WORLD WAR II 1941 1945
THE START OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR
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Question
[CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
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They fought to the death.
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They refused to surrender.
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They were taught that surrender was shameful to their families.
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All of the above.
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Detailed explanation-1: -The Japanese bushido code of honor, coupled with effective propaganda which portrayed American soldiers as ruthless animals, prevented surrender for many Japanese soldiers. Instead of surrendering, many Japanese soldiers would kill themselves.
Detailed explanation-2: -The reasons for the Japanese behaving as they did were complex. The Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) indoctrinated its soldiers to believe that surrender was dishonourable. POWs were therefore thought to be unworthy of respect. The IJA also relied on physical punishment to discipline its own troops.
Detailed explanation-3: -Faced with severe shortages of oil and other natural resources and driven by the ambition to displace the United States as the dominant Pacific power, Japan decided to attack the United States and British forces in Asia and seize the resources of Southeast Asia.