Should Emperor Hirohito have been put on trial for war crimes at the end of WW2?

Answer 1

For the ignorant!

Nagasaki and Hiroshima were very large centers of Japanese military war production and supplies.

So both were legitamate targets.

The Japanese Military High Command were known to have mis-lead Hirohito about the true course the war was taking, they, refused the un-conditonal surrender asked for by the USA even when Hirohito said he was seriously considering it.

We can debate about Hirohoto until the cows come home, but, its now 62 years after the fact, so it makes no difference.

Answer 2

No for a few reasons

First, in actuallity - Emperor Hirohito was pretty wellkept out of the decision process by the military. The Emperor was a figurehead and devoid of any real power. That was reserved for the Military and the "Captains of Industry". Whether or not he would have, he could not have stopped the war or how it was prosecuted. Historically, this is how the Japanese governement had worked since the days of the Shogun.

Second, to the Japanese populace he was indeed a "Living God" The surrender was predicated on him not being charged by the allies. If the allies had not agreed to that, the war would have continued untill most of Japan was smoking and ruined. Army estimates at the time were 1 Million dead Allied soldiers and 6 million dead Japanese if an invasion of the islands was attempted.

So morally, I don't think so as he had no real power to make any differences. Politically - No as well because the alternative was too many dead soldiers and dead Japanese.

Answer 3

Yes! All captured Nazi's of consequence were tried convicted and sufferd either the final consequence and/or imprisonment for life or varying periods.

In many respects the Japanese were more harsh and cruel to their prisoners with torture, withholding medicines and food, beheadings. leaving people to die + their many unlawful civilian pursuits such as forcing foreign women to work as sex slaves.

Why the UK Government never intervened and ojected to the US Govt in the stronget terms possible has never been satisfactoraly explained. The US being adament in its viewpoint that Germanys leaders, if and when caught, would be tried for their crimes.

America and many Allied Nations lost thousands of men, women and childres as a result of Japans atrocities. Not forgetting the thousands upon thousand crippled, maimed, ruined etc for the remiander of their lives. How / why indeed, America, after the war was over, was allowed to let the Japanse Emperor remain untouched was and is a classic historical blunder of unmearuable consequence.

Since WW11 ended and the Nazi's sentenced I understand only 1 so called man of the same elk was arrested and tried for similar reasons? However, he died in capativity before the verdict was announded. Malokovitch!

And what was his crime? Freeing mainland europe and its satellitte countries from the clutches of Islamic creed and its terrorism! His was a just cause and, in the long term of history, will be appraised as such.

Answer 4

Whermacht Commanders (German protection tension of WW2) weren't hunted and tried. It grew to become into the NSDAP (Nazi) individuals and Waffen SS officers for his or her Crimes against Humanity. The Allies performed some jap like PM Tojo for crimes, yet an excellent sort of the Human suited violators accompanied Bushido and committed Suicide on the tip of the conflict. The Emporer grew to become into allowed in power because of the fact he did not do something incorrect, he grew to become into in straight forward terms a parent Head after the human beings remade the government (weight loss plan in jap). -I even have not heard of any German Commanders being hunted anymore, i might think of maximum have been deceased by utilising now.

Answer 5

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Answer 6

He had little control of the Armed Forces in '41, let alone, at the end of the war. If he had been tried, there would have been no peace until we bomb the rest of their nation.

They agreed to be occupied, to a pacifist constitution, both of which are still largely in place. it may not be a perfect solution, but it was the best one available at the time.

The true crime was how many Germans (von Brown) and Japanese we didn't try because they had something to sell.

Answer 7

If I am right, I think that part of the negotiations for the surrender of the Japanese was that this would not happen....not to say he shouldn't have though....not sure that he was aware of what was going on in his name...have to remember that he was not just an Emperor, but a living God...its not like he was approached on every subject....Those that actually were responsible were executed.

Answer 8

Emperor Hirohito should have stopped Japanese air force
and stayed away from............. "Pearl Harbour"

Answer 9

Gee, the USA would spend the next zillion years facing war crimes tribunals if you want to be serious....

Answer 10

He was a war criminal and should have been tried and executed as such.The false propaganda circulated by the Americans to justify Gen.MacArthur's decision to leave him as a figurehead has been totally discounted and it is beyond dispute that he was aware of and sanctioned the barbaric conduct of his troops.