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inapat17 · 30 days

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Traditions in transition: cinematic perspectives on the modernization of post-war societies (¼)

The following article is the first in a four-part series looking at how cinema depicts post-war societies’ transformations, and more precisely the transition from a traditional society to a modern one. In order to examine our topic from all angles, every installment of this series will be dedicated to a separate movie, each originating from a different country. Since context is essential to better understand what lies beneath images, and thus propose an in-depth analysis, I will always start by introducing the director and the significant historical events surrounding the films’ releases.

In this inaugural piece, we deal with Yasujirō Ozu’s An Autumn Afternoon (1962) portrayal of westernization and women’s emancipation amidst the Japan societal shifts of the 1960s. Through this work, I wish to highlight the multifaceted societal changes that come with post-war modernization, be it urban and rural spaces experiencing deep transformations due to industrialization, or the evolution of social norms and behaviors.

Part 1. An Autumn Afternoon (秋刀魚の味 The taste of Sanma, Yasujirō Ozu, 1962): westernization of Japanese everyday life and Women’s emancipation

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An Autumn Afternoon's Original Trailer

Japan was propelled into the modern era because of the “Meiji Restoration”, a political event that took place in 1868 and brought about notable changes in the pre-modern feudal society. Commodore Matthew Perry’s visit in 1853 had a part to play in these transformations by leading the Japanese government to realize their “late-developing” status, thus causing the demise of the long-reigning Tokugawa shogunate and the disintegration of a status-ordered system. Accordingly, the “Meiji Restoration” saw the development of small-scale industries, an explosive growth of urban populations, the rise of commerce and the dissemination of education. Despite adopting Western models in areas like law, economy, politics, science and technology, Japan kept its customs and traditions alive. However, upon the completion of its industrial revolution in 1910, Japanese society went through a stagnating period. In fact, economic and social restructuring, which had become crucial, was still not fully achieved.

35 years later, the Axis defeat led to Japan’s occupation by the Allied Forces. Until the Peace Treaty was concluded in September 1951, The S.C.A.P (Supreme Commander for Allied Powers) imposed several reforms, including the adoption of a new constitution in May of 1947. The principle of popular sovereignty was established, and the patriarchy family system abolished. The focus was now on economic reconstruction.

Please CHECK the following article for further historical information

By the 1960s, Japan had emerged from the devastation of World War II and embarked on a path of economic growth, technological advancements and international integration. This era, known as the “economic miracle”, witnessed significant generational shifts. All of which deeply influenced Yasujirō Ozu’s filmography. Especially as the filmmaker was born in 1903 into a middle-class family and has lived through a good part of these dramatic changes.

Set in post-war Japan, An Autumn Afternoon stars Ozu’s regular Chishū Ryū as Shūhei Hirayama, a middle-aged widower and executive at a factory. Hirayama lives with his grown daughter, Michiko (Shima Iwashita), and younger son, Kazuo (Shinichirō Mikami). His elder son, Kōichi (Keiji Sada) has moved out to live with his wife, Akiko (Mariko Okada), leaving Shūhei to be looked after by Michiko. As was the custom in Japan, in the event of the mother’s death, the daughter looks after the family and the household until she eventually marries. At the same time, women are expected to take on domestic roles and marry at a young age, because “older never marry”. As the story unfolds, Shūhei Hirayama’s colleagues and friends begin to express their concern about Michiko’s unmarried status and urge him to find her a suitable husband. Feeling the weight of societal expectations and his own sense of duty, he resigns himself to arrange a marriage for his daughter and encourage her departure from their home. Although the emphasis on this theme may seem, at first, antiquated and patriarchal, women's desire for emancipation is very much present in the atmosphere. Michiko and Akiko, while accepting the traditional roles that society had accorded them, often express their disapproval of certain male behaviors, by refusing to serve them as expected or by questioning their decisions. Both are not afraid to make their voices heard.

Equinox Flower, Yasujirō Ozu, 1958

Notwithstanding the progress in the early 1960s, Japan remained dependent on Western technology imports for a long time, which were really expensive. This period also sees the transition towards television as a dominant medium of communication and entertainment. Due to this Western mass media exposure (movies, commercials, sport events, etc.), younger generations were greatly influenced by Hollywood and American popular culture. Equinox Flower, directed in 1958 already depicted urban dwellers, soda lovers.

An Autumn Afternoon, Yasujirō Ozu, 1962

In one of the most memorable scenes of An Autumn Afternoon, Shūhei Hirayama and his friends are seated on the floor, around a low table, as was the custom in traditional Japanese restaurants and households. The scene is filmed in Ozu’s regular static low-angle shots, commonly called “tatami” shots. On the opposite side of the restaurant, other clients are having dinner while watching a televised baseball match. Everyone sits around the same Western-style table, but there's no exchange. This juxtaposition beautifully encapsulates the fading traditions and Western growing influence in post-war Japanese society. The setting serves as a microcosm of the societal shifts portrayed throughout the film.

An Autumn Afternoon's opening sequence, Yasujirō Ozu, 1962

I can't conclude this first article without mentioning Ozu’s use of factory shots in the opening sequence. Also known as “pillow shots”, they are devoid of human presence and serve no narrative purpose other than marking time passing and transitions. In this case, they are a nod to the deep spatial transformations caused by industrialization. Factories and industrial areas are very much present in Ozu’s cinema, and are more often than not used as “pillow shots” or a backdrop, as in The Only Son (1936).

The Only Son, Yasujirō Ozu, 1936

An Autumn Afternoon is Ozu’s last movie before his death in December 1963. The original title of this film means “The taste of Sanma”, where Sanma is a mackerel pike. While never translated correctly, it carries a sense of nostalgia for a vanishing world, its customs and traditions. Like a Proust madeleine, “The taste of Sanma” dredges up a long-lost memory, reflecting on the complexities of post-war Japanese society.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. I genuinely appreciate your interest and support. Please stay tuned so you don't miss my upcoming article. Next time, We’ll be leaving for 1950s Norway through Kitchen Stories (2003). We’ll studying how social and environmental impacts of the Norwegian post-war industrial boom are depicted by movie director Bent Hamer.

Ruth Sarfati

#yasujirō ozu #An Autumn Afternoon #japanese cinema #post war #modernity #ruth sarfati

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carterkeller1234 · 1 month

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Late Post 3/27/24: Sensoron & Kersten's "Neo-Nationalism

This week's readings in particular were one of the most shocking and intriguing pieces of Japanese culture that we've delved into yet. The work of Sensoron were particularly impactful to me as it covers the much discussed era of WWII, but the aftereffects of Japan's loss in the sentiments built and why it is a foundationally a mishappen truth. As much as I had delved into World War Two I had not realized the sheer extent and how much Japan's visage was worsened by the U.S. and other victims of Japan's military efforts to further justify their own war crimes and immoral actions during warfare. The fac that this very notion was captured with the inherently comedic intro sequence with the "bathroom trials" effectively replacing the Tokyo war crimes trial. This example is wonderfully utilized to convey the complexity of the trials in a more digestible and comedic light, which I thought was an excellent way of streamlining it. That and the manga delving into the nitty gritty of the materials was something I welcomed and found educational despite its brutal aspects, as I had learned how much more morally grey of a conflict that World War II actually was. It made me look at the conflict as not the surface level Axis of Evil vs. Allied Powers but instead morally complex countries all vying for power and self-interest, reflective of the material covered in the manga. This is best distinguished with Kersten's article discussing the life and beliefs of Nobukatsu Fujioka, who's feelings of nationalism motivated his efforts of removing wartime atrocities committed by Japan in Japanese textbooks to propagate the glory of Japan as commonly seen with citizens during the wartime period. In short, both of these serve as a discussion of two interpretation of Japan's actions throughout WWII, with some believing it would be best to maintain nationalistic sentiments and the other believing Japan was another country committing the same immoral actions of war but were shunned especially due to their losing status.

This parallel and transition to the more serious subject matter felt jarring upon first reading, but it frames the subject material in a much more digestible way before delving directly into the gritty reality.

This in particular was shocking to me as I had frequently seen this photo used to demonstrate the horrors of WWII and had not realized its insincerity was so prevalent, a fact that has made me want to dive deeper into the true reality of WWII aside from the propaganda and misshaping that so often muddles the truth.

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truststamp · 2 years

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Hetalia paint it white english sub

China and France show the aliens their "wondrous" food (which the Pictonians only find "odd").The nations decides to showcase their special talents: In an attempt to ward the Pictonians off and bring them happiness, Japan suggests that the nations show them hospitality. Back in Europe, Switzerland and Liechtenstein calm themselves by holding a picnic. Germany, Italy, and Japan attempt to sneak through the air vents in the spaceship, but a cat that Italy secretly brought along in his suit (apparently to "relax him") attacks Germany and the three fall through the vent and fail as well. America, Russia, and China find a control room, but wind up triggering an alarm by accident and become ambushed by the aliens. The Picts hear them shouting at each other, come into the room to find them (where England states that he and France should not be "bickering for bickering's sake"), then pulls on a rope to discover a trapdoor, that they both fall down. France and England are forced to pair up, but wind up becoming caught quickly due to their arguments, especially after seeing what the Pictonians think of their (sexual) relationship. America declares that he'll be the one to lead them, but this idea is shot down by Germany, who orders them to split up. The eight nations then discover a spaceship and attempt to sneak onboard amidst the converted Earth population, Italy suggesting that they disguise themselves as Pictonians (in baggy white unitards made from the spare white flag material Italy owns). Meanwhile, Canada and Cuba attempt to help out humans that have been halfway converted into Pictonians. Before Tony can explain things further, the Pict convert him into a blob creature, leaving the World 8 to have to figure out a solution on their own. A commercial break featuring Spain appears briefly, to advertise his coffee and "Shut Up" shirt. Though Tony is first suspected of being the cause, the World 8 discover that the aliens (known as the Pict) originated from a dying white star and have come to Earth looking for things to drain color and happiness from and to turn others into their race. The film then shows the Axis powers and Allied Forces in a makeshift hideout, seen to be on a dark beach (possibly where the Axis camped out in the anime episodes.) America calls Tony the alien, and says that they need help with the Picts. However, Switzerland and Liechtenstein are unaffected by the attacks due to their barrier of "permanent neutrality" and manage to evade the disaster when the barrier repels the UFOs. Finally, a tired Greece is sitting out in archaeological ruins with his cats, and becomes converted. Finland, dressed as a Santa, wonders when Christmas will come, but winds up converted. Poland finds that his pony has transformed, but becomes attacked and converted as well. South Italy stands in the middle of a converted Rome, only to be quickly transformed into one of the aliens. Although the nations attempt to ward off the aliens in their own ways, the blob aliens manage to succeed in draining the color of various cities and transforming them and the people into white blobs. Belarus and Ukraine attempt to search for their brother in the middle of the chaos. Prussia holds a talent show, though it is quickly called off due to the threat. North Italy is left alone, unaware that Canada had also attended the meeting and is there with him. This is an unrelated woman, who got turned into a pictonian NOT the Princess.Īt the world meeting, the World 8 (consisting of the former members of the Axis Powers and Allied Forces) try to figure out a way to solve the situation, but wind up only arguing with each other and causing Germany to call the meeting off. This woman is not shown again, and her appearance was simply a display of what these aliens can do. Elsewhere, a woman is being chased through the streets by a mass of strange white blob-like aliens, who change her into one of their own. Iceland, who has been trying to get more tourists to help out his economy, notices a strange green mist in the atmosphere.

#Hetalia paint it white english sub

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hetalia-has-a-secretary · 3 years

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i loved the sick!child headcanons! may I ask you to explain further the situation, where the child (in first time!) decides to fake their illness to skip the studies and stay at home all alone (to play games or smth, cuz school is boring)

maybe they secretly tried to trick a thermometer and warm it up in hot water, but they had no clue how to do it right, so it became pretty obvious for parent that the child is indeed faking (like it showed more than 44 °C or 111.2 °F, which is certainly death)

how would (single) dad!allies&axis react?

Heheheheh I was hoping someone would ask this! I'm also going to do do this a bit different because I feel like the different kids are gonna try different ways to fake being sick lol

Single Dad Allies and Axis Children Fake Being Sick!

England is a bit more strict with his child. Especially because his kid tried to use a spell book to fake being sick. Accept now everything the kid eats seems to not want to stay down. And it also tastes like vinegar. In other words the kid freaked out and ran to England to apologize. England himself was more concerned about his kid thinking it was okay to use his spell book! After his kid was cured of his illness, he gave his child a rather harsh lecture about using his stuff. But when his kid started to cry he immediately softened, and he asked why they did it. When they tell him he is more than willing to forgive them, but sadly it didn't save them from having their TV privileges taken away. So long it's not something like bulling a little tough love was needed. And even though there was a punishment, england made sure his child had plenty to do. It quickly became a father child bonding time. Now if it was because of too much stress or bullying, he's taking matters in his own hand. Because no one is allowed to push around his kid and get away with it. Curses may or may not have been involved.

Allies:

America's kid is 100% gonna be trying some classic stuff. The kid took chalk, and rubbed it on his face, and then left his thermometer under hot running water. The only issue is when America came around to check his temperature, he felt the kids forehead first. Needless to say, when the chalk rubbed off on America's hand, things got dramatic real quick. At first he was mad at the kid, but took this opportunity to prank his child. So he screeched about his kids skin is crumbling, and pretended to pass out. After the kid seemed to start actually panic, America felt bad and opted for just talking about why they faked being sick. If it was to just skip school, American might get worried, and might consider actually grounding his child. But if it's because the kids nervous for whatever reason, American is going to do his best to support his child, and get them back on their feet again.

