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The Modern Japan's Total War Plan and theImperial Defense Policy

장형익 1

1육군보병학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

The assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria and his wife, which occurred in Sarajevo, triggered the outbreak of World War I in the summer of 1914. The war lasted longer than people's expectation, got into the long-term stage of position warfare, and spreaded throughout the world that had never been experienced before. In response of a protraction over 4 years and a massive attrition of the whole national resources, the participated countries poured their every energy into the war under the controlled economics. After the end of World War I, European countries recognized that the future aspect of war would be a total war and should prepare for the total war in peace time. Japan entered World War I on the part of the Allies on demand of the United Kingdom that was allied with Japan at that time. Besides, Japanese Army and Navy dispatched quite a few investigators to Europe to get the bearings of the situation. Through these activities, Japan began to recognize the brand-new concept of the total war that appeared in World War I. Based on the recognition of the total war, Japan carried out improving their organized equipments and expanding armaments that had not made better since the Russo-Japanese War. For the national defense, moreover, Japan began to recognize the importances of securing the industrial raw materials and expanding the industrial productivity as well as the well-organized mobilization plan and complete preparations. Thereafter, the Japanese military authorities from 1920's to 1930's continued revising their national defense policies and military strategies with developing the conception of a total war. National defense policies and military strategies of modern Japan was prescribed by the Imperial Defense Policy. It was the highest level of strategic documents. It was established in 1907 and amended three times in 1918, 1923 and 1936. The 1923 edition among the amendments was the first official document that represented Japan's cognition of total war. Though a number of reports and statements about total war was referred previously, it is the first time that this document was adopted as a official national policy. In the meantime, Japan's conception of total war was confronted with difficulties of the way to advance under the Establishment of the Washington and the postwar economic recession. This was due to the limitations of Japan like scanty natural resources and low industrial productivity. In the face of these limitations, the Japanese military authorities was divided into two groups. One insisted on the completion of the national power for carrying out a prolonged war like strengthening the civil economic power, while the other persisted in retaining a strong military strength in peacetime to attaining the purpose of war in a short period when the war occurred. This conflict about the national defense policy escalated into a fractional strife between the Army and the Navy. This conflict resulted in the amendment of the 1923 edition of the Imperial Defense Policy. At that time, the key positions in the high command was taken over the latter group that insisted on a short-term war. The Imperial Defense Policy amend by them was described on the ground of their strategies and operations. In addition, the requirements of war potential were appropriated by their military expansion plan.

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