[Marxism] Socialist Policy in World War Two

[Shane Mage]

On Jul 2, 2009, at 5:19 PM, G K Milner wrote:
>                  I agree with you about the conflict between Japan  
> and the
> USA over oil supplies being a primary motive for the Japanese attack  
> on
> Pearl Harbour.   But I'm pretty sure that the Japanese ruling circle  
> had,
> before the attack on Pearl, at least contemplated an assault on the  
> USSR,
> then embroiled in a mighty struggle with the Nazi Wehrmacht.   The  
> Soviet
> intelligence agent Richard Sorge, who was stationed in Japan at this  
> time
> and had access to the highest circles of the Japanese High Command,  
> was able to convey to his superiors in Moscow the information in  
> early December 1941 that the Japanese would attack the USA, and not  
> the USSR.   This piece of intelligence enabled the Soviet Union to  
> transfer crucial divisions of crack
> troops with winter clothing and equipment from Eastern Siberia to  
> the front
> in Europe, and these troops contributed to the successful defence of  
> Moscow
> that winter.


Except that by the start of December the Nazi armies were in retreat  
on both the northern and southern fronts.  So Sorge's intelligence had  
no impact at all on the Eastern Front war.  In any case the Japanese  
had no reason at all to attack Russia, and every reason not to.



Shane Mage

> This cosmos did none of gods or men make, but it
> always was and is and shall be: an everlasting fire,
> kindling in measures and going out in measures."
>
> Herakleitos of Ephesos