France is a gentle and patient man. So when he catches his child using his make up to give themselves a fake red nose and cheeks he was a bit concerned. He first thought it was because he spoils his child, but when he learns it was due to stress or being picked on he becomes extremely protective. He won't go as far as cursing or fighting but he's gonna be pretty verbally persuasive. However he's going to question his parenting skills if his kid seems to just be lazy. If the kids just being lazy, he will call out for help. He has a really hard time disciplining his kid. He's not use to having to be that harsh. Things only seem to turn around if the child realizes how stressed france gets.

China is 100% the type of parent to immediately pull the "have I not taught you better" card to make their child guilty. Not something he likes to do, but he didn't really consider that his child might be struggling. I mean, it really started to hit him when his kid starts to distance themselves like Japan did. That's when he started to ask how his kids been feeling at school. By the way, china's kid didn't really bother fake being sick, because they were already sick of whatever was going on at school. They did consider faking a high temp but even the kid knows that wasn't going to fool his dad. So he just sat in his room as silent as possible, playing video games. China went to check why his kids door was closed when it usually wasn't, and he just wanted to make sure everything was ok. But the world better be prepared of his kid is getting bullied. China will have that shut down so quickly it's not even funny. Even if it meant switching schools. He's really do anything for his kid, and he's trying his best.

Russia is a bit of a hit or miss. His relationship with his kid is pretty interesting. His kid is his pride and joy so when he watches his child shoving his face in the snow like a maniac, he becomes really concerned. When he figures out they're trying to avoid school by making themselves sick, he gets even more concerned. He really dislikes it when people don't get along (or disagree with him) and he takes it personally. Russia will try to do things the legal way, but if he doesn't get where he wants to be as quick as he wants, his kid might be the one pulling Russia away by his scarf. But if his kid just wants a day off from school he's the coolest about it. But will scold his kid for trying to make themselves sick. He'll also take no pity if his child actually gets sick from whitewashing themselves (whitewashing as in shoving one's face in snow, not the other thing).

Canada is a really good dad, so it kind of hurt when his child pretends to not want pancakes, and complains about a stomachache. The kid immediately regrets it though, and the both of them talk it out. Canada is also pretty okay if the kid just wants a day off, but they're not allowed to watch TV or play games. Especially after the stunt they just pulled. But if it's because of bullies, this will be the first time the kid sees their dad actually mad. Canada can understand not being seen, but bullies are another story. He might be unable to defend himself against America, but he's not gonna let his kid deal with something like that! Though his ego deflates when the school office doesn't recognize him. Next best thing is martial art classes and hopes his kid doesn't get into any fights (unless it was in "self defense").

Germany is another strict dad. But his lecture is straight to the point, then he asks them why. Especially now that there's a thermometer stuck in a hot potato. Which Germany had to try his hardest not to laugh at, because silly antics like that tickle his side,as they say. Germany will have zero tolerance for being lazy, but if it's stress or bully related he may or may not have suggested that his kid stands up for themselves. After all one should only be pushed to go so far, and if some idiot is pushing around a german kid (adopted or not) then that bully has a death wish. So yeah. Needless to say after the child's first brawl (and a week of detention) no one is gonna bother them unwarranted.

Japan is such a cool level headed dad, but also kind of knows better then to let his child shrug of his duties. The thing is, Japan's kid has never been sick before, so they thought sucking on a lollipop to make their tongue blue counted as being sick. Nice try though. Japan shrugged it off and they both had a calming talk over some tea. Kid just wanted to stay home and play games? Okay! But you're restricted to only an hour of play time. Bullies? Japan isn't as good on the subject and will let the school handle it. But if that doesn't work he's gonna go out of his comfort zone and meet up with the bullies parents himself. And if that doesn't work cops may or may not get involved.

Italy might not notice at first that his kid wasn't supposed to be home... Not until Germany came over to pick Italy up and he asked. Then Italy tried his little best to seem like a mature adult. But then he saw his kid laughing and having fun. He had to ask Germany for help in other words. Once he got done talking with his kid about why they weren't at school he was honestly at a loss. Especially if they were being bullied. Italy was so use to giving the white flag he never considered how it would affect his child. Italy got pretty depressed over it since he doesn't want his kid to be pushed around their whole life. So it very quickly became a two person goal. Now both italy and his child are practicing to stand up for themselves (possibly making Germany shed a tear or two). However if the kid is being lazy and just doesn't want to go, Germany is going to have to intervene and talk to them both about the importance of school.

#hetalia american #hetalia england #hetalia france #hetalia china #hetalia russia #hetalia germany #hetalia japan #hetalia italy #hetalia aph #Headcannons #such much texting lmao #someone please help italy #he doesn't know what hes doing at this point #big oof

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thecarnivorousmuffinmeta · 3 years

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October and the Alternate History of Europe

I recently got into a fascinating PM thread on FFnet with Njchrispatrick about the alternate history of Europe given the events in “October”. It is, in fact, so interesting to me that I asked permission to rephrase their discussion and post it here.

While I know my history better than most, I will be the first to admit I’m hardly an expert, and explained part of why an in depth focus on history was missing from “October” is that a) Tom lives in a very insular society and does not realize this about himself and is in for a very rude awakening now that he and Lily are off to Ubik b) because I am not ambitious enough to pretend I can rewrite the history of Europe (let alone the world) given the monstrously strange events in “October”.

While fascinating, it’s also not really the point of “October”, which deals more readily with the societal issues facing the wizarding world vs. this alternate world history.

Njchrispatrick gave a very nice, very in depth, look at Europe given the events of “October” and what be going on in the outside world (even consulting a history professor). Below is rephrased, paraphrased, and reordered a bit for cleanliness and cohesiveness (as this was over several PMs).

If the war ended in early Summer 1942 (based on when Azrael seemed to have intervened) then it was shortly after a string of victories that made it look like Germany would come out in front. This was over a year before Normandy and many believed WWII would have dragged into a war of attrition.

This was also after the Soviets offered a peace treaty signing off much of Ukraine and Belarus to Germany due to Stalin being very uncertain of Soviet victory, plus Vichy France (the puppet French government) had been well-established and the German stronghold in the West was powerful.

The Nazis hadn't accepted the treaty, but since that time Russia had been pushed even further back so they'd offer even more, So, although the war ended, certain events would still be heavily in Germany's favor and the post-war treaty would be more favorably pro-German (and although the Nazis are gone, many of the legitimate grievances of the German people, including several territorial claims, would remain).

Germany would definitely keep its pre-WW2 borders including Austria and the Sudetenland. With the might of Germany still present, and now led by conservative Prussia, there would be certain demands made

Given Germany's well-entrenched hold on France, Germany would likely only release them in exchange for keeping Alsace-Lorraine, the region it had held pre-WW1 since taking it from France in 1871. Poland would be forced to cede Danzig--or at least hold a referendum vote which would undoubtedly return them to Germany--and possible the other ex-German regions like Posen. Stalin would be forced to relinquish some territory in the Baltic, both due to Russia's losing at that point in time plus Britain and America not trusting him. Perhaps this would be requested by Germany as a trade for releasing Posen to Poland. The Netherlands and Belgium would go free but, again, I expect Germany to either keep Luxemburg or at least turn it into a "protectorate". Bohemia and Moravia, which were taken from Czechoslovakia, is trickier. Apparently, to be frank, Britain and France didn't care much about the smaller nations and were of the mind that smaller countries belonged under the control of stronger ones, and Germany had a vague claim on the region due to it being part of the Holy Roman Empire, the original German Empire (in case you don't know, the HRE was the First Reich, the German Empire was the Second Reich, and the Nazis named themselves the Third Reich as a result).

If the Nazis just vanish, I don't think a West-German democracy would emerge, at least not for a while.

There was actually a substantial part of the German government which disapproved of Hitler--more his foolish tactics than the antisemitism, sadly--and in the early 40's they attempted to overthrow him.

Had the Nazis vanished, Germany would've likely ended up with a Prussian military government--better than the Nazis but still not ideal.

A Prussian-led Germany would likely become a constitutional monarchy a bit like Britain. The Junkers (Prussian aristocracy) were deeply monarchic and favored a weak democracy, if any, and Germans weren't fans of democracy after the abysmal prior attempt.

Britain would allow it in order to bring stability in hopes of Germany standing against the Soviets, as well as the Kaiser's role being distinctly anti-Nazi. The only obstacle would be Churchill, who was unwilling to accept any surrender, but it’s unclear what he’d do. He would definitely oppose the growth of any German territory. The Kaiser would have some wartime power, but otherwise be not much stronger than the British royal family. This would come with the stipulation of Germany becoming at least mostly democratic.

The Nazis would likely be blamed on the southern Catholic mindset (since Hitler was Austrian and began his power grab in Bavaria) and there would have been a massive cultural crack-down on Southern Catholic and French ideals, similar to how Jews and Communists were scapegoated for the loss in WWI.

That said, with the war only being 3 years long and with the Nazis being purged, I imagine Hitler would be viewed as a strong leader who went too far and who united Germany but was a big racist. Somewhat like a worse Churchill.

He definitely shattered the German economy but they'd be able to stabilize faster than their neighbors.

The knowledge of the Final Solution would horrify people, but without it actually happening the sympathy would be lessened, plus many pro-Nazi people would see it as Allied propaganda. Germany in the 60's and 70's would likely be a conservative-leaning but highly advanced nation with one of the strongest economies on Earth, if not THE strongest.

Without the war to expand its influence, America would be a wealthy but culturally minor power similar to Japan in real-life.

I imagine post-WWII Germany would also be tolerated because there was still a lot of Soviet fear and a dominant, militaristic Germany was still better than the Soviets in the eyes of many, especially since pre-WWII France (the only other major continental player) was weak and post-WWII France was in tatters.

The Nazis would be gone, but fascism would probably remain as a legitimate government structure, since fascism was a French-created concept that was popular in the Netherlands, Germany, France, Belgium, and the US, to name a few. So while the Nazi branch of it would be gone, it wouldn't have been near-eradicated like today. And we'd definitely see a less liberal, still Euro-dominated world in the aftermath.

The Soviet Union would be much more brittle.

The USSR's success was highly attributed to its role in WWII, and a perceived loss (as this would be, since a peace treaty in 1942 would make everyone certain that Russia was about to lose) would tank Soviet support. This would make it much harder to spread into Eastern Europe--the Baltics, Poland, and the Balkans would be German-dominated and Russia would have a hard time breaking through. Either the Soviets would collapse, become a large but stagnant state that would eventually turn non-Communist, or would declare war on the post-war Germany and likely trigger a European coalition. Italy's only real request would've been north African colonial holdings and perhaps keeping Albania. They were a much less important Axis member but also hadn't faced any serious losses.

The funny thing is, I realized, is that the post-war world in your story is actually very much like what would have happened if Germany won WW1 - German domination of the European economy, a weakened Russia, an Eastern Europe basically puppets of Germany, and the return of the German Empire. The only difference is that the European colonial empire still probably would've collapsed.

Njchrispatrick also asked about the Japanese and Italian fronts and how much/when/how Azrael intervened there.

To be honest, it’s been so long since I’ve read it that I can’t honestly remember. It would be just like him to forget Japan though. Azrael is a good, but often shocking short sighted and flawed, man.

#world history #meta #headcanon #opinion #njchrispatrick #october

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shini--chan · 4 years

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That wearing a shirt with the flag of another nation got me thinking if the darling wore their partner’s flag as underwear underneath (ex. being america’s partner and wearing his flag’s design as underwear and wearing russia’s shirt) lmfao. Could you do that concept with the allies and axis? If it’s too much then just the allies will do.

I’m back, (just not in black).

Since I have already done something of the sort with the Allies, I’m doing it with the Axis here. And also because I have close to nothing on the Axis here.

Yandere Axis

Germany

The smile that would grace your face when you listened to his pleas. Ludwig’s heart would drop due to him believing that you’re actually an emotionally sadistic jerk. Then, when you would peal back to that horrible cloth, he would sigh with relief.

“Why did you have to scare me like that, Mausi?”, he would ask you, relieved but still slightly disturbed.

When you would explain to him that it was only a joke he would be half torn between taking it all on the light-side and putting it on his mental list of grievances. (Yes, he would have such a list. He would have to monitor the quality of your relationship and your feelings for him.)

That incidence will always sit at the back of his mind and behind every well-meaning gesture, you’d see a plan to betray him.

Japan

It would confuse him when you would simply shrug off all his suggestions and wave away his facts. While he would notice how you’d be trying very hard not to smile, he would still be prepared for unpleasant surprises. The moment you’d take of that shirt to reveal the Japanese flag underneath it, he’d quickly overcome his shock and offer you a smile of his own.

“Now that really suits you, dear.”

He would hold you and compliment you, telling you how pretty you look wearing his flag. Kiku would encourage you to wear such clothing more often, maybe even going so far as to say that you should tire of your Western clothing completely and opt for kimonos and such.

While he would see you wearing that rotten cloth over his flag as a joke, as you teasing him, he wouldn’t want to take any chances. It could just as well be a symptom of you contemplating ending your relationship.

Prussia

When his threats and lectures would fall on deaf ears, it would serve to infuriate him. If there is one thing that Gilbert hates more that misbehaviour and lack of discipline, then it is not being listened too. So, before he’d grab the umbrella near the door, lay you over his knee and give you a thorough spanking, take that shirt off!

“Are you teasing me because you want to spite me, or because you love me?”, he would interrogate you, circling around you with his fingers interlocked behind his back, sporting a large grin.

Don’t be fooled, he would only display a mere fraction of his emotion. Sporting an enemy’s flag only to reveal his underneath would confuse him. To him, your actions would be akin to simmering in hell only to be ricocheted up to heaven – and Prussia doesn’t take well to jumping between emotional extremes and is prone to act volatile in such situations.

Depending on his mood, he might let you off the hook with a mild chiding or resort to observing you for the days to come, and acting spiteful.

