The Pacific War Channel Podcast

The Pacific War Channel

The Pacific War Channel covers the complete history of the Asia-Pacific War of 1937-1945 and all the major events that led up to it. Topics include: The Opium Wars, Taiping Rebellion, Meiji Restoration, Sino-japanese war, Boxer Rebellion, Russo-Japanese War, WW1 in Asia and the Second Sino-Japanese War. *We also have our "SpeakEasy" Podcast where we still speak about History, but also silly stuff like anime, gaming, Godzilla, movies, comics all while drinking profusely. read less
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Episodes

The Japanese Invasion of Manchuria 1931-1932๐ŸŽ™๏ธThe Pacific War Ep 1
1w ago
The Japanese Invasion of Manchuria 1931-1932๐ŸŽ™๏ธThe Pacific War Ep 1
Don't forget I have a patreon now where you can get exclusive Podcasts like "General Tomoyuki Yamashita: becoming the Tiger of Malaya" check it out here โคต๏ธ https://www.patreon.com/pacificwarchannel   Lt. Colonel Ishiwara Kanji orchestrated the Mukden Incident on September 18, 1931, initiating Japan's expansion into Manchuria. Despite orders to refrain from further aggression, Ishiwara sought to conquer Manchuria with local alliances. Kirin fell quickly, followed by Mukden and Changchun. General Ma Zhanshan resisted Japanese control in Heilongjiang, despite overwhelming odds. After intense fighting, he withdrew eastward, drawing international attention to the resistance. Japanese forces, led by General Zhang Jinghui, established a puppet government in occupied territories. Ma Zhanshan's defiance inspired Chinese resistance efforts, marking the beginning of an unofficial war between China and Japan.   The Kwantung Army, under Lt Colonel Ishiwara Kanji, violated orders by advancing past the South Manchurian railway. Ishiwara orchestrated the bombing of Jinzhou, aiming to intimidate Zhang Xueliang and Tokyo HQ. This sparked the Jinzhou Crisis, where Japan aimed to seize control, with incidents like the Tientsin attacks orchestrated by Colonel Doihara Kenji. Despite negotiations, Japan bolstered its forces and attacked Jinzhou, causing Zhang Xueliang's withdrawal. Chiang Kai-shek, lacking support, strategically withdrew to avoid full-scale war. With Jinzhou's fall, Japan gained control of southern Manchuria, altering the region's power dynamics.   Ma Zhanshan, renowned for his resistance against the Japanese, faced pressure to collaborate after a meeting with Colonel Itagaki Seishiro. Despite Itagaki's attempts to sway him, Ma remained loyal to China's Nanjing government. However, events shifted when Zhang Xueliang withdrew his forces. Ma reconsidered collaboration, expressing a desire for dual military and governorship roles. Meanwhile, General Ding Chao initiated resistance in Harbin, supported by Ma. They organized the Kirin Self-defense Army against Japanese forces. Despite initial successes, the resistance faltered due to Japanese reinforcements and internal divisions. Eventually, Ma defected, leading to the establishment of "Manchukuo" with Puyi as its ruler.   The Shanghai conflict of 1931-1932 began with tensions between Chinese and Korean subjects of Japan, escalating after the Mukden Incident. Anti-Japanese sentiment surged, leading to boycotts and riots. Volunteer corps formed, and clashes erupted, prompting Japanese military involvement. The battle spread across Shanghai, leading to a prolonged struggle. Despite initial setbacks, Japanese reinforcements arrived, pushing back Chinese forces. Eventually, international pressure led to truce negotiations and the establishment of a demilitarized zone in Shanghai. The conflict, known as the January 28th Incident, marked the beginning of broader hostilities, contributing to the onset of the 15-year war and the eventual downfall of Japan.
