In the history of the Pacific Theater of World War II, the Battle of Midway is a milestone that cannot be ignored. For Japan, the battle was not only a major military setback, but also a symbol of the trauma suffered by naval power.
The U.S. troops, who fought with all their might, suffered 307 losses, including a well-trained team of pilots - 172 killed. The United States lost the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, the destroyer USS Harman, and 98 aircraft. On the other hand, the losses on the Japanese side were particularly heavy: the aircraft carrier groups led by Nagumo Tadaichi - Kaga, Akagi, Soryu and Hiryu - were all sunk;At the same time, 332 aircraft, including spare aircraft, were destroyed, and the number of officers and soldiers reached 3,057, including 110 experienced veteran pilots.
As a combat elite, these pilots are undoubtedly a valuable asset that is difficult to replicate for the Japanese Navy. After the Battle of Midway, it was difficult for Japan to train such an elite flying team. This loss undoubtedly deepened Japan's suffering in the war.
After the battle, Isoroku Yamamoto, commander of the Japanese Combined Fleet, introduced a number of measures to conceal the news of the defeat from the Japanese people. Isoroku Yamamoto blocked the news of the defeat at Midway and misled the people by falsely spreading the news that he had taken a U.S. military base in the Aleutian Islands. However, although most Japanese civilians knew nothing about the inside story of the battle, the returning naval officers knew in their hearts that the truth would eventually be revealed.
While doing their best to cover up the defeat, the wounded servicemen were treated in isolation and humiliation. Those officers and soldiers who were not injured were sent to the South Pacific, where they faced more dangerous frontline service and were strictly forbidden to return home to visit family or even to communicate with their families. These soldiers became the fuel of the war, keeping it running with their blood.
Although the commander of Midway, Nagumo Tadaichi, was dismissed after the battle, he did not give up on himself because of the loss of power. He was later appointed commander of the Japanese Navy's forces in the Mariana Islands, eventually choosing to end his life in the Battle of Saipan and was posthumously awarded the rank of Admiral. In contrast, Yamamoto was fifty** earlier, when his plane was shot down during a reconnaissance flight in 1943.
Throughout the conflict, ordinary officers and soldiers have paid a heavy price for the country's war, and the leadership's blockade and cover-up tactics remain powerless to erase the wounds they have suffered. Eventually, the Battle of Midway inflicted heavy damage on the Japanese Navy marked a critical turning point in the Pacific War.