Romano

Seeing you close to laughing at his swears and cusses would only drive him further into his temper tantrum. He’d begin to label you as emotionally sadistic and wouldn’t hesitate to tell you that. Sadly, for you, when you’d pull up that one shirt to revel the Italian flag, then it wouldn’t necessarily make things better.

“Are you wearing it for my brother’s honour, or mine?”

Seriously, you couldn’t almost think that he likes to fight, with how he makes an elephant about of an ant. If it calms you down, he is like that with everybody that he has a deep connection with. Romano just has such a low self-esteem, that he doesn’t take blows to his ego well at all, no matter how small.

If you’re a skilled communicator, then you might manage to navigate out of the minefield that is constructed about of paranoia and toxic attachment. And for that, you’d have to know Lovino well or be excellent at reading people.

Veneziano

The moment he would burst out into tears would be immediately followed by you taking the shirt. Veneziano just has that way at pulling at people’s heartstring to make them feel what he wants them to feel. If you would then hug him to comfort him, you would make him even happier.

“So, you do still love me!”, he would exclaim while wrapping his arms around your torso and burying his face in your neck. It would really be shocking how he could go from guilt-tripping you and insulting you, to sunshine and smile.

Of course, he wouldn’t let you have the time or the mind space to ponder on that fact or call him out on his manipulations. Instead, he would see to it that matters would get frisky as soon as possible. You wouldn’t be able to consider minor issues while he would be pleasuring you, or not?

#yandere axis #yandere germany #yandere prussia #yandere japan #yandere hetalia #yandere italy #yandere romano #yandere hetalia x reader #x reader

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lorddorkpi-hetaoni · 3 years

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My Version of 2p!HetaOni

What if, instead of Japan exploring the mansion, Germany did? What if Italy wasn’t the one who made the deal with the oni? What if the game was a texted based adventure? That’s pretty much what I’m creating.

Characters:

Germany: muscular lazy male who doesn’t believe in ghosts or aliens.

Northern Italy: A lunatic who seems to have some ideas on what’s going on.

Prussia: a man whose a former shadow of himself. It’s a surprise he’s alive.

Japan: a cold emotional male that’s blunt and a known hugger.

England: a happy man with very few issues about the mansion.

France: an emotionless jerk who cares for only England and Canada.

Canada: a man who cares only about animals, killing poachers, maple syrup, and being over all cool.

America: A vegan who thinks he’s a bad boy. (the known crybaby)

China: the crackhead that’s both the oldest and the smartest... when he’s sober.

Russia: the pacifist whose scared of the dark.

Romano: The saint who can make your wardrobe better.

Spain: The silent jerk who wants the world to burn. (Starting with Southern Italy)

The Oni: ????

Some Changes:

The Pocket Watch -Instead of 1p!Italy’s Notebook, my Ryzu has a pocket watch. This will be explained in further detail later.

3 Paths -The groups will be switched around due to some characters being against violence. Prussia and Russia.

Who becomes the Ryzu -In my mind, the 2ps would have killed Italy first as soon as they found out who could die. So who restarts the loops will be different. It’s a surprise, so don’t ask.

Era: I plan this to take place right after WWII ends. So yes, there is a reason the Axis and Allies are still together.

Release Plans:

I hope to get the first 2 chapters out by January of 2021. Though, this will depend on college and how much free time I have. I have been working on this for a week, and I am currently almost finished with chapter 1.

#hetalia #hetaoni #2phetaoni #2phetalia #2paxis #2pallies #fangame #hetalia axis powers #ao ono fangame

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dappersheep · 5 years

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BFC: A Quick Look at Censorship

Before we go any further, I have a few disclaimers.

If you are uncomfortable with the topic, do not read. If the Read More doesn’t work, block me.

This is a post to shed light and another perspective on the characterization of Black Forest Cake. I do not condone the character’s actions in any way as I have said before with Spaghetti and all other antagonists of this game.

This post deals with present topics and hypothesis concerning China, censorship, and their work culture and the relevancy of what is happening right now with China as a whole. It will touch slightly on WW2 stuff, but that’s more for reference for the present.

All research has been done by me. And this is being written and posted before the full translation is out so if anything, things CAN change. If you have beef or want to discuss, take it up in my asks (you’re going to need to show yourself if you want it private) and DMs.

Post under the cut.

For a quick WW2 reference, China sided with the Allied Powers against the Axis Powers. In WW1, they declared war on Germany for the sole reason of having dibs at the post-war bargaining table (because China of course, thinks business first. That’s how they are.). You can just Google the full WW1 and WW2 stuff at your leisure for more research.

What is China’s present relations with Germany?

China and Germany have been business and economic partners since 1993. However, with China’s rising infamy (e.g. the Huawei fiasco, China’s encroaching on territories of its Asian neighbors and claiming it as their own as is their ancient right) as of recent, it has made Germany rethink about trading with China on their current terms. Stricter business policies were enforced and business reforms were asked of China, but China being China, hasn’t been very good with their end of things.

Any more info, you may just Google.

What does this/BFC have to do with China’s work culture and not entirely N***sm? Clearly she is designed as a German officer so that’s a call out to THAT.

If BFC was a more Asian dish, with Asian garb and an Asian name but with the exact same backstory, that incarnation of her would have a slim chance to make it to production level due to China’s very strict censorship laws and the fact they don’t want their image sullied by their own people.

Now if she was made to look like a German officer, and knowing the history that Germany has, that would be seen as the norm. Having her designed as such would be the norm. The world knows it to be a taboo, but is also the norm.

It’s an open secret that China’s work culture is bad, if not worse, than Japan’s work culture. The problem is, so many of their workforce are made up of people who are told that it is a privilege to be working as hard as they are ala the 996 practice (9am-9pm/6days a week), or else they are seen as a liability or worse, worthless. And most of the time, these are people of a social class who have no time to even travel to even see what the outside world is like.

In short, her being designed the way she is, is not only paying accurate attention to her namesake, she is also a red herring designed to be a censor to something more modern and closer to home.

Then who IS Black Forest Cake?

Black Forest Cake is a fictional food personification in a gacha game called Food Fantasy.

Why am I doing this?

To give perspective other than the very default outcry of ‘N***’. That word has become so skewed to mean anything remotely fascist in this age of the web. N***sm is but one word to describe the actual problem that endures time because so long as the lust for control and power exists, it will too. In all shapes and sizes and forms. It didn’t start with the Third Reich, and it hasn’t ended there.

#food fantasy #ff black forest cake #ravings of a madman

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rppr-podcast · 5 years

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It is the spring of 1947. World War 2 has been prolonged due to interdimensional Rifts being torn open by the use of American nuclear weapons, providing all sides with new, horrific weapons. The harshest winter ever recorded has ground the war to a halt in Europe, however. German High Command desires to see returns on their investment into the technological growth of Imperial Japan. The two allies hatch a bold plan, to sneak the battlecruiser Amagi through the treacherous Arctic ocean, past the grounded Soviet Union navy, and land a unit of Japanese scientists and Special Naval Landing Force marines with a display of their Rift technology onto the shores of Finland.

Renewed tensions between the Soviets and Finns have led to a growth in their need for armaments and support from Germany, so with the Soviets trapped in their winter fortresses the Finns have agreed to supply guides and a protector force to see the Japanese safely to Helsinki in exchange for more and newer Rift tech creations. From there the Kriegsmarine will transport the Japanese across the Baltic Sea to Germany. However, Allied High Command has been alerted to this operation and intends to stop any further sharing of technology between the Axis powers. A small force made up of United States Marine Raiders and selected units from the British Special Operations Executive (or Office of Ungentlemanly Warfare) have been secreted across Sweden by Norwegian saboteurs to halt or capture the Japanese scientists. On a lone, deserted road in northern Finland, the lead elements of the Axis column encounter something quite unexpected; a small reconnaissance force of Allied soldiers and Marines!

This was our first battle in a K47 campaign. We took multiple photos of the battle which are included below the fold.

Image gallery (campaign overview, map overview, Ross’ photos, Jason’s photos)

#gallery-0-3 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-3 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-0-3 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-3 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Konflikt 47: Operation Metsästäjä – Game 1 It is the spring of 1947. World War 2 has been prolonged due to interdimensional Rifts being torn open by the use of American nuclear weapons, providing all sides with new, horrific weapons.

#aaron #jay b #operation Metsästäjä #renee #ross

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hellzyeahthewebwieldingavenger · 5 years

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Spider-Man: Life Story #4 Thoughts Part 1: Doc Ock Disservice

In retrospect issue #1 of this series was a mixed bag, issue #2 was bad, issue #3 was hot trash and now issue #4 is...

Well...it depends.

See I usually try my best to write these basically as soon as I’ve read an issue. However a trip to my LCS and back is at least a 2 hour round trip and I had to head into work practically immediately after getting back. Consequently I’m writing this several hours later than I would have liked.

My initial gut feeling during and immediately after reading the issue was that this was a mixed bag. But ruminating on it more it’s gone down yet further in my eyes.

Maybe I’m not diving deep enough into it but my gut feelings on this (which is what these posts are, they’re not reviews where I try to be more actively analytical rather than ‘free style’ it) it’s...not AS bad as prior issues; issue #3 being the absolute nadir thus far.

Perhaps that is due to now knowing how messed up this series is I knew what I was getting into and what to expect thus I was less aghast by what I saw. Perhaps it was the fact that this issue, unlike issue #3, didn’t slap my intelligence in the face with asinine historical politics and the most aggressively stupid attempt to homage my fav Spidey tale, KLH.

However some of my...I don’t know the right term...my feeling less disdainfulness, towards this issue might stem from Peter’s age.

See when you do the math canon Peter Parker’s lifespan can be viewed as encompassing the amount of time covered in issues #1-3, that is to say ages 15-mid 30s. Thus there was a certain degree of precedence involved, a certain roadmap for us to compare LF Peter to.

But in this issue Peter is around 48 years old. This is well beyond the age of canon Peter Parker and only AU versions of the character have ever approached that age and being AUs they aren’t great sources for comparison. The closest thing we have is MC2 Peter Parker who was in his early 40s and different in his attitude and outlook to LF Peter. However that could be due to being younger, having his family and being retired for 10+ years thus making him more positive towards the prospect of being Spider-Man.

LF Peter is fed up, tired and wants to stop being Spider-Man. Any of the old enjoyment he ever derived from it is long gone. As is apparently his desire to remain ‘relevent’. Guess he got over that early mid-life crisis he went through in issue #3. You know that mid-life crisis that led to him using an alien performance enhancer that was allegedly addictive.

Actually more than a few of this issue’s problems can be owed to older issues, and specifically issue #3.

First of all...so America is still around. Um...yeah wasn’t there a war with Russia happening last issue? Wasn’t there a nuclear arms race that was hotter than the Cold War ever was in real life?

I suppose given how utterly unrealistic it was that Russia nuked an American town and then nuclear Armageddon didn’t ensue in issue #3, this issue is consistent in it’s boneheaded lack of realism.

And it does offer an explanation. Tony Stark’s weapons ended the war.

...Okay...we need to talk about this again and this time I’m going to spell it out.

So there has been no end of speculative fiction presenting stories revolving around a world where historical events happened differently.

A common example, embodied by the acclaimed show Man in the High Castle, is ‘What if the Axis powers won WWII’.

Life Story has at various turns presented real life historical events but injected superheroes in them whilst also showing them playing out differently.

Iron Man, Giant Man and Captain America went to Vietnam.

Captain America went rogue in Vietnam.

The Vietnam War lasted longer than in real life history.

Russia launched nukes at the USA and destroyed a town resulting in a super hero invasion on Russia and open warfare.

Said war was won by America apparently thanks to Tony Stark’s weapons.

Do you know the difference between Life Story and Man in the High Castle, or indeed most speculative fiction?

It actually explains what happened!

In Man in the High Castle we learn various pieces of the alternate history, among them being that the Axis powers developed atomic weapons before the Allies and nuked Washington DC, eventually winning the war and dividing America between the Third Riech and the Empire of Japan.

In Life Story we find out the Vietnam War lasted longer. Somehow.

In Life Story we find out Tony Stark’s weapons won the war with Russia. Somehow.

WHAT HAPPENED!

At best this is a pointless tease, it’s like sidestory world building. What’s the point of bringing the fact that this world’s history is drastically different but not bothering to elaborate on it at all.

Tony’s weapons won the war. What weapons? How did they win? Give us some details for God’s sake.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, the story isn’t about the Russian war or the alternate international politics, it’s about Spider-Man. But then...why the fuck is it in the story?

Shit dude, redraft Life Story a little bit and you could more or less exorcise ALL the stuff about international political conflicts and lose nothing. In the case of Kraven’s motivations last issue it’d be an improvement!

Look maybe I’ve got a bug up my butt about this more than most people because I studied history at university, but even putting that aside...it just feels superfluous to this story.

What gets me is that it’s veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeery good money the only reason this shit is in the story is to evoke Watchmen (which ‘coincidenally’ is being revisted in Doomsday Clock by DC right now) which was also an example of speculative historical fiction involving superheroes. Which also explained what happened!

Superheroes existed. So they intervened in Vietnam. And they won because of their overwhelming power.

In Life Story we don’t even know who won the Vietnam War or even if it’s over yet!

Moving on a little, so Tony Stark and Peter are at logger heads. Now I dislike Spider-Man’s involvement with Iron Man in recent years but I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand seeing Iron Man not be Peter’s mentor is lovely, but I wonder if Zdarsky was banking on audience familiarity with that dynamic from the films to create a shock moment by portraying a relationship between both men so at odds with what you see in Homecoming.

That wasn’t my first thought though. My first thought was Zdarsky is trading off of the Peter/Tony relationship from JMS’ run...which had nothing to do with the 1990s at all; we’ll talk more about that in a minute.