The Battle of Taranto ๐ŸŽ™๏ธ ft Justin
29-03-2024
The Battle of Taranto ๐ŸŽ™๏ธ ft Justin
In this Pacific War Podcast Craig tells Justin the story of the Battle of Taranto, the British surprise attack against the Italian Navy in 1940. The Battle of Taranto took place on the night of November 11-12, 1940 and was a pivotal naval engagement during World War II. It marked the first significant victory for British naval aviation and demonstrated the effectiveness of aircraft carriers in modern naval warfare. At the time of the battle, Italy  had a significant naval presence in the Mediterranean. The Italian fleet, anchored at the port of Taranto, posed a threat to British naval operations in the region. The British Admiralty devised a plan to neutralize this threat by launching an aerial attack using carrier-based aircraft from the HMS Illustrious and HMS Eagle. Under the command of Admiral Andrew Cunningham, the British Fleet Air Arm launched a daring nighttime raid on the Italian naval base at Taranto. The attack was led by Fairey Swordfish biplanes, which were slow and outdated but capable of performing night attacks. The Swordfish aircraft were armed with torpedoes modified to run in shallow waters, suitable for attacking ships in harbor. The British strike force, consisting of 21 Swordfish aircraft, approached Taranto under the cover of darkness. Despite facing heavy anti-aircraft fire from Italian defenses, the British pilots pressed on with their attack. They skillfully navigated the narrow confines of the harbor and launched their torpedoes at the Italian battleships and cruisers anchored there. The results of the attack were devastating for the Italian fleet. The British torpedoes struck the battleships Conte di Cavour, Littorio, and Caio Duilio, causing severe damage and sinking the Conte di Cavour. Additionally, several other ships were damaged, and the port facilities suffered significant destruction. The success of the raid demonstrated the vulnerability of battleships to aerial attack and highlighted the effectiveness of carrier-based aircraft in naval warfare. The Battle of Taranto had far-reaching consequences for the balance of power in the Mediterranean. It significantly weakened the Italian Navy's ability to challenge British naval supremacy in the region and forced Italy to adopt a more defensive posture. The success of the British raid also served as a blueprint for future carrier-based operations and influenced naval strategies throughout World War II.
General Ishiwara Kanji: Ishiwara vs Tojo๐ŸŽ™๏ธ Episode 4
08-03-2024
General Ishiwara Kanji: Ishiwara vs Tojo๐ŸŽ™๏ธ Episode 4
This Pacific War Channel Podcast is about General Ishiwara Kanji, the mastermind behind the invasion of Manchuria and his battle against Hideki Tojo. This Pacific War Channel Podcast explores of the life and ideas of Ishiwara Kanji, a significant figure in Japanese history during the mid-20th century. Ishiwara, was deeply involved in political and military affairs, particularly during Japan's expansionist period leading up to the Pacific War. He advocated for the concept of pan-Asianism and the establishment of the East Asian League as a means to counter Western imperialism. However, his efforts were ultimately undermined by Japan's involvement in wars, particularly the China War and Pacific War, which drained resources and led to Japan's defeat. Ishiwara's views evolved over time, from initially supporting Japan's military actions to later predicting its defeat and advocating for national reconstruction. Despite his initial support for militarism, Ishiwara became disillusioned with the Hideki Tojo's regime and actively criticized it. He foresaw Japan's defeat and focused on post-war reconstruction efforts, emphasizing the importance of science and culture in Japan's recovery. Throughout his life, Ishiwara faced contradictions and challenges, including conflicts with other political figures, illness, and being purged from public life. Despite his setbacks, Ishiwara remained dedicated to his vision of a peaceful and prosperous Japan, even seeking reconciliation with former enemies and advocating for global peace. His final reflections acknowledged the failures of his earlier predictions and the need for a new approach to international relations. Ishiawara's legacy is one of complexity, as he navigated the turbulent waters of wartime politics and post-war reconstruction with determination and conviction.   Don't forget I have a patreon now where you can get exclusive content like "General Kanji Ishiwara & the Mukden Incident" check it out here โคต๏ธ https://www.patreon.com/pacificwarchannel
General Ishiwara Kanji: The China War๐ŸŽ™๏ธ Episode 3
19-01-2024
General Ishiwara Kanji: The China War๐ŸŽ™๏ธ Episode 3
