections for Lander officials which were responsible for internal affairs (not including security) under the umbrella of the military governors. This allowed the military to maintain the de-nazification process, and also foster a grass roots idea of democracy. Eventually populations of larger than 20,000 were allowed to participate, and eventually the French and British sectors followed suite.
In Japan the initial occupying estimates were 600,00 US, and 145,000 Commonwealth forces. At surrender The Japanese had mobilized 3-4 million troops to defend mainland Japan, and still had 1.6 million in China, and a further a 800,00 spread amongst the pacific and Korea.
Japan however still had a functioning govenment (the Diet) and leadership under the emperor. In the two weeks it took for the occupying forces to arrive, the Japanese had reconstituted the cabinet under the Emperor's Uncle and had begun to demobilized and disarm the Japanese army. Members of the emperor's family were dispatched to garrisons outside Japan to also begin disarmament of Japanese forces. Also the Japanese govt. began a public relations campaign to counter rumors of a violent and brutal occupation.
At the end of August the first occupation force began to arrive which eventually grew to a total of 354,000 US, and 45,000 Commonwealth soldiers. Under request of the Japanese the Army and Ministries were allowed to remain and demobilize their own troops. These ministries were disbanded in December 1945.
After occupation the Japanese govt was allowed to remain basically intact. MacArthur's SCAP (supreme commander allied powers) command communicated directly with the Japanese govt. issuing broad directives, and tasks they were to complete - and let the Diet and bureaucracy debate and devise how. The SCAP of course would intervene whenever it felt necessary. This allowed the bureaucracy to foster and grow which was beneficial because it allowed the Japanese to take responsibility for the problems they faced, and also grew more cordial and responsive to SCAP because the Japanese felt they had some influence to their future. By mid 1947 MacArthur encouraged the Japanese to assume normal govt. responsibilities for all domestic affairs except the economy. Although there was seen to be an earlier mistake when in 1946 the Japanese were purged of all proponents of militarism and aggression, which was categorical not personal based on wartime position not actions, unlike the de-nazification of Germany.
Tronsky