Finally, not content to write Peter out of character, Zdarsky apparently wanted to write Tony out of character too.

I am no Iron Man expert but by the 1990s...hadn’t he kinda sorta stopped making weapons!

I could forgive it in the older issues because Tony apparently didn’t get out of the arms business in the comics immediately like in the films, so it wasn’t inaccurate to the time periods. But I’m 90% sure he had stopped making weapons by the 1990s. Tell me if I’m wrong please, but if I am not....holy shit what is Zdarsky doing? How does aging in real time = Iron Man would still be a war profiteer?

Let’s leave Stark and the real life history alone and get into the real meat of this story.

Okay so we have Ben Reil-

Wait what?

*re-reads Life Story #4*

...there is something off with this...

*checks Life Story #2*

...um...Life Story #2 clearly states that Peter and Gwen’s clones took on the names Helen and Ben PARKER not REILLY!

Now Reilly makes a lot more sense from both a practical point of view (a guy who looks like Peter Parker with his last name raises questions) and from a referencing canon POV.

But what the fuck is up with the inconsistency?

Who was asleep at the wheel for that one! Oh...but it won’t be the only inconsistency by the way.

So Ben Reilly (who looks more like Ben Urich) is a photogra-

Wait, wait, wait. What again?

Ben Reilly is a...photographer?

...WHY??????????????????????

Look...Peter does have a certain passion for photojournalism, but he prefers science.

Ben Reilly in canon never even considered photography as a job to my recollection. He worked as a lab assistant, a barrista, a bouncer/body guard, a teacher but never a photographer even though that would’ve been an obvious profession to consider.

When Peter began working that job it was a way for him to earn the money he desperately needed to provide for himself and Aunt May whilst also not having his time eaten up with a 9-5.

Sure Ben is also a superhero (the Red Mask...I hope he didn’t dream that up himself...in the middle of a Cold War...) in this universe, but what is motivating him to do that? He’s got science smarts, he has legal documentation from issue #2 allowing him to hold jobs. Why would he not go into a field he both prefers and one that you’d think in a world where there was a war raging with intangible nukes would be of greater use?

I can think of some No. Prize explanations...but that’s the problem.

I have to think of those explanations. The story, like so much else in this shitty series, doesn’t elaborate.

This goes beyond the characters being different for the sake of being different from canon.

Ben Reilly is doing something that demands an explanation within the context of this series’ unique continuity as established. It’s not even a matter of established characterization based on canon, it’s a matter of established characterization based upon the last 3 goddam issues.

This lack of thought equally applies to our main villain of the issue, Doctor Octopus.

So in issue #2/1977 Doc Ock had reformed because of a heart attack and all that good tender luvin care he got from a woman at least 20 years his senior; Zdarsky does know most people enjoy the May/Otto relationship ironically right, nobody actually thinks it makes sense or was a good idea, but no here it’s the crux of his whole character.

In issue #3/1984 he was...clearly a villain again because he’s obviously attacking Spider-Man in the double page spread depicting Secret Wars.

In issue #4/1995 we learn that Otto was at May’s funeral and this was the last time Peter saw him. Also according to Peter May left Otto long before she died and that was when he just disappeared, Peter presuming he retired in Florida.

So going by issue #4 alone we have something of a contradiction. If Otto disappeared long before May’s death...how could the last time Peter have seen him been at her funeral.

Maybe that’s just phrased a little badly and I’m nitpicking. Fair enough.

What isn’t fair enough though is either Zdarsky isn’t paying attention to his own writing, Bagley and he are not communicating properly or the editor is severely dropping the ball.

May and Otto were clearly NOT together in issue #3 when Otto was also clearly a villain and Peter clearly was aware of this because Otto was attacking him.

Which means Otto must’ve disappeared before then which means Peter would’ve known he hadn’t retired, he’d returned to villainy.

Now a point of praise, Otto blaming Peter for May leaving him, I think that rings true to Otto’s character, let alone an old aging Otto. This is the guy who often saw what he wanted to see, who infamously once wanted to nuke NYC to prove how he wasn’t to be taken lightly even though it’d also kill him too.

Too bad that point of praise is drowned out by his plan in this story which is all wrapped up in the clones.

Okay, okay, Doc Ock had a important role to play in the 1990s Clone Saga so what’s the problem?

The problem is that...I heavily suspect this isn’t riffing on the 1990s Clone Saga.

I think it’s much more likely that it’s riffing on the Ultimate Clone Saga in which Doc Ock was the mastermind behind the clones; coincidentally Bagley drew all three of the Ock Clone Saga tales which is a nice piece of historical symmetry.

Why...is....Zdarsky....riffing....on....a...Ultimate....Universe....story....?????????????????...from the 2000s!!!!!!!!

And in case the jury doesn’t accept that criticism here is another one. Otto feels he’s dying without accomplishing anything.

Um...wasn’t he working with Reed Richards in issue #2?

Otto working legitimately with a big brain like Reed surely would’ve in like 10 years accomplished SOMETHING! He invented so much crazy tech he really didn’t patent any of it, release it to the public?

Couldn’t his arms alone do wonders for disabled people?

I know this is comics so you should suspend disbelief because if you don’t you have to ask why fossil fuels even still exist.

But that’s the problem with this series.

It wants to have it’s cake and eat it.

It wants to show superheroes having a world changing impact on the world as they realistically would...but not go all the way with it.

It wants to have superheroes go to Vietnam and Russia have and use super powered people and intangible nukes but it also wants to ignore the obvious ramifications when it’s inconvenient.

This gets even stupider when you contextualize it within wider Spider-Man media. In the recent, heavily publicized Spidey PS4 video game (that Marvel is adapting as a comic book right now) Doc Ock creates his arms specifically to help disabled people and uses them because he himself is losing control of his motor functions. And in Ultimate Spider-Man cartoon (for 5 year olds) Doc Ock is disabled from the outset and entirely relies on his arms to move around.

So why the fuck did Otto at no point consider using that tech to help the disabled and thereby accomplish something in his life. It’s an obvious idea Reed, Peter or even May must’ve suggested. It probably could’ve helped someone as frail and infirm as May specifically.

We’re also told May left Otto due to his anger. Great use of telling not showing there Zdarsky. Remember how angry Otto seemed in his one other speaking appearance before now?

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cincinnatusvirtue · 4 years

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December 7th: Attack on Pearl Harbor, America enters WWII

December 7th, 1941, famously referred to by then US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt as a “date which will live in infamy” became the rallying cry for America’s official entry into the then two year running Second World War. Though in the case of Japan, the war had really been raging with its conquest of East Asia and China in particular since 1937 or even 1931 depending on your definition. Imperial Japan’s attack on the US naval fleet docked at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii really was the culmination of a longstanding rivalry between the two nations over the course of the preceding decades.

In some ways the story dates back to the start of American-Japanese relations when a US fleet under Commodore Matthew C Perry arrived in Japan in 1853 and ending the longstanding period of isolation Japan had followed for centuries under the Tokugawa Shogunate. This forced open diplomatic and trade relations, which was soon followed up by European powers and brought Japan into the modern era. Over the next century, Japan saw rapid modernization, with the Meiji Restoration of the Japanese Emperor from ceremonial figurehead to absolute ruler, the true expansion of the new Japanese Empire began after this time period Rapid social and internal reform combined with gradual imperial expansion. Japan famously defeated China in the 1894-1895 First Sino-Japanese War, which gave Japan control over Korea in it’s sphere of influence and Japan’s subsequent invasion and occupation of Taiwan. This was followed by victory over the Russian Empire in 1904-1905s Russo-Japanese War. However, the peace for this war brokered by then US President Theodore Roosevelt, limited Japanese gains to a few ports and islands, but effective greater political influence in the region. Japanese nationalists however, saw this as the first US attempt to limit Japan’s influence in the Greater Asia-Pacific region, suspicious that America was clamoring to gain its own influence here.

America for it’s part had indeed expanded into this region with the 1898 annexation of the Republic of Hawaii, which in turn was a largely American sponsored effort to overthrow the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1894. After 1898 it was the US Territory of Hawaii (statehood of Hawaii occurring in 1959). American influence in the region further expanded with the 1898 Spanish-American War, which saw the US destroy the last elements of Spain’s longstanding overseas empire, occupying/liberating Cuba and annexing Puerto Rico in the Caribbean. Also occupying and annexing Guam and most importantly the Philippines in the Pacific. America would also acquire the island of American Samoa in this period.

These two parallel examples of imperialism and expansion sowed the seeds of conflict that would emerge in World War II. Both the US and Japan were technically on the same side during the First World War in opposition to the Empire of Germany. Japan got limited territorial gains from German Pacific islands and German colonies in China. Japan also pressed during the Treaty of Versailles conference for a clause supporting racial equality, it saw limited support and was ultimately not included.

Japan and the US also sided with other Allied nations in an intervention in the Russian Civil War to end the Communist rise leading to the Soviet Union. Japan occupied parts of Siberia but due to objections from the US was forced to scale back its occupation and eventually withdrew altogether along with all other Allied nations.

The 1920′s saw Japan enter an economic recession while America was experiencing an economic boom. Both sides were signatories of the 1922 Washington Naval Treaty which saw to limit the navies of the US, Britain, France, Italy and Japan from escalating into an arms race. Japan would withdraw from this treaty in 1934.

1931 saw both sides come to loggerheads even more with the Japanese invasion of Manchuria (Northern China) with Japan’s military taking increasingly a nationalist tone and exerting control over the Japanese government. The invasion lead to the establishment of a Japanese puppet state, Manchukuo. This invasion lead to condemnation of Japan and its withdrawal from the League of Nations. 1937 saw the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War, which saw Japan invade China in the middle of a civil war between Nationalist and Communist elements. This would interrupt the civil war for the duration of World War II with almost all Chinese parties fighting united against the Japanese invaders, despite friction and some fighting between both sides. Japan initially pushed back the Chinese in eastern parts of the country and was to commit well known atrocities against the Chinese populace, most famously in Nanjing in 1937-38. Meanwhile, Japan had drawn closer ties to Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy during this time, culminating in the 1940 military alliance, the Tripartite Pact committing the Axis Powers to mutual defense, its main target was the United States.

1939 saw the start of the Second World War with Germany’s invasion of Poland and the subsequent British and French declarations of war. Japan monitored the war but was committed to defeating China at the time. With the fall of France to Nazi Germany in 1940, Japan took this chance to overtake French Indochina (Vietnam) and this lead to the US, Britain the Netherlands declaring a trade embargo. Effectively this cut off Japan’s oil imports, 80% of which came from America and vital to its war efforts. Seeing this as further evidence of America and Britain’s attempts to curtail Japan’s influence and project for a “Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere”, a euphemism for Japanese imperialist control of East Asia and the Pacific, Japan began to develop plans for an attack against the US, Britain and the Netherlands.

The plan for war was developed under Japanese Prime Minister Hideki Tojo, the Japanese military and approved of eventually after much discussion by the Japanese Emperor and his council. The goals were to launch simultaneous attacks against American, British and Dutch interests in the Pacific. Namely, removing America from the Philippines, Guam and elsewhere in the Pacific Islands, conquering British Hong Kong, Malaya and Singapore and the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia) for its oil supply. The attack was meant to be overwhelming and fast, crippling the naval capacity of America especially and making a rapid peace thereafter. The plan for the attack of the US naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii would be executed in surprise fashion without declaration of war, influenced by Japan’s attack in 1904 on Imperial Russia’s naval base at Port Arthur. It was also influenced by Britain’s successful plane oriented bombing of Italian ships at Taranto in 1940. The goal was to sink and destroy as many ships as possible so that’s America’s naval capacity would be diminished to the point it couldn’t fight an effective naval war in the Pacific.

Americans polled at the time by Gallup were in the majority thinking war with Japan was imminent and there had been warning signs of war breaking out, but nothing conclusive. The Japanese plan called for the use of aircraft carriers sending warplanes and small submarines from a great distance to launch in successive waves with the hopes of destroying American aircraft carriers docked at Pearl Harbor. The attacked commenced at 7:48 AM local time with 183 Japanese warplanes launching from north of the island of Oahu, US radar detected the planes incoming but mistook them for US planes on maneuvers from the US mainland, the planes began bombing and strafing runs of US ships right away. The US returned fire with its own planes and anti-aircraft guns. Subsequently a second Japanese wave of planes attacked in quick succession. These were coupled with midget submarine torpedo attacks.

The battle was over in 90 minutes and was a tactical Japanese victory. US casualties included 2,200+ military personnel killed and 65 civilians and hundreds wounded. Half of the casualties occurred with the explosion of the forward magazine of the American battleship the USS Arizona. Four American battleships were sunk, four damaged along with damage to numerous other ships, 188 aircraft destroyed and 159 damaged. Japan lost 64 airmen and sailors in the attack, 29 planes destroyed, 74 damaged and 4 midget submarines sank, one was grounded and a single sailor taken prisoner, becoming the first Japanese POW of the war with America. Japan delayed its declaration of war on America by three hours. America declared war by vote of Congress the next day, after President Roosevelt’s speech. Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy also declared war on America and the US responded mutually by December 11th. The US would now have to fight a two front war in Europe and the Pacific. Japan’s surprise attacks elsewhere against other American, British and Dutch targets were also mostly successful. However, fate worked against Japan at Pearl Harbor in one crucial aspect, American aircraft carriers (their primary target) were not present, having been out at maneuvers at sea and this combined with American industrial output in the coming months were to have grave consequences for Japan’s war effort, especially as its navy would be decisively destroyed at the Battle of Midway in June 1942, thereafter putting them on the defensive and the road to final defeat...

#pearl harbor #world war 2 #military history #usa #japan #on this day

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a-writing-bear · 6 years

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[AmeriPan - Permission To Date]

This is a Request fic written for @lonelymarblesoda !

