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World War II -- island territories the archipelago Marshall Island civilians
World War II Pacific Island Territories: The Marshall Islands--Civilians
Figure 1.-- Here we see the school the U.S. Nacy set up in the Marshall Islands, we think Kwajalein. The press caption read, "Navy sponsord schools schools for natives in Marshall Islmds: Beunging [sime>] of the blessing of th democracies --free education -- to the island outposts in thePacific , the U.S. Navy is now sponsoring schools for the training schools for the training of the native children. Educated islanders, many of whomfirst were taught their ABCs by missiinaries, are the instructors of these schools, under the direction of american civil affairs officers in the military governership command of Admoral Chester W. Nimitz, USN, Commander-in-Chief,mU.S. Pacific Fleetan Pacific Ocean Areas. Just as it does in the U.S., reces in the native schools on the Marshalls means upervised gmes. In this photograph the children form a ring around the staff flying the Stars and stripes." The photograph is dated October 24, 1944.
Civilians on the Marshall Islands before the War were self suficent in food production. The population, however, was small and the agricultural land on these atols was very limited. They produced very little surplus. As the Japanese began craming soldiers and Korean conscript laborers on these atols, food became a critical problem. The island were not capable of producing food for thousands of additional people. The basic Japanese policy was for areas it occupied to become self suffient in food. This was a pipe dream for garrisons throughout the Pacific. As aesult, the Japanese military garrisons not obliterated by American invasions would be left starving. As conditions inevitably deteriorated on Kwajalein and other islands, the Japanese soldiers became harsher and more violent toward the Marshall Island civilians who they were convinced were spying for the Americans. [Higuchi] After the war, a U.S. Naval War Crimes court tried several Japanese naval officers on Kwajalein for war crimes committed elsewhere, but not on the Marshall Islands. At least one was condemned to death. Aftr the Korean labor brigades comoleted the first runway on Kwajalein, the Japanese public school was demolished. The Marshall islanders were forcibly resettled. The Japanese civil administration was moved to Namu Atoll. The Marshall Islanders were moved to live on the smaller islets and atols. This was done with considerable brutality and traumatized the peaceful Marshall Islanders. Apparently the Japanese civil authoities had dealt with the Islanders with generally correct behavior, This was not the case if the soldiets. Ssimilar events unfolded throughout the Marshalls. After the American invasions, the Marshall Islanders were allowed to return to their homes. Civil affairs officers made sure that food and clean warer was made availavle as well as medical care. schools were opend with teachers who had been taught by the missionaries. We are not sure what happened with the small number of Japanese civilian the Japanese resettled in the islands. We do not note the horrific incidents of suiside as reported later on Saipan and Okinawa. We are not sure why. We assume a camp was set up for them where their ned could be met. They were repatriated to Japan after the war.
Sources
Higuchi, Wakako. "Micronesia under the Japanese Administration: Interviews with Former South Sea Bureau and Military Officials." ( Guam: University of Guam, 1987).