This Podcast about General Ishiwara Kanji, the mastermind behind the Mukden Incident of 1931 and author of the Final War Theory. Ishiwara Kanji was a fascinating person and one whose actions changed the entire world. It could be argued Ishiwara Kanji single handedly caused World War Two. Ishiwara Kanji is known predominantly for two things, his role in the Mukden Incident and his Final War Theory. Ishiwara Kanji sought for Japan to invade Manchuria to acquire her natural resources to build up the Japanese military in preparation for his theorized conflict against the United States. In a rather ironic twist, Ishiwara Kanji ushered in the invasion of Manchuria, but fought against escalating the war against China proper. Ishiwara Kanji performed the Mukden Incident, a false flag operation kicking off the invasion of Manchuria. The Japanese first seized Mukden, then expanded to places like Kirin, Jinzhou, Jiangqiao, Harbin, until all of Manchuria was now under Japanese control. Yet Ishiwara Kanji did not seek a real war with China, his ultimate goal was simply to seize the resource rich part of Manchuria to build up Japan to face the United States. He sought an alliance with China and that of Asia in general. He began a campaign of racial harmony and this led to the formation of Manchukuo. However Ishiwara and the rest of the Japanese military argued about how to treat China proper. Ishiwara created the Concordia association and fought to form an alliance. A rivalry emerged between the Kodoha and Toseiha factions and Ishiwara would find himself stuck in the February 26 coup d'รฉtat incident. He survived the incident unharmed politically, but his fight to stop a war with China fell apart quickly. Despite his efforts to stop the conflict from escalating, the China War broke out. In his depression Ishiwara was going to lose his military career, but his fight against the China War would go on.  Support me on Patreon where I create exclusive content by using this Link โคต๏ธ https://www.patreon.com/pacificwarchannel
The Pacific War Podcast๐ŸŽ™๏ธ The Opium Wars
05-01-2024
The Pacific War Podcast๐ŸŽ™๏ธ The Opium Wars
โžก๏ธThis episode on the history of China is looking at the international trade disaster that led to the first Opium War. The Opium wars humiliated an empire that still holds wounds grievances for China today. How the exchange of tea, opium and silver led Great Britain and the Qing Dynasty to war. This episode will explain the rigid Canton tributary system, the economic trade network of the 19th century, how the Qing Dynasty operated, how the industrial revolution impacted trade, the actions of key individuals from both nations, a clash of cultures and how two empires became addicted and corrupted by each other. โžก๏ธ This episode will explain the rigid Canton tributary system, the economic trade network of the 19th century, how the Qing Dynasty operated, how the industrial revolution impacted trade, the actions of key individuals from both nations, a clash of cultures and how two empires became addicted and corrupted by each other. โžก๏ธ The first Opium war was a devastating west meets east story that holds grievances that are still significant today. โžก๏ธReflecting on the history of China, weโ€™ll be taking a look back at the first opium war of 1839-1842. By the early 19th century over 90 percent of the Qing Dynasty court and many members of the army were opium addicts, whilst Britain was economically and literally addicted to tea. ๐ŸŒฑ When China tried to ban the use of opium and stop Western smugglers from bringing it through its gates, England decided to fight to keep open China's ports for its importation causing the first opium war of 1839-1842. โžก๏ธ Britain was economically and literally addicted-to tea, primarily grown in China, and ended up paying for it with profits made from the illicit opium trade. When China tried to ban the use of opium and stop Western smugglers from bringing it through its gates, England decided to fight to keep open China's ports for its importation. โžก๏ธ The Second Opium War of 1856-1860 occurred for a large part because of the unequal treaty of Nanking that was signed after the first opium war of 1839-1842. The Qing Emperor, Xianfeng had to deal with the British Empire, France and the Taiping Rebellion being led by Hong Xiuquan. โžก๏ธThe end result was the Qing dynasty losing the war and the great tragedy that was the burning of the old summer palace. As one of the contributing factors of the Pacific War, weโ€™ll be exploring how the Second Opium war contributed towards the beginning of some of the biggest history of China.
General Ishiwara Kanji: The Man Behind The Mukden Incident ๐ŸŽ™๏ธ Episode 1
10-11-2023
General Ishiwara Kanji: The Man Behind The Mukden Incident ๐ŸŽ™๏ธ Episode 1
This Podcast about General Ishiwara Kanji, the mastermind behind the Mukden Incident of 1931 and author of the Final War Theory. (Please note this episode was originally a Patreon exclusive!) Support me on Patreon where I create exclusive content by using this Link โคต๏ธ https://www.patreon.com/pacificwarchannel Ishiwara Kanji was a fascinating person and one whose actions changed the entire world. It could be argued Ishiwara Kanji single handedly caused World War Two. Ishiwara Kanji is known predominantly for two things, his role in the Mukden Incident and his Final War Theory. Ishiwara Kanji was a member of the Imperial Japanese Army and performed numerous military attachรฉ appointments in countries like China and Germany. His education and nichiren buddhist beliefs led him to develop his Final War Theory, the idea a apocalyptic war was going to happen that would allow Japan to usher in a new world. To prepare for the final war, Ishiwara Kanji argued it was necessary for Japan to acquire natural resources to build up their military and the most appropriate place to acquire these were in Manchuria. Ishiwara Kanji sought for Japan to invade Manchuria to acquire her natural resources to build up the Japanese military in preparation for his theorized conflict against the United States. Ironically Ishiwara Kanji did not seek a war with China and actually sought a pan-Asian alliance. Ishiwara Kanji joined the Kwantung Army and grew a cult of followers to enact the Mukden Incident in 1931.