"Why WWII Soldiers Mutinied After V-J Day" Topic

"In early May 1945, World War II was officially over. Victory had been declared over Japan and, as far as thousands of U.S. troops were concerned, it was time to ditch the uniforms and get home—preferably by Christmas.

The problem was, it had taken four years to get the estimated 7.6 million troops overseas and it was going to take more than four months to get them home. Beset by homesickness and boredom, the GI's were prey to manipulation by politicians in Washington and agitators within their ranks.

During the six months, from V-J Day into January 1946, thousands took to the streets at bases around the world, protesting the delays. Soldiers carried placards mocking their commanders and defied orders in a way that would have been unthinkable six months earlier. According to historian, R. Alton Lee, author of "The Army ‘Mutiny' of 1946" published in December 1966 in The Journal of American History, the actions of many soldiers easily qualified for the charge of mutiny…"
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Amicalement
Armand

Uh, excuse me, GERMANY surrendered in May 1945. Japan didn't quit until August.

Wow ! I never heard that. But it kind of makes some sense especially with the majority of the military being draftees. And in many cases took some pretty large casualties.

And it does not surprise me as the article states the "Commies" some how were involved. A portent of things to come …

Officially Over in Europe…

Amicalement
Armand

Similar thing happened in the British army after the First World War in 1919.

The men had been conscripted for the duration of the war. The war was over and they were still in France. You can see how you might feel a bit miffed…

It may have been over in Europe but it looked like they were going to transfer a lot of men to the Pacific after that. To me it would have been better to stay in Europe than to hit the beach again in Japan.

My Marine uncle made it home Christmas eve 1945. My dad didn't get back from the Pacific until March or April 1946 and had to transfer to another ship at that. His ship eventually sailed all the way to New York harbor, another many weeks.

The military had to get all those boys back from overseas when all the crews of the ships wanted to go home.

Yes many US Army divisions were slated to transfer from Europe to the Pacific. Several had been pulled from the line and received redeployment orders in April, a month before Germany surrendered.

Another way they brought troops back from Europe was to put them aboard bombers returning to the States. My dad was offered a seat but he was terrified of flying so waited extra time and shipped home on a returning troop ship.

It was already occurring unofficially before end of the war in Europe, particularly amongst bomber crews, plenty of anecdotal evidence of long service crews "suggesting" to their OIC's that new crews should undertake the more dangerous missions rather than the old guys.

Thanks!.

Amicalement
Armand