Source: Wikimedia Commons
When it comes to World War II, it's hard not to think of the Japanese Kamikaze pilots who would dive-bomb Allied ships with their planes. The truth, on the other hand, is far more complicated and terrible. Kamikaze translates to "divine wind." Though these pilots were hailed as heroes at the time, there was nothing "divine" about the whole ordeal.
Japan’s Last Resort to Turn the Tide of the War
Things were not going Japan's way in the last phases of World War II. In comparison to the Allied forces, the Japanese military was vastly outmatched. Their air force wasn't what it used to be, and they'd lost a lot of experienced pilots throughout the war.
Japan recognized they couldn't keep up with the better training and funds given to American pilots, as well as the more powerful aircrafts flown by the Allies. It didn't take long for those imbalances to manifest themselves, and the Japanese force began to lose an increasing number of battles.
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Military authorities began expanding their recruitment efforts by drafting previously exempt university students into the war, but this was insufficient. When Japan failed to stop the Allied forces' march across the Pacific in 1944, they knew they had to act. As a desperate attempt, the Special Attack units were formed.
These were the units that were supposed to carry out suicide missions, and it further added to the sense of desperation. The Japanese military devised a final successful defense against the Allies, which they would employ until the war's end.
Kamikaze: One of Many “Special Attack” Forces
The Kamikaze pilots were one of Japan's most well-known military forces, although their suicide strategy wasn't unique. They were merely one of the troops that came under the umbrella of the "special attack" forces. All Japanese were encouraged to embrace what was known as the Special Attack Spirit by the military.
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Kaiten, one of the Special Attack units, carried out manned suicide torpedo missions. One man would sit inside the torpedo and drive it into the side of an opposing ship, where it would explode on impact. In the same manner, suicide crash boats and miniature submarines were used for similar purposes. No matter what kind of “special attack” unit they were, the ethos remained the same- maximum damage with least resources.
When it came to Kamikaze pilots, they had their own planes known as the "Ohka” (cherry blossom). These were essentially little gliders with explosives packed into the nose. They were carried as parasite aircraft by much larger bombers and had wooden rather than metal wings. After all, it didn't have to be particularly sturdy.
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They were especially fast but not maneuverable. However, not all of the planes were built for these missions especially. Desperation had reached such a point at the end of the war that any obsolete planes were also being employed. They were stripped of their radios and weapons and stuffed full of explosives.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Recruitment of the Pilots
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One of the popular misconceptions about the Kamikaze pilots is that they were inexperienced and that Japan only needed bodies to crash planes into ships. To be completely honest, there is a smidgeon of truth in that. The military began recruiting Kamikaze pilots among those who had completed only a portion of their training.
By 1945, the second half of the aviation training course had been eliminated entirely. Suicide attacks, in comparison to other operations, need little training or expertise.
Even though Japan was in severe need of manpower, they did not force individuals to become Kamikaze pilots. There was even a questionnaire for them so they could choose to volunteer. "I passionately wish to join," "I wish to join," and "I don't wish to join" were the three alternatives on the questionnaire, which were written on a slip of paper.
Potential recruits were led into a room and given only a few minutes to determine whether to volunteer, decline, or allow their commander to make the decision. According to another claim, pilots were occasionally herded into a large group and asked to volunteer. It appears to be democratic on the surface, and it did begin that way.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Later on, though, there was only the illusion of a choice. The use of large groups peer-pressured everyone to volunteer, and even when three options were presented, most of the men knew there was only one "correct" answer. Even while being a Kamikaze pilot was not exactly democratic, it didn't mean that all of the men were against it. A few of them were genuinely eager to do it.
The majority of the Kamikaze pilots were in their late teens. And, as teenagers do, they sought to make a name for themselves. That was only exacerbated by the military's competitive nature. Volunteering to be part of the Kamikaze plot not only earned them posthumous honors but also made them feel recognized as if they'd somehow outdone all of their peers.
The Imminent Death
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The Kamikaze pilots have a reputation for being overly patriotic and reckless, eager to die without hesitation. However, the truth is far more sinister. The majority of the pilots didn't really want to die at all. All of the Kamikaze pilots had to face an almost certain reality: they were all going to die.
Some were willing to make the sacrifice, while others were not, and some just did it for the sake of their friends. Their final days were appropriately mournful. There was no ceremony, no ritual. It was really up to the pilots what they wanted to do. Some people would bury strands of their hair in shrines. Others would drink away their feelings of dread. They occasionally got a few days off to return home and meet their families for the last time.
Post-War Period
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The pilots didn't have it easy in the post-war years. Following the war's end, the Allies occupied Japan for roughly 7 years. They planned to tarnish the Kamikaze pilots' public image while they were there. They intended to portray them as crazed extremists who were far too reckless for their own good. The public eventually began to regard them with indifference at best, and contempt at worst.
It became increasingly difficult for them to find work or even apply for school. In addition, a stigma referred to as "Special Attack Syndrome" developed around the pilots. This suggested that they couldn't go back to their normal lives because they'd become fixated on dying with honor and couldn't find another purpose to live.
Those misconceptions, unfortunately, haven't gone away. Some Japanese youth regard them as dumb, and viewpoints of other countries, such as America, are much worse. The idea that they were suicidal maniacs who worshipped death persists. 'Kamikaze' became slang for "reckless and mad."
Nationalists wanted to recast the negative narrative that the Allies had left in the decades following the war. The pilots' actions were neither shameful nor criminal in any way. Without any opposition, the Kamikaze pilots were once again regarded as heroes, and this is still the case today.
Written By - Sanjana Chaudhary
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