During World War II, United States' strategic bombing campaign against Japan was best known for the two atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which caused great damage and losses.
【Atomic bombing of Hiroshima】
In fact, before the atomic bomb, the war between Japan and the United States had reached an unprecedented bloody phase in the brutal strategic bombing.
One of the most horrific operations of the war was the "massive incendiary bombardment" of Japan cities under the command of United States Air Force General Cur·tis LeMay.
The operation, known as the "Li Mei Barbecue", not only destroyed the homes of 8 million people, but also killed about 500,000 people.
【Curtis · Leemay】
The Origins of Strategic Bombing and Li May's "Barbecue Tactics"
In the latter stages of the Pacific War, the United States gradually realized that Japan's resolute resistance and tenacious military capabilities should not be underestimated—that traditional naval and land offensives could not completely defeat Japan despite heavy casualties.
As a result, United States' strategic focus shifted to delivering devastating strikes through air power in order to end the war as soon as possible.
Curtis · Lemay was a senior commander in the U.S. military who is considered one of the leading advocates of modern strategic bombing.
【Li Mei and other generals】
He spearheaded and implemented a plan to destroy Japan's cities with incendiary bombs—a bombing strategy centered on the widespread use of incendiary bombs to destroy enemy city infrastructure, disrupt Japan's war potential, and even directly threaten the lives of civilians.
Under Li May's command, the United States Air Force's bombing campaign against Japan gradually shifted from purely military targets to civilian targets.
Li Mei's logic is that most of Japan's cities are made of wooden houses and are densely populated, and incendiary bombs can cause maximum damage in such an environment.
Direct bombardment of Japan's urban centers can quickly trigger large-scale fires, causing widespread destruction and panic.
【Curtis · Leemay】
He believes that in this way, the Japanese government can be forced to surrender as soon as possible and avoid greater casualties when the US troops land on Japan mainland.
"The Great Bombing of Tokyo": The Nightmare of the Modern City
From March 9 to 10, 1945, the air raid operation known as the "Great Bombing of Tokyo" became one of the most famous battles of Li Mei's "barbecue tactics".
That night, 334 B-29 Superfortress bombers took off from United States bases in the Mariana Islands and flew towards Tokyo, where they dropped a large number of M69 incendiary bombs.
[Incendiary bombs falling from the sky over Tokyo]
This incendiary bomb is designed to burn quickly after landing, producing thousands of degrees of heat, capable of causing large-scale fires in a short period of time.
Tokyo is a densely populated city with most of the buildings made of wood. The M69 incendiary bomb quickly set off a firestorm that engulfed a large number of neighborhoods in just a few hours.
Many residents did not have a chance to escape and fell into flames. According to post-war statistics, the bombing killed about 100,000 people, most of them burned or suffocated.
More than 40 square kilometers of the city were razed to the ground, leaving more than 1 million people homeless.
【The Great Bombing of Tokyo】
The death toll on that night even surpassed the death toll of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima that followed.
After the bombing of Tokyo, Li Mei's "barbecue tactics" did not stop.
In the following months, other major cities in Japan such as Osaka, Nagoya, Kobe and Yokohama suffered the same fate.
Statistics show that more than 8 million people lost their homes in the incendiary bombardment of these cities, and the infrastructure of the cities was almost completely destroyed.
【The Great Bombing of Tokyo】
It is estimated that at least 500,000 civilians were killed as a result of the entire incendiary bombardment.
A sea of fire in Nagoya and Osaka
After the bombing of Tokyo, Li Mei turned his attention to other large Japan cities to continue his "barbecue tactics".
On May 14 and 16, 1945, the United States Air Force launched two massive incendiary bombardments against Nagoya. Nagoya is an important industrial city in Japan, producing large quantities of military supplies and aircraft parts.
Therefore, Li Mei believes that the destruction of Nagoya will not only weaken Japan's industrial production capacity, but also further deepen the psychological blow to Japan.
【Big Bombing】
In both bombings, the U.S. military used a large number of incendiary bombs, destroying almost the entire city center of Nagoya.
Tens of thousands of residents died in the flames and hundreds of thousands were displaced. Nagoya's factories and civil buildings were completely destroyed by fire, and the city was reduced to ruins almost overnight.
Osaka is also one of the important targets of Li Mei's "barbecue tactics".
On June 1 and July 24, 1945, the U.S. military carried out several rounds of bombing of Osaka. Osaka is Japan's second largest city and a hub for heavy industry and transportation. The bomber group under the command of Li May again used incendiary bombs to burn large parts of the city to ashes.
【Bombers over Japan】
The flames spread quickly, causing huge casualties. Most of Osaka's factories and infrastructure were destroyed, directly affecting Japan's war economy.
Post-war statistics show that the bombing of Osaka alone left more than 150,000 people homeless and tens of thousands dead.
Strategic Logic and Ethical Controversy
Although Li May's strategic bombing tactics achieved the desired results in the short term, they also sparked widespread ethical controversy and criticism.
【Curtis · Leemay】
Proponents argue that this extreme bombing method forced Japan to lose its ability to fight in a short period of time, hastened the end of the war, and reduced possible Allied casualties.
The expected casualties of the U.S. landing on Japan were in the millions, and Li Mei's strategy was seen as an effective way to avoid this mass casualty.
However, some critics have pointed out that such strategic bombing is a serious violation of international humanitarian law, especially the mass bombing of civilians.
A large number of innocent civilians have lost their lives and homes in these bombardments. More seriously, this tactic has little regard for the lives of civilians and is considered a disguised "massacre".
【Incendiary bombers】
Many historians and ethicists believe that Li May's "barbecue tactics" are a war crime that should be condemned and tried.
As Li Mei herself later said in her recollections:
"If we lose the war, I will definitely go to court-martial."
This phrase not only expresses his perception of what he has done, but also reflects the moral dilemma raised by the bombing.
【Bombing site】
summary
"Li Mei Barbecue, which is more terrible than the atomic bomb", is not only a military action, but also a profound reflection on war and human nature.
Li Mei's "barbecue tactics" show the world the extreme state of war, in the era of high development of science and technology and force, war is no longer just a front-line battle, but a full-scale conflict involving the whole society and all human life.
For Japan, the "Li Mei barbecue" left a deep scar, a scar not only the loss of the city and life, but also the tearing of the collective memory of a nation.
For the world, this tactic reminds us that no matter how technology and weapons develop, the essence of war is always a catastrophe full of suffering and destruction.
【War and Peace】
True victory may not only lie in the victory of one side over the other, but also in whether we can find the path of peace in the lessons of blood and fire, and respect the value of every life.
Resources:
[1] "Li Mei Fire Attack": The bombing of Tokyo · Changjiang Business Daily
[2] The bombing of Tokyo in Japan's memory: about 100,000 people were burned to death in one night · Beijing News