The Best Film Archives's video: Japan Prepares for Soviet Attack Cold War Era Documentary 1954

● Please SUPPORT my work on Patreon: https://bit.ly/2LT6opZ ● Visit my 2ND CHANNEL: https://bit.ly/2ILbyX8 ►Facebook: https://bit.ly/2INA7yt ►Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Lz57nY ►Google+: https://bit.ly/2IPz7dl ✚ Watch my "Cold War-Era" PLAYLIST: https://bit.ly/2J4N5LM This Cold War Era documentary film – originally titled as "Defense of Japan" – is an episode of the U.S. Army's "The Big Picture" television series. It was officially released in 1954. The departure of many American troops from the Far East was part of a major change in U.S. Cold War strategy. This documentary shows how the U.S. guided a new Japanese military organization to become capable of undertaking the difficult responsibility of national defense following the Allied occupation of Japan (1945-1952). By helping Japan defend itself, the West helped address the Soviet threats in the Pacific. As the narrator says: "Here in Asia, a narrow sea separates Japan and the Free World from Soviet Communism. Along this unmarked battlefront, there is the constant danger of a Communist attack. If Japan were to fall under Soviet domination, the gain for communism would be tremendous. Not only in industrial strength but in the securing of valuable warm water ports on the Pacific. To prevent this possibility, a strong well-defended Japan is vitally important and necessary. Not only to ward off an attack such as occurred in Korea but to maintain our own system of defense in the Pacific." HISTORICAL BACKGROUND / CONTEXT The Japan Self-Defense Forces (自衛隊 Jieitai), or JSDF, occasionally referred to as JSF, JDF, or SDF, are the unified military forces of Japan that were established in 1954, and are controlled by the Ministry of Defense. Occupation of Japan: The Allied occupation of Japan at the end of World War 2 was led by General Douglas MacArthur, the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers, with support from the British Commonwealth. Unlike in the occupation of Germany, the Soviet Union was allowed little to no influence over Japan. The occupation was ended by the San Francisco Peace Treaty, signed on September 8, 1951, and effective from April 28, 1952, after which Japan's sovereignty – with the exception, until 1972, of the Ryukyu Islands – was fully restored. Early Development of the JSDF: Deprived of any military capability after being defeated by the United States in World War 2 and signing a surrender agreement presented by General Douglas MacArthur in 1945, Japan had only the U.S. occupation forces and a minor domestic police force on which to rely for security. Rising Cold War tensions in Europe and Asia, coupled with leftist-inspired strikes and demonstrations in Japan, prompted some conservative leaders to question the unilateral renunciation of all military capabilities. These sentiments were intensified in 1950 as occupation troops began to be moved to the Korean War (1950-53) theater. This left Japan virtually defenseless, vulnerable, and very much aware of the need to enter into a mutual defense relationship with the United States to guarantee the nation's external security. Encouraged by the American occupation authorities, the Japanese government in July 1950 authorized the establishment of a National Police Reserve, consisting of 75,000 men equipped with light infantry weapons. Under the terms of the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan, United States forces stationed in Japan were to deal with external aggression against Japan while Japanese ground and maritime forces would deal with internal threats and natural disasters. Accordingly, in mid-1952, the National Police Reserve was expanded to 110,000 men and named the National Safety Forces. The Coastal Safety Force, which had been organized in 1950 as a waterborne counterpart to the National Police Reserve, was transferred with it to the National Safety Agency to constitute an embryonic navy. On July 1, 1954, the National Security Board was reorganized as the Defense Agency, and the National Security Force was reorganized afterwards as the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (de facto post-war Japanese Army), the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (de facto post-war Japanese Navy) and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (de facto post-war Japanese Air Force), with General Keizo Hayashi appointed as the first Chairman of Joint Staff Council – professional head of the three branches. The enabling legislation for this was the 1954 Self-Defense Forces Act. Japan Prepares for Soviet Attack | Cold War Era Documentary | 1954 TBFA_0168 NOTE: THE VIDEO DOCUMENTS HISTORICAL EVENTS. SINCE IT WAS PRODUCED DECADES AGO, IT HAS HISTORICAL VALUES AND CAN BE CONSIDERED AS A VALUABLE HISTORICAL DOCUMENT. THE VIDEO HAS BEEN UPLOADED WITH EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES. ITS TOPIC IS REPRESENTED WITHIN HISTORICAL CONTEXT. THE VIDEO DOES NOT CONTAIN SENSITIVE SCENES AT ALL!