“Winning the Peace: MacArthur and the Occupation of Japan” with Amanda Williams, Education Manager, MacArthur Memorial

Given the bitter fighting that took place in the Pacific during World War II, the occupation of Japan was a daunting prospect. As student of history and a veteran of the post-World War I Occupation of Germany, General Douglas MacArthur understood that great military victories often unraveled in occupations. Determined to win the post-war battle for peace, he approached the occupation with a unique blend of statesmanship, pragmatism, theatre, and a belief in the fundamental dignity and potential of the Japanese people.