Hacksaw Ridge is a successful war film.
As a kind of genre film, war films are quiet for a long time. Hacksaw Ridge from Mel Gibson, ten years of grinding the sword, harvests high reputation around the world. It gets good comments and is evaluated as the most the most shocking scenes of war after Saving Private Ryan. As the direction indicator of Oscar Award, Golden Globe Award announced on December 12, 2016 the nomination list, and Hacksaw Ridge got three nominations, best film, best director, and best actor. It has received overwhelmingly positive reviews, gained or been nominated for numerous awards, and grossed $120 million worldwide.
Hacksaw Ridge, directed by Mel Gibson and written by Andrew Knight and Robert Schenkkan, is based on an earlier documentary about Doss. The film stars Andrew Garfield, Sam Worthington, Luke Bracey, Teresa Palmer, Hugo Weaving, Rachel Griffiths and Vince Vaughn. It is a 2016 biographical war film about the World War II experiences of Desmond Doss, an American pacificist combat medic who was a Seventh-day Adventist Christian, refusing to carry or use a firearm or weapons of any kind. Doss became the first conscientious objector to be awarded the Medal of Honor, for service above and beyond the call of duty.
Why does it say that American and Chinese fight against Japanese in Hacksaw Ridge? There is even not a Chinese that shows up in the film. But if we review the history of American and Chinese league, you will find the truth.
The Japanese division from hell.
According to history, the Japanese army responsible for fielding of Hacksaw Ridge belonged to the 62 Division that was formed in Taiyaun City, Shanxi Province, China. The 62 Division, without artillery but only two infantry brigades, was for maintaining occupied areas and mopping up operations.
It was not easy for the 62 Division that invaded China to maintain law and order in the hinterland of North China that was the most active region of the Eighth Route Army guerrillas. The poorly equipped Eighth Route Army, flexible and tenacious, caused countless troubles for the Japanese army in North China. And the 62 Division dispersed to guard more than 100 blockhouses. With combat experience with such opponents, the 62 Division even learned from the Eighth Route Army the tactics and experience of fighting enemy under harsh conditions. This experience helped the 62 Division in later battle of Okinawa.
One year later, the 62 Division was sent to join the continental traffic line operation, i.e., Henan, Hunan and Guangxi campaign, and fought the Kuomintang army. For the poor combat ability of Kuomintang army, though not main force, the 62 Division still won a series of combat success. After that, because of the Pacific War, the 62 Division was sent to Okinawa, where it came the end of the 62 Division.
Okinawa, the door of Japan mainland, was a hotly contested spot of American army and Japanese army. Once occupied by the American army, the Japan mainland would be directly threatened by American army and bombardment aircraft.
Japan sent three divisions the defend Okinawa, the 9 Division, the 24 Division, the 62 Division. Considering that the 62 Division was the weakest and only fit for position defense mission, the Japanese base camp sent the 62 Division to central and South Okinawa to rely on the terrain to build complete defensive positions. In Hacksaw Ridge, we can see that the positions constructed by the 62 Division, and the bunkers, trenches and tunnels are so complete that they can bear the strike from large caliber naval gun.
Because of the fast defeat in the Pacific War, the Japanese base camp was forced to send the most powerful 9 Division to Taiwan, China, before the battle of Okinawa. The unexpected adjustment gave show space for the 62 Division. The American army didn’t treat Japanese army lightly, and in sure to take over Okinawa, American army massed the biggest forces in Pacific area, with more than 1500 ships, more than 2000 planes, and the total troops exceeded 450 thousand. With the absolute advantage, the American army made no way of reinforcement for the Japanese army, and Okinawa became an isolated island. After evaluating the situation, the Japanese army was to launch the defensive war, relying on the southern Okinawa position, rather than to hold the whole island. Thus, the 62 Division became the main force to engage with American army.
At first, American army countered light resistance in the beach and the North Okinawa, and they became optimistic to take over South Okinawa. But when they entered the mountain area, they met the well-prepared Japanese army. Because of the mountainous terrain, the American infantry climb up the seemingly empty hill in the dense formation. Suddenly, Japanese mortars, infantry guns, and grenade launchers bombed the American army, and shells exploded in the intensive offensive crowd. Light and heavy machine guns and rifles shot in all directions, reaping lives.
When American army paid a heavy price to take over a position, the residual Japanese army perished together with American army with grenades, and other Japanese army would launch fierce local counterattack. Japanese army even came out from underground, using tunnels, and defeated American army again and again. In some memoirs of American soldiers, these Japanese were called Hell devil. But, American organized heavy artilleries, tanks, recoilless guns, flame injectors, and explosive bag carried by brave soldiers to attack. These stories are shown in Hacksaw Ridge, but not as cruel as the real battle field.
Finally, with the overwhelming advantage, American army took over one position after another. The Japanese 62 Division fell back to other position to defend. Hacksaw Ridge was just one of the positions on their retreat way. Different from the film, after the loss of Hacksaw Ridge, with more than half of casualties and running out of ammunition and food supplies, the Japanese 62 Division went on defense on the South Okinawa. But it was doomed to be eliminated. According to records, the 62 Division forced the Okinawa civilians to suicide before it was eliminated.
To be honest, Hacksaw Ridge shows the real Japanese army, stubborn, cruel, insane, and cunning. But just because the film describes the very powerful Japanese army, audiences get great impression of American army, especially Doss, and feel the cruelty of war and the precious peace.
The contradiction of film and reality.
There are many American war films that describe the tough fight between Japanese army and American army. In the films, the American army is brave, tenacious and clever, and helps the people of fallen countries, standing tall in the hard years. America moulds the typical positive image of American armies through these films. Besides, America assists its allies with a large amount of material, arms and ammunitions to continue the Anti-Japanese War. And America suffered great loss during the war against Japanese. Under the joint efforts of America and its allies, especially China, the Japanese were forced back to their mainland of four islands. In word, the war would last much longer if America didn’t engage the war. And American army entered and garrisoned Japan, and began to reform Japan.
But, for its own interests, the reformation of Japan under the lead of America was not thorough. And many wartime political features were reserved. The worst is that the Japanese Militarism was thoroughly eliminated, which left hidden dangers in the future. Nowadays, America gradually looses the chain that limits the Japanese militarization. Japan officially passed the newly modified Security Series acts on March 23, 2016, which means that the Japan’s pacifist constitution ceases to exist except in name. It is believed that America turns a blind eye to it. And Japan will take the old road of militarism, and becomes offensive. It is beyond comprehension that why America easily abandons the triumph that was got at the cost of innumerable American soldiers’ lives.
And, what will Japan think about it?
