This episode discusses Japan's failed attempts at military campaigns in 1944, including the unsuccessful defense against the B29 bomber attacks and the costly Operation Ichigo, which resulted in heavy casualties for the Japanese soldiers and little gain.
During World War II, the Japanese would launch Banzai attacks at night, where thousands of soldiers would swarm the American front lines, often using brutal and medieval tactics such as sword wielding and hacking to death wounded Americans who couldn't escape.
In preparation for World War II, Japanese Admiral Yamamoto tasks himself with finding a way to successfully attack the United States despite his belief that the war would not be winnable. He came up with the surprising plan of attacking Pearl Harbor, which was a risky, but eventually successful military action.
The Japanese military had between 80 to 100 aircraft, 150 to 200 artillery pieces, and tanks to aid in their attack on the Philippines during World War II. The attack began with a heavy bombardment that the Filipinos had never seen before, leaving a devastating effect on the troops.
The failure of military commanders to act on intelligence warnings before the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 and the September 11 attacks in 2001 by terrorists is deeply troubling. Both of these events serve as critical reminders of the importance of gathering and responding to intelligence to prevent future attacks.