Note: I am so very flattered by your sweet compliments! I hope you enjoy this fic as much as I did writing it. It was a great stress reliever for me and your prompt was very cute that I got carried away with fluff honestly <3 Sorry there’s more dialogue than intended!

Ao3 Link:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/16009922

This Has been cross-posted onto FF & Ao3 under Aliases: BearBooper

You can read this Fic on Tumblr under ‘Keep Reading’

Fandom: Hetalia Axis Powers

Pairing: America and Japan

Word Count: 2,742

Age Rating/Mature: All Audiences :)

Prompt: “Howdy, I'm the anon from earlier! Sorry for being shy (^^;) Since you're still taking requests, I was wondering if you were willing to do a fluffy ameripan fanfic where their relationship is revealed at a world meeting (or something along those lines)? Ψ(´▽｀)Ψ”

With an exhausted sigh and soft smile, Alfred pulled into the driveway of his Virginia home; the ignition silencing as he crossed his arms and rested his head on the now-still driving wheel, gazing upon his tall red brick house. Amused at the pristine garden and the open porch - This was another estate that his Government had preened and made proper, All the way to a point where it almost looked too perfect off a pamphlet. Unlike his apartment in New York, this house had been filled with some sort of personalisation yet Alfred still felt no completeness towards it. Alexandria was an old but beautiful charming town and it felt fitting to have his work home so close to DC. It was embarrassing to admit its old Victorian real estate made him feel much calmer compared to other parts of the city, A piece of his past residing within the restored cobbled paths.

His little thoughts drifted away as he slowly got out the car, humming to himself. It was a short drive back from work and after a long day of going over tomorrow's preparations made him gutsy and giddy. Tomorrow he'd have to fly into New York for a UN Personification meeting - undoubtedly with the expectation to make some more pesky deals and fix it what was going on with discussions of some new global catastrophes. Ah. One more look at his front door he delved into the wish he was a normal person. He wouldn't have to deal with such messes if that were the case.

However, he thought as he jammed his key into the mahogany door, there was one good thing about having a meeting tomorrow...

"Hey, I'm home!" His voice rang out loudly and through the living room doorway he heard a ruffling and a quieter voice muffled through what he assumed was a pillow.

"Welcome home.." Whenever they had a New York UN meetup, Kiku had an excuse to come over early and spend some more couple time. They weren't exactly the conventional couple who could enjoy each other's company constantly but he supposed this was enough. He wouldn't want to take Japan away from his livelihood anyway.

The blond padded his way to the living room after shedding his coat and shuffling off his boots. His smile growing wider as he finds Kiku lazing around on the comfy couch in his bright red sweats with Pochi on his chest. Plopping down onto the couch, nearly on the Japanese man's legs, He pulled Pochi off carefully. The hairy creature wriggling in his arms huffed as he released it onto the floor; Obviously, Pochi was not as excited to see him as the creature scampered off somewhere further into the house. Kiku had insisted on bringing his dog over as it would whimper without him. America Leaned down, almost tipping over to lay on his boyfriend.

"Have you been laying here all day Keeks?" locks of hairs splayed onto the shorter man's shirt as Alfred squirmed his way to lie down beside him- it was quite cramped and a miracle he didn't push Japan straight off his tiny couch.

Kiku opened his eyes, the charcoal eyes seemed to dull as he stared unamused at the man who had wormed his arms onto him. Kiku never really was that good with cuddling but he made compromises for his affectionate American lover.

"No. I did work for tomorrow and called the embassy to forward some papers back to Japan," he whispered as he craned his head over to Alfred's face. The two basked in each other’s embrace for a while as the American sneaked in a few kisses while talking about their days, Japan lamenting the lack of interesting tv shows to watch and Alfred venting about the new intern who spilt coffee in his office. Comfort hung in the air happily.

The two spent the evening packing up work papers and tapping away at tiny shiny laptops, documents astray across the bed in preparation for tomorrow. Alfred had just finished and settled under his comforter while watching Keeks still typing away, legs crossed on the blanket and brow furrowed in concentration when it hit him.

He hadn’t told any of his closest allies about his newfound relationship (well- newly established, he and Keeks had been dancing around each other for centuries). Should he be freaking out over this detail? In terms of relationship milestones, Immortals such as them had very few; living long left very little opportunities for firsts and to be honest getting a stable relationship wasn't a thing people like them did. He'd admit, he was the one who would make a deal out of these sorta events whereas Japan was more reserved of their close relationship. Alfred gulped, thinking hard whether or not it was necessary to say the words that were already spilling from his lips

"Can I tell Matthew about us?" clicking and clacking came to a halt and Kiku had looked up but still ahead, gazing at the painting opposite him hanging loosely on the wall - some Italian painting obviously gifted by Feli. America felt disappointed all of a sudden, letting out a breath he didn't realise he had captured. Maybe he should have left the topic for another day. A few seconds later Kiku had resumed typing on what looked like some new policy proposal and with absently minded disinterest had replied with so much but a passing glance.

"He already knows Al.” voice slightly airy with cocky amusement as Alfred spluttered and shifted in the shared bed. Kiku suddenly felt uncomfortable as he felt cerulean blue depths bury themselves into his back; shutting his laptop and discarding it on the bedside table he fell backwards onto the feather pillow next to his boyfriend - the word felt foreign on his tongue (A bit immature? Boyfriend sounded kiddy.). For a while, they exchanged nothing but awkward glances before Alfred caved and intertwined his palm with Kiku’s.

“You know I’m traditional. I had to ask him if he would all-”

“You asked my brother if you had permission to date me?!” Kiku’s blank face did nothing but Make Alfred laugh even harder. “Kiku. We aren’t like- we aren’t teenagers. I’m literally hundreds of years old, fuck your Millions-” the black haired man shrunk further into the bed in annoyance of his age and quickly pushed a pillow between himself and his cackling lover.

“It’s how I do things. It’s polite and you're brother was kind about it. Did he not tell you?” Alfred threw the pillow barrier towards the bottom of the bed before scooting over closer to the Japanese man, who was getting more embarrassed and flustered by the minute.

“Nah. Mattie knows when there are times I don’t need to know things. I’m surprised that’s all.” he felt breathlessly in love and voiceless with contentedness at the other nation’s admission. It felt oddly nice to be…’courted’ in such an old way. “Besides, If anything, I expected you to bring it up with old man Artie or even Francis…”

Kiku turned, puzzled expression painted prettily on his face- which was only inches away from Alfred’s. “...I’m not marrying you. Why would I ask Mr Eng-”

A pillow cut him off unexpectedly as Alfred nearly fell off the bed in complete hilarity. Kiku was about to pout and say something more. With a few attempts at explaining why there was no point to marriage due to their immortality, Kiku floundered. As he peeked over the edge of where America had fallen off, he himself broke into a small smile. Alfred’s glasses had gone askew and were currently red in the face from the overexerting giggles. As the pair quieted down for the night they felt secure; Tomorrow would be fine, for now, America just wanted a cuddle.

Alfred’s feet tapped violently as he basically bounced off each step of his creaky staircase. Bounding off into the kitchen to pack some last minutes notes he had left on a table. He shouted out impatiently:

“KEEKS COME ON! WE’VE GOT TO GET TO NEW YORK!” he was in a complete flurry as he zoomed around, enthusiastic and frantic to get to their private plane on time- his bosses would skewer him if he delayed any longer, and no doubt Japan’s embassy would be in a fit if he were late too.

Speaking of the Asian nation, the man himself with all the grace and peace in the world came down. Dressed in a western style suit, Kiku readjusted his red tie and tutted himself for his messy morning hair, stoic glance nitpicking every corner of his newly tailored clothes. At the sight of Kiku’s very neat and smart look, Alfred swooned a little, puppy eyes widening as he quickly stole a kiss - which was received with a red face and another ‘tsch’ of shyness - before pushing his cute partner out the door and practically throwing both their briefcases into the car. The plane ride was uneventful and even when the planes kissed the clouds the only view that captivated the Alfred was the silly way Kiku had tried to keep himself occupied; sudoku books were the way to go apparently.

As the other nations began to file in, one by one, Alfred appeased his boss’s anxiety by greeting them all, including old-time allies such as the NATO nations and even the newer ambassadors. Japan had been lost in the mix, both had agreed to carry on as if they had entered separately - not because they didn’t want to show off, but instead to avoid making it difficult to sort out guest arrangements. Alfred fiddled with his watch as he made his own way to the front of the table. Familiar faces filled the large room. England had already buried his desk area with paper as France somehow charmed an admin into getting him a coffee. One look at the other end and he witness Germany scribbling incessantly and the myriad of eastern Europeans personifications huddled up avoiding the Russian. Witnessing Denmark and Sweden already debating on new guidelines, Alfred gulped. It was going to be a tiring day.

Talk after talk, speech and updates floated by and although his hands were writing his notes and his voice kept him engaged in conversation, his heart had decided to tether his brain to the thought of Kiku. The beauty who was sitting on his left. Already Kiku had resigned himself to a conversation between China and South Korea and was looking adequately bored over the talk of generic ocean trade talks. Coughing as inconspicuously as possible Alfred signalled to his partner and took his hand under the table, smoothing his thumb to reassure him of the time not being wasted. Both had shuffled in the movement and although Alfred was rambling on in response to something Arthur had spoken, the ever diligent Matthew noticed such a carelessly romantic gesture. Canada had been seated on Alfred’s right, and with only a second to glance at what had occurred he snorted and rolled his eyes before nudging his brother in utter glee. He was happy his overly ambitious brother found something as calming as a relationship for his very hectic lifestyle.

Matthew whispered to his brother and bordering Ally, “Congrats Alfie, however, If you think you’re being smooth you’re- as usual- idiotic.”

“You’re just jealous Gilbert is stuck in Germany holding the fort. Anyway, when were you gonna tell me Japan asked you for permission huh?t” with a shrug and a kick to his knee under the table the two merely laughed it off, Francis and Arthur were confused at the NA brothers sudden cheeriness. Noticing this, Kiku turned to his secret partner, squeezing his hand tight enough that Alfred nearly yipped when he went to turn to him:

“I’m not sure if your conversation with Matthew-san is appropriate right now.” Matthew gave a sheepish glance as if to say sorry but suddenly just as the 3 of them tried to get back to task Francis had enough of missing out on a joke before quizzically pushing in to ask rather loudly.

“May I know what was not appropriate? It’s rude to leave friends out of a conversation is it not?” next to him even the Englishman nodded, interested in what was going on and before Alfred could deflect he hear a subtle Japanese swear roll of Kiku’s breath and something he thought he’d never hear even within his long-ass lifetime:

“I was telling Matthew how my relationship with Alfred was not of matter as of this moment.”

The room fell into silence. America’s suit felt too tight and he was unsure if it was the nerves of so many countries falling to a standstill or if it was his heart pumping way too hard after hearing Kiku practically announce out their very private relations. In a bit of shock, Alfred had stood up hastily, but his laced hands with Kiku dragged the Japanese delegation up with him- making the situation look even more entertainingly obvious. With a loud slap on the table, Arthur pushed his chair out and stood up as well, the man had a very irked expression.

“How did you tell Matthew about this before me?!” At this point Francis had broken out into a wide mouth smile, still seated and leaned his head onto England’s hip while trying to soothe the seething British man with a couple pats on the back. The long-haired Frenchman calmed Arthur down, chattering away about the etiquette of young love and it’s failure to respect their elders. For once in his lifetime, it almost seemed like Arthur and Francis were a couple of genuine parents lamenting over a son who had eloped without any contact. They all sat down slowly and Kiku had already turned to sort out the gaping look from his Asian counterparts. The conversation ceased to exist as the situation dissolved back into the murmurs of the nations. Soon, the conference ended and as each country left with a joyful congratulatory smile over fruitful debate and strong handshakes with closed deals. Even his least friendly connections gave him a note of thanks and wishes for the best. He saw Arthur and Francis alongside Matthew gathering in one corner of the now empty room, whereas Kiku was purposely packing away at a snail’s pace, stalling till Alfred came over.

“Keeks. You didn’t….why did you do that?”

“It’s not a secret. You said you wanted me to tell your former mentors Alfred. They have a right to know.” The American squished the smaller man into a close hug and a chaste kiss on the forehead before hearing a distinct “ahem”. Shaking Kiku’s hand firmly, Arthur looked Japan up and down before smiling uncharacteristically and pulling him into a hug- catching an unaware Japan quite well. Granted he had known England for while but he never knew he would be greeted with such glee and care. France had given Kiku some good pats and a big hug before chanting some famous French proverb and singing a dilly-dallying rendition of “la vie en rose” much to England and Canada’s despair. The other NA brother merely nodded proudly at Kiku and the short man appreciated that; he had enough hugs for today honestly.

Meekly he commented, already pulled close by a bashful Alfred, “I hope this won't interfere any deals in the future, Mr England and Mr France.” but his serious tone was met with only more exhilarated kindness.

“Enough with formalities for now. Of Course not Kiku. Here we are no longer Countries but ourselves. It is not America and Japan who are together in the way Alfred and Kiku are. Don’t let work change that.” Not really understanding but still thankful for the sentiment, the couple bid the 3 other men off and hopped back onto a plane. This time it was bound for Japan, and Alfred had already packed a bag and Pochi was already running down the walkway of the plane. The 2 sat patiently together on the flight, bathing in each other’s solitude before being interrupted by Japan’s phone dinging erratically- Yao had been calling.

So much for being quiet about things, Alfred Mused as his now public boyfriend fumbled to pick up the call. He only hoped China didn’t mind that he never ask for permission to date Kiku.

Oh well.

#aph japan #aph america #ameripan #hetalia axis powers #hetalia #Hetalia Fanfiction #prompt fic #fanfic #oneshots #request #america x japan

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militarywiz · 6 years

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The 10 Decisive Battles of World War II

U.S. Landing Ships delivering vehicles and supplies to American troops on Omaha Beach during the Allied invasion of Normandy. Many regard this as the decisive battle in the European Theater of World War II.

