During World War II, both Germany and Japan harbored a naïve delusion that their air defenses were impregnable.
On the German side, Marshal Hermann Göring firmly believed that the German air defense system was impenetrable.
In Japan, the illusion was even more abstract. A single bombing raid by the Doolittle Squadron led to a strategic shift in the navy’s focus, culminating in a desperate attempt to sink American aircraft carriers at Midway.
This resulted in a catastrophic defeat, with a loss ratio of 4:1.
However, as early as 1938, the Chinese National Revolutionary Army had conducted leaflet bombings over cities in Kyushu, Japan, including Nagasaki, Fukuoka, Kurume, Saga, and Kumamoto.
The Japanese ignored these attacks, failing to consider that if leaflets could reach them, so could bombs.
The Doolittle Raid was a landmark event.
This squadron of army bombers not only demonstrated the long-range strike capability of the U.S. Air Force but also shocked the Japanese psyche.
This raid made the Japanese leadership realize that they were not invulnerable, prompting adjustments in their strategic deployments.
However, these adjustments did not prevent Japan’s eventual defeat in the war.
In fact, the Doolittle Raid also garnered widespread attention and discussion in the United States, further bolstering American public support for the war.
Although this history has long passed, we can still learn from it.
National-level blind confidence can lead to strategic miscalculations and irreversible losses.
Indeed, this blind confidence persists in modern society, with the United States being a prime example.
Before the 9/11 attacks, the U.S. claimed that its homeland had never been attacked (despite historical evidence to the contrary).
Before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S. also asserted that its territory had never been attacked (even though Pearl Harbor was considered an overseas territory).
These claims were merely the result of propaganda, which Americans eventually began to believe themselves.
However, there have been multiple attacks on U.S. soil throughout history that were overlooked or downplayed.
For example, in 1814, Canadian militia invaded the U.S. and even burned the White House.
Is this not an attack on American soil?
During World War II, Japan launched balloon bomb attacks on the U.S. mainland.
These balloon bombs were a creative weapon by the Japanese military, intended to cause panic and destruction in the United States.
To prevent public panic, the U.S. government strictly censored the information, but the bombs did land on American soil, resulting in at least six American deaths. Is this not an attack on the mainland?
Additionally, Japan developed two “submarine aircraft carriers,” the I-400 class submarines.
These submarine carriers could launch three Seiran attack planes, initially planned for attacks on the Panama Canal, but they were also capable of attacking the U.S. mainland.
Although these plans were never executed due to Japan’s surrender, this strategy demonstrated Japan’s intent to attack the U.S. mainland.
This innovation by Japan during the latter stages of the war showcased their late-stage ingenuity.
Thus, seeing the U.S. military’s current global dominance and claims of homeland security seems almost comical.
The 9/11 attacks need no further mention, with the Pentagon itself being struck.
If thousands of balloon bombs were deployed daily, the U.S. mainland would also be hard-pressed to cope.
In the future, American supporters might begin citing individual states, claiming Alaska or New Mexico has never been attacked.
This scope can be infinitely narrowed until every street has faced at least one attack, addressing this national blind confidence.
From history, we can see that blind confidence and underestimating the enemy’s danger can be fatal.
The failures of Germany and Japan in World War II were largely due to their overconfidence in their defensive capabilities and severe underestimation of the Allies’ offensive potential.
Despite their advanced technology and powerful armies, this blind confidence ultimately led to their downfall.
Figures like Germany’s Hermann Göring and the Japanese military leadership firmly believed in their nation’s invincibility.
However, as the war progressed, reality gradually shattered this illusion.
The Allies’ powerful offensives and strategic adjustments repeatedly broke through the Axis defenses, leading to their ultimate defeat.
In modern society, similar blind confidence persists.
As today’s superpower, the U.S. often considers its homeland invulnerable.
However, the 9/11 attacks and various potential security threats highlight the danger of this blind confidence.
Despite having a powerful military and advanced defense systems, if the U.S. cannot face reality and proactively address potential threats, future security remains uncertain.
In conclusion, history teaches us that no country can afford to be complacent; blind confidence only leads to disaster.
Germany and Japan’s naïve delusions were thoroughly cured by their wartime defeats, and the U.S. urgently needs to cure its own.
By reflecting on history and maintaining a clear understanding of the present, countries can approach their security issues more cautiously and avoid repeating past mistakes.
In the coming decade, nations should enhance cooperation to jointly address potential security threats, ensuring global peace and stability.
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