Are the Kamikaze heroes or victims?

Kamikaze is a term that became widely known during the Second World War. This word was used to designate Japanese suicide pilots who attacked enemy planes and ships and destroyed them, going to ramming.

The meaning of the word "kamikaze"

The appearance of the word is connected with the name of the Khan Khan Khan, who, after conquering China, twice assembled a huge fleet to reach the coast of Japan and conquer it. The Japanese were preparing for war with the army, which exceeded their own strength many times over. In 1281, the Mongols collected almost 4,500 ships and a hundred-hundred-thousand-strong army.

But both times before the big battle it did not come. Historical sources claim that near the coast of Japan, the ships of the Mongolian fleet were almost completely destroyed by sudden storms. These typhoons, which saved Japan from conquest, were called "divine wind", or "kamikaze".

And when, during the Second World War, it became obvious that the Japanese were losing the United States and the Allies, there were detachments of suicide pilots. They had to, if not to reverse the course of military operations, then at least cause as much damage to the enemy as possible. These pilots and began to be called kamikaze.

The first flight of kamikaze

Already from the very beginning of the war, there were single battering rams, executed by the pilots of the flared aircraft. But these were forced victims. In 1944, the first official squad of suicide pilots was formed. Five pilots on the Mitsubishi Zero fighters under the leadership of Captain Yukio Seki flew on October 25 from the Philippine airfield Mabarakat.

The first victim of the kamikaze was the American aircraft carrier "Saint Lo". It was hit by Seki's plane and another fighter. The ship started a fire, and soon it sank. So the whole world has learned who kamikaze is.

"Living weapons" of the Japanese army

After the success of Yukio Seki and his comrades in Japan, mass hysteria began over heroic suicides. Thousands of young people dreamed of accomplishing the same feat - to perish, destroying the enemy at the cost of their lives.

Hastily formed "special shock troops," and not only among the pilots. The death squads were also among the paratroopers who were dropped on the airfields or other enemy technical structures. Sailors-suicides ruled or boats, stuffed with explosives, or torpedoes of enormous power.

At the same time, young people were actively cultivated, they were taught that the kamikaze were heroes who sacrificed themselves for the sake of saving the Motherland. They fully comply with the bushido code, which calls for constant readiness for death. It is an ideal to which one should strive.

The last flight of suicide bombers was arranged as a solemn ritual. His integral part was white bandages on his forehead, bows, the last cup of sake. And almost always - flowers from girls. And even the kamikaze were often compared with cherry blossoms, hinting at the speed with which they blossom and fall. All this surrounded death with a halo of romance.

The relatives of the dead kamikaze were waiting for the respect and respect of the entire Japanese society.

Results of actions of shock units

Kamikazes are those who have made almost four thousand sorties, each of which was the last. Most flights led, if not to destruction, to damage to ships and other military equipment of the enemy. They managed to terrify the American sailors for a long time. And only by the end of the war the suicide bombers learned to fight. In total, the list of dead kamikaze consists of 6418 people.

Official US data indicate about 50 sunk ships. But this figure hardly correctly reflects the damage inflicted by the kamikaze. After all, not always ships sank immediately after a successful attack by the Japanese, they managed to stay afloat sometimes for several days. Some ships could tow to the shore, where repair work was done, without which they would be doomed.

If we consider the damage to manpower and technology, the results immediately become impressive. After all, even the giant aircraft carriers, which have a huge buoyancy, are not insured against fires and explosions as a result of the fire ram. Many ships burned almost completely, though they did not go to the bottom. Damages received about 300 ships, killed about 5 thousand US sailors and allies.

Kamikaze - who are they? Change of world view

After 70 years, since the appearance of the first suicide squads, the Japanese people are trying to determine for themselves how to treat them. Who are kamikaze? Heroes who consciously chose death in the name of Bushido ideals? Or victims stupefied by state propaganda?

During the war, there were no doubts. But archival materials lead to reflection. Even the first kamikaze, the famous Yukio Seki, believed that Japan was in vain killing his best pilots. They would do more good, continuing to fly and attack the enemy.

Lieutenant Hiroshi Kuroki, who became the author of the idea of a torpedo guided by a seaman-suicide, considered this only a gesture of despair and the result of incorrect decisions of the central command.

Whatever it was, kamikaze is part of the history of Japan. The part that the simple Japanese cause and pride in their heroism, and self-denial, and pity for people who died in the prime of life. But she does not leave anyone indifferent.