In the seventy years since the end of World War II, the legacy of the largest and deadliest conflict in human history remains prevalent to this very day. It was a global conflict fought with incredible ferocity, leaving entire nations devastated, millions dead, and many more wounded. To forget the lessons of this great and terrible war would be a disservice to the sacrifices made by so many. At least 50 million people died in World War II, but others suggest that the total number is higher than 80 million, including war-related factors such as disease and famine. The conflict pitted the Axis Powers, a fascist military alliance made up of Nazi Germany, Italy, the Empire of Japan, and several other nations, against the Allied Powers, an international coalition led by the United States of America, Great Britain, France, the Soviet Union, and China.

The war began on September 1, 1939, after Nazi Germany invaded Poland, compelling Great Britain and France to declare war against Germany. The conflict expanded into the Pacific on December 7, 1941, after the Empire of Japan launched a pre-emptive strike against the U.S. Pacific Fleet based at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. This list covers a series of battles fought during the war which held the greatest strategic implications, where the difference between victory and defeat could have changed the course of history. These are the ten decisive battles that ultimately decided the outcome of World War II.

10) The First and Second Battle of El Alamein

Date: July 1- November 11, 1942

Location: El Alamein, Egypt

July 17, 1942: British troops man defensive positions just outside El Alamein, Egypt.

For two years, the North African Campaign had been a series of seesaw battles fought back and forth across the Libyan Desert between the Axis Powers of Nazi Germany and Italy, and Allied forces primarily from British Commonwealth nations. In June 1942, German and Italian troops of Panzer Army Africa were pushing deep into Egyptian territory. Led by the legendary German Field Marshal, Erwin Rommel, Axis forces were threatening to advance on Alexandria, Cairo, and the Suez Canal. With the fate of North Africa and the Middle East in the balance, the British Eighth Army made a stand at the coastal town of El Alamein. Confined along a narrow front between the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the impassable Qattara Depression to the south, Panzer Army Africa was unable to outflank the British defense line. The First Battle of El Alamein (July 1- 27) ended in a bloody stalemate with heavy losses on both sides, but the Allies had finally managed to stop the Axis advance.

June 21, 1942: The commander of Panzer Army Africa, Field Marshall Erwin Rommel, speaks with German and Italian officers during the Western Desert Campaign.

October 24, 1942: Australian troops of the 9th Infantry Division charge into combat during the Second Battle of El Alamein.

Rommel desperately needed reinforcements and supplies, but Germany and Italy had committed their efforts to defeating the Soviet Union on the Eastern Front, while the Allies poured troops and resources into Egypt for a major counter-offensive. In the Second Battle of El Alamein (October 23- November 11), the British Eighth Army, now led by the audacious General Bernard Montgomery, launched an all-out attack that finally broke through the Axis defense line after bitter fighting and heavy losses on both sides. Losing almost one third of their strength, Panzer Army Africa was forced to retreat all the way back through Libya with Montgomery’s Eighth Army in pursuit. Not only had the Allies secured Egypt, they denied the Axis Powers vital access to the oilfields of the Middle East. The critical victories at El Alamein combined with Allied amphibious landings in Morocco and Algeria doomed the Axis to defeat in the North African and Mediterranean Theater.

November 7, 1942: British troops inspect an abandoned German 88mm artillery gun along the Coastal Road near El Alamein, as Axis forces begin retreating to Libya.

9) The Battle of Leyte Gulf

Date: October 23- 26, 1944

Location: Leyte Gulf, the Philippines

October 23-26, 1944: A map detailing the four major naval engagements that occurred during the Battle of Leyte Gulf in chronological order (1. Sibuyan Sea, 2. Surigao Strait, 3. Cape Engano, 4. Samar).

The largest naval battle of World War II was the decisive battle of the Pacific Theater. On October 20, 1944, American-led Allied forces began their long- awaited campaign to liberate the Philippines from Japanese occupation with amphibious landings at Leyte Gulf. If the Empire of Japan lost control over the Philippines, they would be cut off from their vital supply of oil from the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia). Despite two years of heavy losses in the Pacific, the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) launched a desperate all-out offensive to destroy the U.S. landing force at Leyte Gulf. The IJN Center Force, led by Admiral Takeo Kurita, lost two heavy cruisers to U.S. Navy submarines while sailing through the Palawan Passage in the Western Philippines. The Task Force then came under intense air attacks in the Sibuyan Sea, forcing Kurita to withdraw his ships. The IJN Southern Force was utterly decimated by battleships of the U.S. 7th Fleet further south in the Surigao Strait. The IJN Northern Force centered around three light carriers and Japan’s last major aircraft carrier, Zuikaku, took a severe beating by the Americans at Cape Engano but succeeded in luring the powerful U.S. 3rd Fleet under Admiral William Halsey away from Leyte Gulf.

October 24, 1944: The Japanese super battleship, Yamato, under attack by U.S. Naval aircraft in the Sibuyan Sea. This photograph was taken just after a bomb had struck the ship’s forward gun turret.

October 24, 1944: An American light aircraft carrier, USS Princeton (CVL-23), burns and explodes just east of Luzon after suffering catastrophic damage during the Battle of Leyte Gulf.

Meanwhile, the IJN Center Force, which the Americans believed was retreating, actually turned around and broke through the unguarded San Bernardino Strait, just north of Leyte Gulf, and headed south. With the 3rd Fleet out of position, the U.S. landing force was left exposed and vulnerable. A valiant stand made by a small task force of U.S. screening vessels just east of Samar successfully repulsed the Japanese outside Leyte Gulf and secured victory for the Allies. The result of the battle was the near total destruction of the once powerful Imperial Japanese Navy. Over 12,500 Japanese were killed, and two dozen ships were sunk, including the aircraft carrier Zuikaku, and the super battleship Musashi. The Liberation of the Philippines was all but guaranteed by that point. The United States had severed the link between the Empire of Japan and the oil fields of the Dutch East Indies, and the Allies had secured total naval superiority in the Pacific. For the Japanese, Leyte Gulf had all but assured their defeat in World War II.

October 25, 1944: With their ship listing heavily and on the verge of sinking, the crew of the aircraft carrier, Zuikaku, salute as the Imperial Japanese flag is lowered.

8) The Battle of Moscow

Date: October 2, 1941- January 7, 1942

Location: Moscow, Russia, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

December 1, 1941: Soviet troops of the Red Army march through Moscow on their way to fight the Germans on the frontlines just outside the city.

Four months after invading the Soviet Union in Operation Barbarossa, the German Wehrmacht was within striking distance of Moscow. But an offensive on the Soviet capital was delayed due to stubborn resistance by the Red Army at Smolensk and Hitler’s insistence on capturing Leningrad and Kiev first. German commanders argued for an immediate attack on Moscow while the Red Army was still weak and in disarray, but Hitler believed that the fall of Leningrad and the Ukraine would do far more damage economically and militarily to the Soviet Union. This delay gave the Red Army invaluable time to reorganize and reinforce their defenses for the coming battle.

The Soviet Union raised reserve armies, elite units were brought in from Siberia, and several formidable defensive lines were established around Moscow. Only when the Ukraine had been captured and Leningrad encircled did the Wehrmacht resume their advance on the Soviet capital. After two months of intense fighting, the German offensive was bogged down just outside the city due to fierce Soviet defenses, heavy losses, chronic supply shortages, severe winter weather, and Soviet guerrilla fighters operating in the occupied territories. German troops actually came within 15 miles of the Kremlin, but they were woefully unprepared to wage a winter campaign, and thousands froze to death.

November 30, 1941: Two German soldiers on guard duty just west of Moscow endure the harsh conditions of the Russian Winter.

December 27, 1941: A group of German soldiers march across an icy snow-covered field during the Battle of Moscow.

Reinforced by reserve units and Siberian troops, the Red Army launched a massive counteroffensive with over 1,100,000 men. Unlike the Germans, the Russians were perfectly trained and equipped to fight in winter conditions. Despite determined resistance, the exhausted German Army was gradually driven back and defeated.

The Battle of Moscow was a major symbolic and psychological victory that galvanized the Soviet Union. While the losses of 1941 were horrific, the Red Army would rebuild and grow stronger as the war went on. Hitler originally believed that the Soviet Union would be defeated by the end of 1941, but this assessment proved to be wildly optimistic. Nazi Germany was confronted with the prospect of fighting a long war of attrition on the Eastern Front. The Axis Powers were unprepared for a prolonged campaign of this scale, which they were bound to lose the longer it went on.

December 31, 1941: A Soviet T-34 Tank with supporting Infantry attack a German-controlled village just outside Moscow.

7) The Battle of Kursk

Date: July 5- August 23, 1943

Location: Kursk, Russia, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

July, 1943: German Tiger I tanks prepare to attack Soviet defenses in the northern sector of the salient around Kursk, Russia.

Seeking to regain the initiative on the Eastern Front after the catastrophic defeat at Stalingrad, Nazi Germany assembled a massive force to encircle and destroy Red Army formations around the city of Kursk. Soviet and British intelligence agencies had attained information of the coming offensive months in advance, giving the Red Army plenty of time to prepare defenses. German forces along the Eastern Front were already badly under strength; gathering troops and resources for an attack on Kursk would take time. The Germans significantly delayed the start of the offensive as they waited for the delivery of additional armored vehicles, including the new advanced Panther tanks and the fearsome Tiger Tanks. Meanwhile the Red Army continued to fortify its positions. By the time the Germans attacked, the Soviets had established a series of formidable defensive lines around Kursk, turning the area into a giant fortress. The ensuing battle would go down in history as the largest clash of tanks in the annals of warfare, including a particularly savage tank battle at the town of Prokhorovka just southeast of Kursk.

July, 1943: German troops from the 2nd SS Panzer Division with a Tiger I Tank on the offensive against the Red Army during the Battle of Kursk.

July, 1943: Soviet troops armed with PTRD-41 anti-tank rifles come under heavy fire as they defend the southern sector of the Kursk salient.

The Soviets suffered incredibly heavy losses, but German losses in tanks, equipment, and personnel were irreplaceable. The exhausted Wehrmacht had barely made it halfway through Soviet defenses when, at the height of the battle, Hitler called off the offensive. He then proceeded to transfer troops from Russia to Italy in preparation for an Invasion by the Western Allies. By July 16, the Wehrmacht had withdrawn to its original frontline around the Kursk salient. Once the Germans had been significantly weakened, the Red Army unleashed its massive reserves in a crushing counteroffensive to the north and south of Kursk, capturing key cities, and inflicting even heavier losses on the Wehrmacht. From that point on, the Soviet Union would remain on the offensive until the end of the war. The Red Army had evolved dramatically from the disasters of 1941, transforming itself into an efficient military force to be reckoned with. The Battle of Kursk had completely shattered the Wehrmacht’s offensive capabilities on the Eastern Front. Nazi Germany was doomed to fight a defensive war it could not hope to win against a massive army that was growing in strength and numbers.

September, 1943: Following their victory in the Battle of Kursk, the Red Army launches a major counteroffensive against the Germans near Bryansk, Russia.

6) The Battle of Britain

Date: July 10- October 31, 1940

Location: British Airspace

September 7, 1940: A Heinkel He 111 bomber flown by the German Luftwaffe takes part in a bombing raid over the docks in the East End of London, England.

After the fall of France in June 1940, Nazi Germany had established its dominance over Western Europe. Only Great Britain remained unscathed. When the British refused to accept Germany’s terms for peace, Adolf Hitler ordered the Luftwaffe (Air Force) to establish air superiority over Britain in preparation for a large-scale airborne and amphibious invasion codenamed Operation Sea Lion. Wave after wave of German fighters and bombers flew across Southern England attacking key military and industrial sites while seeking to destroy British fighter aircraft in air-to-air combat. From the start of the campaign, the Luftwaffe faced stubborn resistance from the fighter pilots of the Royal Air Force (RAF). Advancements in the development of radar gave the British a critical advantage, allowing them to detect and track German aircraft taking off from airfields in Nazi-occupied Europe. This, along with information from ground observers, allowed the British to scramble fighters and accurately intercept Luftwaffe formations over England. The Battle of Britain became a grueling war of attrition with heavy losses on both sides. As the air battles intensified in scale and frequency, RAF Fighter Command was increasingly pushed to its breaking point. British airfields were continuously being bombed, the RAF was struggling to field adequately trained new pilots to replace those lost in battle, and those who were still flying were on the brink of exhaustion.

September 7, 1940: Smoke rises from fires raging at the Surrey Docks in London following a Luftwaffe bombing raid.

September 7, 1940: A group of Czech fighter pilots and their British flight commanders with Squadron 310 enjoy a much-needed break at their airfield in Duxford, England. Foreign volunteers from around the world would help play a vital role with the RAF in the Battle of Britain.

On the night of August 25, RAF bombers launched a surprise attack against Berlin in retaliation after German aircraft had accidentally bombed London the previous night. In response, an enraged Hitler ordered the Luftwaffe to bomb British cities into ruins. By targeting the civilian population instead of military airfields, the Germans gave the RAF invaluable time to rebuild their fighter squadrons and repair their infrastructure. Believing that the RAF had been neutralized, the Germans were shocked when the British took to the skies with renewed strength, inflicting heavy losses on Luftwaffe formations. Unable to achieve air superiority over Southern England after three months of bitter fighting, Hitler cancelled Operation Sea Lion so he could focus on the coming war with the Soviet Union. For the British, this was a huge symbolic and psychological victory. It was the first major defeat suffered by Nazi Germany, and it would come to have major strategic ramifications. Great Britain would become the staging point for Allied campaigns to liberate Africa and Europe from Axis control. The failure to knock Britain out of the war would ultimately come back to haunt Hitler.

