Kamikaze is a term that became widely known during the Second World War. This word denoted Japanese suicide pilots who attacked enemy aircraft and ships and destroyed them by ramming.
Meaning of the word "kamikaze"
The appearance of the word is associated with the name of the Mongol Khan Kublai, who, after the conquest of China, twice assembled a huge fleet to reach the shores of Japan and conquer it. The Japanese were preparing for war with an army many times superior to their own forces. In 1281, the Mongols gathered almost 4.5 thousand ships and a hundred and forty thousandth army.
But both times it did not come to a major battle. Historical sources claim that off the coast of Japan, the ships of the Mongolian fleet were almost completely destroyed by sudden storms. These typhoons that saved Japan from conquest were called the "divine wind" or "kamikaze".
And when during the Second World War it became obvious that the Japanese were losing to the US and the allies, there were squads of suicide pilots. They were supposed to, if not turn the tide of hostilities, then at least inflict as much damage as possible on the enemy. These pilots andbegan to be called kamikaze.
First kamikaze flight
Already from the very beginning of the war, there were single rams performed by pilots of aircraft on fire. But these were forced sacrifices. In 1944, an official suicide pilot squad was formed for the first time. Five pilots on Mitsubishi Zero fighters, led by Captain Yukio Seki, took off 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 caught fire and soon sank. So the whole world knew who the kamikaze were.
"Living weapon" of the Japanese army
After the success of Yukio Seki and his comrades, mass hysteria about heroic suicides began in Japan. Thousands of young people dreamed of doing the same feat - to die, destroying the enemy at the cost of their lives.
"Special shock detachments" were hastily formed, and not only among the pilots. Teams of suicide bombers were also among the paratroopers, who were dropped on airfields or other technical structures of the enemy. The suicidal sailors operated either boats filled with explosives or huge torpedoes.
At the same time, the minds of young people were actively processed, they were inspired that kamikazes are heroes who sacrifice themselves for the sake of the Motherland. They are completely subject to the Bushido code, which called for constant readiness for death. This is the ideal to strive for.
Last departuresuicide bombers were arranged as a solemn ritual. White bandages on the forehead, bows, the last cup of sake were an integral part of it. And almost always - flowers from girls. And even the kamikaze themselves were often compared to cherry blossoms, hinting at the speed with which they bloom and fall. All this surrounded death with an aura of romance.
The relatives of the dead kamikaze were awaited by the honor and respect of the entire Japanese society.
Results of strike squads
Kamikaze are those who made almost four thousand sorties, each of which was the last. Most of the flights led, if not to the destruction, then to damage to ships and other military equipment of the enemy. They managed to inspire horror in American sailors for a long time. And only towards the end of the war with suicide bombers did they learn to fight. In total, the list of dead kamikaze consists of 6418 people.
Official US figures say about 50 ships sunk. But this figure hardly accurately reflects the damage caused by the kamikaze. After all, ships did not always sink immediately after a successful attack by the Japanese, they managed to stay afloat, sometimes for several days. Some vessels were able to be towed to shore where repairs were made without which they would have been doomed.
If we consider the damage to manpower and equipment, the results immediately become impressive. After all, even giant aircraft carriers with enormous buoyancy are not immune from fires and explosions as a result of a fiery ram. Many ships burned out almost completely, although they did not go to the bottom. Damagereceived about 300 ships, killed about 5 thousand US and allied sailors.
Kamikaze - who are they? Soul-searching
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 deliberately chose death in the name of bushido ideals? Or victims drugged by government propaganda?
During the war, there was no doubt. But archival materials lead to reflections. Even the first kamikaze, the famous Yukio Seki, believed that Japan was killing its best pilots in vain. They would do more good by continuing to fly and attack the enemy.
Lieutenant Hiroshi Kuroki, who came up with the idea of a torpedo guided by a suicide sailor, considered it only a gesture of desperation and the result of the wrong decisions of the central command.
Be that as it may, kamikaze is part of Japan's history. The part that causes pride in ordinary Japanese for their heroism, and self-denial, and pity for people who died in the prime of life. But she does not leave anyone indifferent.
