Soviet Union: 20-25 million
China: 15 million
European Jews: 6 million
Germany: 4 million
Poland (non-Jews): 3 million
Japan: 2.5 million
India: 2 million (famine)
United States: 300,000
*Tanks
*Bomber aircraft
*Atomic bomb
Japanese "Rape of Nanjing," China, 1937
German retaliation for killings of Nazi troops
Allied fire bombings of Germany, Japan, 1943-5
Atomic bombing of Japan
Hitler's desire to "cleanse" Europe of "inferior" people
11 million killed, 1939-45
"Undesirables"
Disabled (including WWI veterans)
Mentally ill
Homosexuals
Alcoholics
Religious or Ethnic groups
Jews (6 million)
Poles (3 million)
Gypsies
Jehovah's Witnesses
Political enemies
Communists
1. What role did civilians and armaments production play in supporting the war effort during WWII?
2. Why did all combatants attack civilians during World War II? What methods did armies and air forces use to attack civilians?
3. How did governments use propaganda to mobilize their citizens to support the war effort or attack enemies?
1. Why was the Russian campaign, and particularly the Battle of Stalingrad, the turning point in the war that led to the defeat of Germany?
2. What different experiences with Total War did civilians have in the United States, Europe, Africa and Asia? Why did people living in some European colonies resist supporting the Allied cause?
3. What was the Holocaust? Who were its victims? Why was it carried out?
1. How did Höss justify the killing of Jews and Russian communists? Do you agree with his position?
2. Who was responsible for the Holocaust? Was it Hitler, Nazi leaders, concentration camp commandants, camp guards, and/or German citizens?
1. What evidence is there that the Japanese Empire was "dying" at the end of World War II?
2. As the Japanese Empire declined and then surrendered to end the war, how does the relationship between Japanese and Koreans change? What prevents a bloodbath?
3. Based on the description of the "dying" Japanese Empire in the novel, should the U.S. have dropped two atomic bombs on Japanese cities filled with civilians to end the war? What do you think the boy in the novel would have wanted?
4. Today Japan is a stable, democratic society. Sixty years ago, why were so many Japanese driven to brutalize Koreans (and others in Asia)?
5. In the author's note at the end of the novel, Richard Kim writes, "in the last analysis, I do believe there is neither pure 'nonfiction' autobiography or memoir, nor pure 'fiction' fiction" (p. 198). What does he mean? Do you agree?