September 25, 1940: A gun camera records the action as a Supermarine Spitfire flown by a British pilot in the Royal Air Force (RAF) 609 Squadron, engages a formation of Heinkel He 111 bombers near Bristol, England.

5) Operation Barbarossa

Date: June 22- December 5, 1941

Location: Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (Ukraine, Belarus, the Baltic States, Russia, and Eastern Poland).

June 22, 1941: Troops of the German Wehrmacht invade the Soviet Union in what would become the largest and bloodiest campaign in the annals of warfare.

Operation Barbarossa was the largest military campaign in the history of warfare. Led by Nazi Germany, the Axis Powers amassed over four million troops for the invasion of the Soviet Union. Taken completely off guard by the speed and ferocity of the German Blitzkrieg, Soviet units along the western frontier were utterly decimated. The German Wehrmacht demonstrated clear superiority in leadership, training, tactics, weaponry, and combat experience over the Red Army. The Soviet Union suffered over four million casualties, entire formations were destroyed, and large swaths of territory fell under Nazi occupation. But as time went on, the invasion gradually lost momentum. The Germans were slowed by stubborn Soviet defenses in key battles at Brest Fortress, Minsk, Smolensk, Uman, Odessa, Kiev, Sevastopol, and Rostov. The deeper the Axis forces pushed into the Soviet Union, the further they stretched their supply lines to the breaking point. Months of savage fighting and the ongoing logistical crisis took its toll on the invaders.

July 16, 1941: German Cavalrymen enter a town near Mogilev, Byelorussia (Belarus) after intense fighting with the Red Army.

September 1, 1941: Soviet troops man defensive positions around Leningrad. Unable to capture the city during Operation Barbarossa, Axis forces would lay siege to Leningrad for over two years until the Red Army finally relieved the city on January 24, 1944.

While the Red Army had suffered appalling losses, the Soviet Union was able to mobilize its vast resources in manpower and industry to replace what they had lost. The Soviets were also aided tremendously by massive logistical and economic aid provided to them by the United States through the Lend-Lease Act. Soviet troops fought with increased skill and tenacity after learning harsh lessons from the early stages of the war. Far from breaking the Soviet Union, the Wehrmacht was confronted with increasingly fierce resistance. The Germans lacked the strength to seize Leningrad by force, so they laid siege to the city for over two years in a failed attempt to starve the defenders into submission. Elsewhere, German troops were slowed by the autumn rains which turned the roads to mud, and the onset of winter grounded them to a halt just outside Moscow. Despite achieving spectacular victories during the initial period of the invasion, Operation Barbarossa ended in failure for the Axis Powers. Both sides faced the prospect of a long war of attrition, which Nazi Germany had little hope of winning. With superior manpower and resources, the Soviet Union would grow stronger as the war progressed. Hitler’s dream of expanding the German Reich by conquering the Russian homeland would ultimately set the stage for his demise.

October, 1941: Mechanized German units battle Soviet troops in the streets of Kharkov, Ukraine.

4) The Battle of the Atlantic

Date: September 3, 1939- May 8, 1945

Location: Atlantic Ocean

October, 1941: Escorting a large supply convoy across the Atlantic Ocean, officers on the bridge of a British destroyer scan the waters for signs of German U-Boats.

The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest and most bitter campaign fought during World War II. It lasted from September 1939, when the war in Europe broke out, to May 1945 when Nazi Germany surrendered. It was also the largest battlefield in history, covering the entire Atlantic Ocean, from the shores of Europe and Africa, to the coasts of North and South America. As an island nation, Great Britain was entirely dependent on a constant flow of supplies shipped in from across the Atlantic. The German Kriegsmarine (War Navy) sought to cut Britain’s lifeline by enforcing a naval blockade. Germany's surface fleet proved to be no match for the powerful Royal Navy, but their most effective ships against the British hid silently beneath surface, striking with little to no warning. German U-Boats swarmed the Atlantic, hunting and sinking Allied merchant ships at will. The period from 1940 to 1941 was the most difficult for the Allies as hundreds of ships and their precious cargo were sunk.

November 27, 1941: An American SB2U Vindicator Scout-Bomber from the aircraft carrier, USS Ranger (CV-4), flies an anti-submarine patrol for an Allied supply convoy headed for Cape Town, South Africa.

March, 1942: Allied tanker, Dixie Arrow, begins to break in half and sink to the bottom of the Atlantic after being torpedoed by German submarine U-71.

Despite traveling with armed surface escorts, Allied merchant convoys were facing coordinated hit-and-run attacks by U-Boats operating in groups called “wolf packs.” At times, the Germans actually came close to severing the shipping routes to Great Britain. But by 1942, the tide of the war was turning against Germany. A combination of new tactics, technology, and intelligence helped the Allies defeat the U-Boats, such as the development of sonar, improved anti-submarine countermeasures, increased air cover by Allied aircraft, the massive production of merchant ships and escorts by the United States, and the breaking of the enigma code used by U-Boats to communicate via radio. The tables had turned in the Atlantic, as the hunters became the hunted. By 1943, the U-Boat threat had been effectively neutralized. From 1939 to 1945, 3,500 Allied merchant vessels were sunk, along with 175 warships, and 72,000 Allied seamen had lost their lives in the Atlantic. The Germans lost 783 U-Boats, and out of the 40,000 men who served in the U-Boat fleet, 30,000 were killed. Germany’s campaign to starve the British into submission, had ended in failure. With the naval blockade broken, the Allies were able to build up their forces in Great Britain for the coming invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe.

November 5, 1943: German submarine U-848 comes under attack by U.S. Naval aircraft in the South Atlantic.

3) The Battle of Midway

Date: June 4- 7, 1942

Location: Midway Atoll, 1,300 miles west of Hawaii

June 6, 1942: A Squadron of American SBD Dauntless dive bombers from the aircraft carrier, USS Hornet (CV-8), fly over a burning Japanese heavy cruiser near Midway.

This was the battle that many regard as the turning point of the Pacific Theater. By May 1942, the Empire of Japan had conquered most of the western Pacific, while the U.S. Pacific Fleet was still weakened from losses suffered during the surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor five months earlier. During the Battle of the Coral Sea (May 4- 8), the Pacific Fleet managed to repel a Japanese offensive in New Guinea and cripple two IJN aircraft carriers, but the Americans lost the aircraft carrier USS Lexington. The U.S. Navy was left with only three aircraft carriers to counter Japan’s next move in the Pacific. Meanwhile the Imperial Japanese Navy was planning a major offensive which they hoped would destroy the U.S. Pacific Fleet once and for all. By seizing a strategic airfield just west of Hawaii on the island of Midway, Japanese commanders hoped to force the U.S. Navy to commit its valuable aircraft carriers to repel the invasion. Once lured out of Pearl Harbor, the American carriers would be destroyed by superior Japanese forces in a battle to retake the island. But unbeknownst to the Japanese, U.S. naval intelligence had deciphered their radio transmissions and uncovered their plan to invade Midway.

June 4, 1942: The American aircraft carrier, USS Yorktown (CV-5), suffers a direct hit from a torpedo dropped by a Japanese B5N torpedo bomber during the Battle of Midway.

June 6, 1942: The Japanese Heavy Cruiser, Mikuma, suffers catastrophic damage from U.S. Naval air attacks during the Battle of Midway. This picture was taken by an SBD Dauntless shortly before the Mikuma sunk into the Pacific Ocean.

When the Combined Japanese Fleet sailed in to attack, all three American aircraft carriers were already waiting near Midway, ready to spring the trap. Taken completely by surprise, four Japanese aircraft carriers were sunk for the destruction of one American carrier, the USS Yorktown. For the United States, this was a victory of epic proportions. The Japanese carriers sunk near Midway: Akagi, Hiryu, Kaga, and Soryu, were four of the six carriers that had carried out the attack on Pearl Harbor. Imperial Japan’s aura of invincibility was shattered and their ability to carry out offensive operations had been severely degraded. It was a devastating defeat from which the Japanese would ultimately never recover from. The scale of their victory at Midway gave the United States invaluable time to gather their strength as they prepared to go on the offensive in the Pacific. The Americans were able to raise and repair many of the ships lost at Pearl Harbor and their massive industrial economy produced new warships at a rate that the Japanese could never match. For the Empire of Japan, the Battle of Midway was the beginning of their downfall.

June 20, 1942: USS Ballard picks up survivors from the Japanese aircraft carrier, Hiryu, two weeks after it was sunk by U.S. Naval aircraft during the Battle of Midway.

2) The Invasion of Normandy

Date: June 6- August 30, 1944

Location: Normandy, France

June 6, 1944: U.S. troops from the 1st Infantry Division disembark from a Coast Guard Landing Craft and advance towards a section of the Normandy coastline designated Omaha Beach during the Allied Invasion of Nazi-occupied France.

This was the battle that decided the fate of Western Europe. After years of planning, preparations, and training, Allied forces based in Great Britain were finally ready to launch the long-awaited Invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe. Across the English Channel, the Germans constructed a series of formidable defensive fortifications along the European coastline, dubbed the “Atlantic Wall.” Stretching from the Bay of Biscay in western France all the way to the arctic coast of Norway, the Nazi regime began building the wall in 1942 to repel any Allied Invasion of Western Europe. The Allies finally chose to carry out landings on the Normandy Peninsula, a region of Northern France which was reported to be the weakest section of the Atlantic Wall. In the meantime, Allied Intelligence carried out an elaborate deception campaign that kept the Germans confused as to where and when the invasion would take place.

In the early morning hours of D-Day, June 6, 1944, nearly 160,000 troops from several nations crossed the English Channel by sea and air destined for Normandy, France. Just after midnight, Allied airborne units were dropped inland behind German coastal defenses. Even though the paratroopers were badly scattered across Normandy, they still managed to capture key targets and were highly successful in creating chaos and confusion among German forces. The French Resistance assisted the Allies by harassing enemy troops and carrying out acts of sabotage on the German transportation and communication network in the region.

June 6, 1944: Landing craft carrying Canadian troops of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles towards Juno Beach during the D-Day Invasion of Normandy.

June 6, 1944: Royal Marine Commandos attached to the 3rd Infantry Division of the British Army advance into Normandy after landing on Sword Beach.

At dawn, the amphibious landings were successfully carried out along the Normandy coast with Allied troops capturing Gold, Sword, Juno, and Utah Beaches. U.S. troops faced the strongest defenses on Omaha Beach, where they suffered heavy casualties but still managed to overcome fierce German resistance to secure a small beachhead. Assisted by overwhelming air and naval firepower, the Allies were able to establish a foothold in Normandy. Allied troops gradually pushed further inland capturing key cities, such as Carentan, Cherbourg, and Caen. On July 25, the Allies launched Operation Cobra, a major offensive from Normandy, which lead to a rapid advance across France. The once powerful German Wehrmacht collapsed in the face of the onslaught. On August 25, Allied troops marched triumphantly into Paris, liberating the French Capital after four years of occupation. For the Western Allies, it was the defining Battle of World War II. For Nazi Germany, it was the beginning of the end as they were slowly crushed by the combined forces of the United States, Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union.

July, 1944: U.S. troops of the 4th Armored Division advance through the town of Coutances during Operation Cobra, a major Allied offensive that would lead to the breakout from Normandy and the collapse of German armies across France.

1) The Battle of Stalingrad

Date: August 23, 1942- February2,1943

Location: Stalingrad (Volgograd), Russia, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

February, 1943: Soviet troops fighting across the ruins of Stalingrad, Russia. For over five months, the Red Army and the Wehrmacht fought bitterly for control of the city, resulting in the bloodiest and most destructive battle of World War II.

Many have regarded Stalingrad as the turning point of World War II. Not only was it the bloodiest urban battle ever fought, it was the single deadliest battle in history. After failing to outright destroy the Soviet Union during the initial invasion in 1941, Adolf Hitler sought to cripple the Soviet economy by seizing the oilfields of the Russian Caucasus. As Axis forces advanced into southern Russia, the German 6th Army was sent to capture the city of Stalingrad. Named after Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, the city was symbolically meaningful for both sides. It was also a key industrial and transportation center for the region. Before the battle, the Luftwaffe mercilessly bombed Stalingrad, turning it into a heap of burning rubble. When the Wehrmacht finally launched its ground assault, they were met with fanatical resistance. German and Soviet troops fought block by block, street by street, and house to house for control of the city. Soviet reinforcements were rushed across the river Volga under heavy fire, and despite appalling casualties they managed to help prevent the city from falling completely into enemy hands. Parts of Stalingrad such as Mamayev Kurgan, the Central Railway Station, the Red October Factory, Pavlov’s House, the Grain Elevator, and even the sewers attained a level of infamy for the scale of death and suffering both sides endured during the battle.

October, 1942: A German soldier armed with a Russian PPSh-41 submachine gun looks out over the rubble of the Barrikady Factory in Stalingrad.

October, 1942: Soviet soldiers armed with German and Russian submachine guns defend the Red October Factory in Stalingrad from German attacks.

The Germans committed scores of troops and resources to the takeover of Stalingrad but left their flanks guarded by weaker Romanian, Hungarian, and Italian units. With the Russian winter on its side, the Red Army launched a massive counteroffensive with over one million troops against the weakened flanks to the north and south of Stalingrad. The Soviets broke through as the Romanians, Hungarians, and Italians collapsed in disarray. German troops in and around Stalingrad were horrified to find that they had been completely encircled by the massive Red Army. An offensive to break through to the city along with attempts by the Luftwaffe to resupply Stalingrad by air ended in complete failure. Freezing in subzero temperatures, ravaged by frostbite, starvation, and disease, German troops inside the shattered city fought valiantly but were eventually overwhelmed by the Red Army. Never before had Nazi Germany suffered a defeat so catastrophic.

