The American Occupations of Japan and Germany
Audio: Comparing and Contrasting the Occupations (8:56)
Because of their similar time lines and similar results, there is a lot we can learn in comparing and contrasting the occupations of Japan and Germany. First their similarities:
- Both occupations were run in the most undemocratic way possible, by a General at the top of the command chain: Douglas MacArthur in Japan and Lucius Clay in Germany.
- Both Clay and MacArthur attempt to break up the huge cartels that controlled so much of economic life in both countries before and during the war.
- Both Clay and MacArthur sought to impose democracy from above not only in political institutions, but in educational and cultural institutions as well.
- Both Japan and Germany get billions of dollars in direct US aid to their countries and economies.
- Both Clay and MacArthur allow anti-communism to to overshadow other concerns when dictating occupation policies and goals.
Perhaps even more instructive are the differences between the occupations:
- There is no joint occupation in Japan as there is in Germany.
- In Japan MacArthur and the Occupation openly embraced the Japanese Emperor and other former elites.
- Germany takes responsibility for the war, Japan does not.
- Japan renounces its military, Germany does not.