Skip to Main Content

HIS 12: Impact of the Pacific War on civilians in occupied territories: Home

12MH3.24

Banner

                    War flag of Japan. Public Domain

Topics for research when considering the impact of the occupation forces of the Japanese Army on civilian populations:

  • Forced Slavery including sexual slavery of women, rape, abuse
  • Work gangs, building teams, labourers
  • Removal from homeland to Japan to work in mines and factories as forced labour
  • Starvation - Food sources taken for use by soldiers
  • Unfair, cruel, racist and inhumane treatment, abuse, murder
  • Theft of property, homes, vehicles , animals and resources
  • Punishment for defiance or opposing the Japanese, in methods including espionage and covert operations
  • War crimes

Impacts of Japanese aggression on civilian populations of occupied nations:

  • Individual trauma, homelessness, loss of family, opportunities, health, education and wealth
  • Changed population and demographics
  • After occupation, nations had to undergo a process of restoration, truth-telling, justice-seeking and reparations.
  • New domestic and international foreign policies
  • Struggle to forge new relationships with Japan and Japanese
  • Borders 
  • Governance
  • Emergence of new powers

 

 

 

Search databases for articles from History journals

 

Databases for History. 

In order to find the views of Historians, you will need to find and read academic journal articles published in reputable journals.

Please see the Library staff for assistance.

Jstor

 
HIstory Reference Centre
   

 

 

Comfort Women

The Japanese established 'Comfort Stations' across South East Asian nations they occupied during World War II.

These 'stations' consisted of women enslaved by the Imperial Japanese Army to provide prostitution services to soldiers.

While soldiers paid a small amount of money, the women did not receive the payment.