The Battle of Stalingrad led to the destruction of the German 6th Army, elements of the 4th Panzer Army, along with the Romanian, Hungarian, and Italian Armies on the Eastern Front. In total, the Axis Powers suffered 850,000 casualties. It was a devastating loss from which they would never recover from. It is estimated that the Soviet Union suffered over 1,129,000 total casualties during the battle, but they had still prevailed. Galvanized by their historic victory, Soviet forces relentlessly pushed westward, driving the Germans all the way back to Berlin, culminating in the collapse of Hitler’s Third Reich in May 1945.

February 2, 1943: Soviet soldiers move through the center of Stalingrad following it’s liberation from German occupation.

(c) Daniel Ramos. January, 2016. No part of this article shall be reproduced in any manner without attribution to the author.

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naomidc2935 · 2 years

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Mobile Suit Gundam Eps. 13, 20, 32

The second set of episodes further display the pacifist message behind the show and the harmful effects of war. In Contesting Traumatic War Narratives by Ashbaugh, he describes the connections between Gundam and World War 2 through the lenses of pacifist Tomino. One of the most prominent messages the show has is the anti-war theme present in the show. The Federation is like the Allies and the Zeons are like the Axis Powers. However, in the show each side has a moral ambiguity due to the amount of violence they inflict on each other alluding to the idea that in war everyone loses and the only result is grief and pain.

I think a very good example of how the show projects its ideas is the scene where Amuro shoots at another soldier and his mother is horrified. Shifting the perspective from that of “oh, we are in war” to that of a mother’s truly illustrates the violence that people have been exposed to and slowly accepted. Amuro does not consider his mother’s words, justifying himself by saying that they are in war. This depicts how the attitudes of society have become more desensitized and we see less humanity in others. Something I found interesting was that Amuro’s very words are thrown back at him when he finds his father. After an unsuccessful attempt to reconnect with his father, his father dismisses him with the idea that war is more important at the moment and that Amuro is a soldier now. In this situation Amuro’s mother represents the pacifist ideals that Tomino holds himself. She is appalled by how ready her son was to commit murder and I think for the audience being shown this perspective really makes them realize that Amuro has lost some of his humanity. On the other hand, Amuro’s father represents pro-militarism values and the pride of national governments.

In episode 20, the parallels between Gundam and Japan are more prominent. Following the death of her lover, Hamon wants to avenge by destroying the White Base. Her plan is to ram into the White Base with a Magella Top full of explosives. This is very similar to Japanese kamikaze attacks where pilots would fly vehicles filled with explosives purposefully into enemy targets and die in the attack. Hamon is not as concerned for her own well being as she is for the destruction of the White Base which holds similar sentiments to the kamikaze fighters. While the western audience may sympathize more with the Federation and even support their destructive actions in war, Ryu’s death again brings into light the consequences of war. There is no victory or victor because there will always be loss, no matter what side you are on.

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cait-writes-stuff · 6 years

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Love in War - Victuuri Week Day 1 (Historical AU)

Title: Love in War Rating: T Summary: Victor is a general for the Red Army sitting in on Allied supplies negotiations in Switzerland during World War II. Yuuri is an escaped Japanese researcher just trying to escape the war but he finds himself tangled up even further into the heat of war and consequently Victor.

Link to A03: http://archiveofourown.org/works/13546224

Switzerland, July 1941

“Once again we find ourselves in a position where resources are running thin on the western front. My men say we’re at most two weeks away before we lose our foothold in the region. General Nikiforov you will divert supplies and weapons shipments from the eastern front to the efforts in France.” JJ said, already proactively moving pieces signifying supplies on the war map in front of them. Victor caught his wrist in a death grip before he could even touch the pieces that would deny his men the necessities of living in a time of war.

“With all due respect, Commander, I’m afraid that can’t happen. My men are already stretched thin as it is and the Germans push us towards the Russian border with each passing day. Our intel indicates that they intend to take Moscow before winter sets in. We need all the supplies possible to ensure that doesn’t happen.” Victor replied calmly with a dangerous edge to his voice. Commander Leroy wisely retracted his hand away from the war pieces.

"Listen here comrade the Russian front can wait. Our primary focus needs to be supporting the west."Commander Leroy argued. His superior pulled him back when Victor's expression turned absolutely murderous. Probably the only thing that stopped Victor from reaching for the standard issue handgun secured to his belt was Chris stepping through the door and making himself known.

“General Nikiforov. A moment of your time?" Chris said gesturing towards the open door.

"Not now." Victor growled.

"You're going to want to see this sir." Chris assured. Victor sighed and excused himself from the war room. They adjourned the meeting for lunch and would resume requisition negotiations later in the afternoon since the morning meeting had turned out to be less than productive.

"I swear upon my mother's grave if I have to hear one more fucking bureaucrat disguised as a general disregard my people's lives, I'm going to start another world war myself." Victor warned as Chris led him down the darkened hallways of the Swiss war bunker.

"Let's finish this one before you go off and start another, mon ami." Chris sympathized, clapping Victor on the shoulder.

"What was so important?" Victor asked when they came to a stop in front of the door leading to what was used as an interrogation room for the occasional Axis spy that found its way to their humble abode.

"See for yourself." Chris said, unlocking the door to the interrogation room and gesturing for Victor to make his way inside.

Victor stopped just inside of the doorway when he saw a battered Japanese man handcuffed to the table. His eyes were downcast and his lips set in a firm frown. The man was handsome by most standards, the only flaw being perhaps a couple fresh scratches and bruises smattered across his exposed skin and a cracked set of spectacles resting on his nose.

"Does he speak English?" Victor asked Chris, not taking his eyes off the assumed Japanese spy.

"We don't know. His plane crashed a few miles from here and my men pulled him out and brought him here for questioning. He's only been conscious for about an hour but he hasn't uttered a word." Chris explained as if the man sitting in front of them wasn't there. The Japanese man shifted his gaze up towards them but otherwise didn't say a word or even indicate that he understood them at all.

"Is he Kamikaze? I wasn't aware Japan had developed an endurance aircraft." Victor inquired.

"They haven't yet as far as we know. He crashed in a German plane."

"German?" Victor pondered, perplexed.

"My men are working as we speak trying to determine the cause of the crash and hopefully his intent since this one refuses to talk." Chris said jabbing his thumb in the foreign prisoner's direction. The Japanese man narrowed his eyes at Chris before redirecting his attention back to the steel table.

"Let me talk to him." Victor decided.

"Ah yes, I was hoping you'd use your trademark Russian charm to open him up." Chris bit sarcastically. Victor rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest.

"I'm not going to torture him. I just want to talk. Something isn't adding up here." Victor explained. He had a hunch and his hunch was telling him that this foreigner was not what he seemed to be. Victor wanted to hear what the man had to say for himself.

"He's all yours." Chris said before taking his leave.

Victor approached the chair across from the prisoner and sat himself down and rested his hands on the table in front of him. The Japanese man eyed Victor up and down and straightened himself in his chair but remained speechless. Victor would have to prod this conversation if he wanted anything out of him.

"Do you speak English? Russian? Deutsch?" Victor started listing off the languages he was fluent in, hoping to god they had a language in common. The prisoner let out a bitter scoff when Victor listed off German.

Interesting . . .

"Listen, if you cooperate with me I'm sure we could work out a mutually beneficial agreement but you have to talk." Victor sighed.

"English is fine." The prisoner finally spoke. Victor thanked the high heavens that he could get that much out of him.

"Tell me your name." Victor commanded.

"Promise you won't kill me." The man countered. Victor leaned back in the hard chair and sighed.

"I'm afraid I can't promise that." Victor shook his head. "I can promise that if your honest with me I will try my hardest to grant you leniency provided that I like the story that you give me. Now let's try this again. What is your name?" Victor repeated more firmly.

"Katsuki Yuuri." He answered obediently, lowering his soft brown eyes to the table where he clasped his hands.

"Where are you from?" Victor asked leaning forward and crossing his arms on top of the table.

"Japan." Yuuri answered concisely.

"Where in Japan?" Victor questioned.

"I don't see how that's relevant." Yuuri challenged with a degree of fire in his eyes that Victor had yet to see since he first saw the Japanese man.

"Fine." Victor backed off. "Tell me then how it is that a man like you ends up crashing a German plane into the side of a Swiss mountain." Victor inquired.

"I stole it." Yuuri answered.

"Stole what?" Victor inquired.

"The plane. I stole it from a base in Munich." He elaborated without giving too much away. Victor looked at his watch and sighed. He really couldn't stay in this room all day.

"You're going to have to paint a better picture for me than that if you want me to put my neck on the line for you." Victor warned.

"I am - was - a scholar working out of the Japanese embassy in Munich. German research used to come across my desk and my job was to sort it and send the valuable developments along to Tokyo. This war had created nothing but truly horrific science that one can never unsee. The Nazi's especially have continued finding more and more horrific ways to slaughter innocent lives and my job at the embassy was to spread their evils into my own country. I couldn't stand it anymore so I would secretly shred the worst science that I came in contact with. My supervisor caught me and I knew I would have to flee the country or face the end of a Nazi's gun. I had the opportunity to steal that plane so I did." The man explained solemnly.

"How did you manage to steal the plane?" Victor prompted.

"As an ambassador of research I have access to the scientists that work on the bases. It wasn't unusual for me to visit every so often to collect copies of research or observe their experiments. I went to the Munich base under the guise of inspecting German aircraft engineering and I seized the opportunity to steal one before my name could be blacklisted." Yuuri answered.

"Where were you planning on going?" Victor asked.

"I knew I needed to at least make it to Switzerland. Beyond that I'm not sure what my plan was. I had to flee so suddenly I didn't really have time to think of a solid plan." Yuuri answered.

"Why did you crash the plane?" Victor asked.

"I didn't mean to. I'm not a trained pilot but I know enough theoretically to get by. When I took off the Munich base tried to shoot me down. I took a few hits but I was able to remain in the air and functional just long enough to reach the Switzerland border where I knew they wouldn't follow me. I had a bit of trouble landing the plane."

"It seems to me that you're a very lucky man to be alive right now, Yuuri." Victor commented.

"Am I though?" Yuuri asked skeptically.

"I suppose that remains to be seen." Victor agreed. "Let me clarify so that I am understanding this correctly. You worked closely with German and Japanese military research, when caught destroying said research you stole a military aircraft and fled to Switzerland, crashed, and now you are here."

"I am here." Yuuri agreed.

"I think you just might have some value to the allied cause Mr. Katsuki. I'm sure if you're willing we might have a position open for you here." Victor offered. He might be going over the other generals heads by offering such an opportunity for a man who just hours ago worked for their enemy but he saw a lot of untapped potential in Yuuri. It would have been a shame if his talents and intellect went to waste.

"I suppose I don't have a choice do I?" Yuuri waged.

"I'm sure Munich would just love to have you back." Victor hedged. Yuuri went the slightest bit pale and pushed his malfunctioning glasses further up the bridge of his nose.

"Will you let me go?" Yuuri asked with a worried look in his eyes.

"I'm sure we can work something out when your work here is done. We'll talk later Yuuri." Victor reassured, rising from his seat and heading towards the door.

"Wait! What are you going to do with me? I told you everything. You can't just leave me here!" Yuuri pleaded, constrained by the handcuffs tying his wrists to the table. Victor paused at the door and turned around to address Yuuri once again.

"I'm going to have a few of the men on base escort you to my chambers where you will work on documenting all that you remember from your time working with classified information. I'll have someone bring you some food and a fresh uniform and if your extra good maybe I'll send someone along to fix your glasses for you." Victor explained sending a subtle wink the prisoner's way.

"I'm not your lap dog." Yuuri seethed.

"No you're not, but you don't exactly have many options now do you? I suggest you either make peace with your new employment or your maker. I expect your answer by tonight." Victor said, leaving the room and shutting the door behind him.

Victor didn't have to go far to find Chris who was in the bunker's small kitchen pushing around a can of beans with a spoon.

"Chris, our Japanese friend is a civilian researcher caught on the wrong side of the war. He'll be staying with me until further notice."

"Is that really the best idea, Victor?" Chris asked, spooning some beans into his mouth.

"Of course it is. Yuuri's head is filled with all sorts of valuable information and we would be remiss if we let this opportunity go to waste." Victor argued.

"Victor, that's not what I meant. I don't know if you could afford another -" Chris paused and looked around the room to ensure that they were alone before lowering his voice. "You're career, fuck, you, can't survive another Vladimir situation."

"This is different." Victor insisted defensively.

"Is it though, Victor? You've always been a sucker for the ones with cute faces and that man definitely qualifies." Chris whispered, so that no one passing by would overhear.

"I have no intentions on pursuing him." Victor insisted.

"You say that but I'm not so convinced." Chris said before shaking his head and sighing. "Look just be careful ok? I don't have to tell you that for people like us the Nazi's aren't our only enemies."

“I know Chris, I know. Can you just arrange to have him moved to my room?” Victor sighed.

“I’ll get right on it, sir.” Chris agreed with a salute.

“Make sure you get him a good mea tool. God only knows what those Germans were feeding him.” Victor said, straightening his uniform and parting his hair just right in the reflection of the shined steel table.

“You’re getting invested.” Chris sang in an ‘I told you so’ tone as he inspected the newspaper sitting in from of him.

“Maybe I am.” Victor conceded, rolling his shoulders and straightening his spine.

“You my friend are a delightful idiot. I wish you all the best in your crusade.” Chris said.

Victor didn’t say anything in return but braced himself to go back out into the fray of negotiations and war time bureaucracy. Oh, to live in a time where any of this was any easier.

#victuuriweek #au prompt #day one #fic #yoi #yuri on ice #yuuri katsuki #victor nikiforov #victuri #victuuri #viktuuri #vikturi #historical au

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