The concept of race had an enormous impact on the conduct of World War II. According to John Dower, in War without Mercy, racial stereotypes, ideas of racial superiority and inferiority permeated both the Axis and Allied powers. The war in the Pacific theater was influence by these ideas from well before the first shot was ever fired or first bomb dropped, and continued well beyond VJ Day. The racial tension, uncertainty and hatred could be heard in the words of the most junior private to the most senior general and even the President of the United States. “To scores of millions of participants, the war was…a race war. It exposed raw prejudices and was fueled by racial pride arrogance, and rage on many sides.”(Dower, 4)
The U.S. serviceman had deep seeded fears and hatred of his Japanese counterpart, much more so than his German. These fears and hatred were fueled by Allied propaganda that dehumanized his Japanese enemy. Through movies, music and literature the idea that......
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