Hardcore History EP 66 Supernova in the East V

Here is an actual link to part V: http://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/traffic.libsyn.com/dancarlinhh/dchha66_Supernova_in_the_East_V.mp3

Andrew Hoculik

The link says Part V, but links to Part IV

Oren Bell

Re “Combat Insanity”: Dan, I think to some extent your plot is …your own. Many people can and will be drawn to your work with a specific interest (e.g. American Politics) for which they do find a great connection in your work. However, what I find very valuable is that you take the time to digress in to other related topics. Your analysis and discussion is truly a “full course meal” and not “a buffet” nor “a drive-thru”. Your additions of subjects (which may seem as digressions to some) are each important facets to understanding the greater FULL context of human events. Because there are few absolutes, ...absolutely nothing can accurately be analyzed in isolation to itself. In your Supernova series, I found your forays into the subject of “combat insanity” deeply connected to the politics that generated it …as well as the politics that helped to generate the same insanity. I just finished reading a recent book about the Americans’ war with the Native Americans in the 1800’s. In that portrayal it was difficult NOT to find comparisons in the “combat insanity” (from both sides) with that found in your Super Nova series. It was even harder NOT to fine correlations to the politics of the cultures. Thank you for your work!

I'm interested in Question 1 as well. Regarding question 2 -- each island was the equivalent of a medieval castle in its era -- a place where an armed force could cut your supply and communications lines. You left things like that behind at your peril, and in the 1940s this was particularly true due to the broad range that land-based aircraft could project. Later in the war when the Allies established air supremacy the option of bypassing some islands became viable. But until then a very small piece of land could contain enough ordinance to destroy a carrier 400 miles away. Or a dozen of them. McArthur, often mocked in American history circles was perhaps the first to really identify the potential power of a remote island if it could be supplied, and understood that the Army needed to be in the business of building airfields. If you look at the domestic military output of all the nations in World War II you quickly see the huge percentage spent on the air war (in excess of 40% I believe across all combatants). That is a testament to the fact that, though you couldn't win the war with just air power, you had to be a player in it. You had to keep up. Those small islands were invaluable to "keeping up" in the South Pacific.

John Edwards

Dan, I think to some extent you've lost the plot in this one, focusing on the combat insanity instead of the political insanity. Your first episode spoke to it in detail and damn, that was killer listening about a fascinating, pertinent subject very relevant to today's American politics. That was Killer Carlin. I think your next episode will call the tune -- the end of the war and how the Japanese government and Influentials handled the surrender of the country (to the point where the word "surrender" isn't even in the picture.) The question is this -- how does a government go from assassinating political allies not considered sufficiently pure to a parliamentary government that is arguably the role model of the Far East? THAT is where the story is powerful, particularly in light of America's current struggle with maintaining regular order.

John Edwards

Excellent as always Dan, intriguing, frightening, brutal and a great start for anyone interested in ww2 and the Pacific Islands campaign.

Incredible series Dan! After ep 5 decided to finally donate after loving your previous 20th century war stories. Can't wait for more Common Sense too!

This podtrac link is for Part 4 :C help!

Yake Hunna

Overdue to support your work here, Dan. This series, especially this latest episode, is like the audio companion to Spielberg's The Pacific – not a shock since they share similar, stellar sources (Robert Leckie, Eugene Sledge). Keep 'em coming.

Dear Dan, your podcasts should come warning: "highly addictive". Keep them like that. All the best.

I've read "With the old breed" and he explains in the book that the tragic reality was that many of the islands were not valuable strategically and could have been bypassed. Hard to change a General or Admirals mind once their ego kicks in though.

Thanks! Great podcast!

Thanks, Dan. When the new podcast showed up this weekend, I reorganized my Sunday to include a long hike to give me uninterrupted listening time. Great as always, thanks.

Awesome show as always! Listening has raised a few questions in my mind and maybe one of you fellow listeners can answer for me, or point me to a better place to ask about it: 1. When Dan mentions that it took 17 to 23 supporting people for each front line combat soldier - are those support people all members of the military, or is that number counting all the civilians back home working in farming and manufacturing and so on? Question 2: if those pacific islands were so brutally hard to capture and hold, why were they so valuable strategically? What made it worthwhile, from the leadership’s perspective, to spend all those men and resources there?

Joe McMorrow

My $5 is well spent on this episode! Now that I'm not commuting, I guess I'll have to exercise more in the next few days to finish it!

Michael Steeves

Dan, spectacular work as always. Thank you very much for your terrific perspective and compelling narrative.

Gorehammer

Glad to see a new post Dan, wasn't sure how COVID affected your own daily activities. Hope the family is well.

Brad DeMaagd

An answer to a prayer this episode. Now I have to and listen to the first four episodes before I finish it off! Thank you so much Dan.

You have the very best podcast on the entire internet! Thank you for your inciteful and conversational narrative. Each episode is very much appreciated.

this should be the correct link for those were looking for it http://traffic.libsyn.com/dancarlinhh/dchha66_Supernova_in_the_East_V.mp3

Hi Dan! Thank you for the new episode. I wanted to let you know the link to dts.podtrac.com above links to episode 4 of the series, not 5 if you want to correct it. Thank you so much for another great episode! :)

Benjamin K Lau