10. Why Many Died

Yumi: In the Battle of Okinawa many people were killed.

Why?

Asato: There were many reasons.

First, the battle lasted a long time.

By fighting for a very long time in Okinawa, the Japanese military planned to delay the U.S. army from landing on the mainland.

Y: You mean the people of Okinawa died for the mainland?

A: Well, in a way, yes.

Second, in Okinawa the locals were forced to fight.

Even students fought without any training.

Y: I heard female students worked as nurses on the battlefield.

A: That's right.

In this way, civilians were caught up in the war.

Y: I was stunned to hear that Japanese soldiers threw people out from the gama where they were hiding.

A: Yes, it was terrible.

Third, people were afraid of becoming prisoners of war.

They were taught that Americans were very cruel, so they killed themselves rather than getting captured.

Sometimes, the whole family or group killed themselves.

Y: Some Japanese soldiers killed civilians.

How did this happen?

A: Some people were killed as spies.

For example, anyone who spoke an Okinawan dialect was suspected of being a spy.

Y: But that's nonsense!

A: Yes, indeed.

But war makes people do crazy things.

Y: It sure does.

It's not only the Battle of Okinawa.

Maybe any war makes you act crazy.