Unjust Enrichment: How Japan's Companies Built Postwar Fortunes Using American POWs

by Linda Goetz Holmes

During World War II, 32,260 Americans were held as prisoners of war of the Japanese. Thousands were shipped to do forced labor in the factories, shipyards, and mines of Japan-at the specific request... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0811718441
• ISBN13: 9780811718448
• Release Date: December 2000
• Publisher: Stackpole Books
• Length: 2 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Unjust Enrichment, A Service to Truth

A book such as this undoubtedly angers some and disturbs others but educates all that are willing to look at what can be for many, an uncomfortable truth. This is not simply the story of POWs being used by the host nation as a labor source, as all nations essentially did that in WWII. And this is not simply an issue of the cruelty of the Japanese military in dealing with Allied POWs and civilians, that too is well documented and accepted. This book stands out because it addresses the comprehensive and systemic system of Japanese abuse of Allied POWs for the direct benefit of Japanese companies, benefits that carried neatly and powerfully into Post-War Japan. Author Holmes does an excellent job of telling individual stories in the greater criminal context of the plans and execution of both Japanese industry and the Japanese government. This is a powerful and disturbing book, as well-written books addressing the truth often are, but is also an engaging and incredibly informative work that explains, educates and even begins to heal those involved. A must read for serious historians and those interested in WWII. Steven Bustin, Author: Humble Heroes, How The USS Nashville CL43 Fought WWII Humble Heroes: How the USS Nashville Fought WWII

could not believe it

The events of this book were some of the most horrific from World War II and to wait this long to tell me them was a crime in itself. How could this nation have let this happen, I pray these men will forgive their peers and superiors for this unjust act. We should boycott this industries as a nation and show our soladarity with those brave men who endure almost 3 years of brutality at the hands of our enemy at the time.

A story that had to be told

This is a fascinating book about a chapter of our WW II experience that should have been told before now. Our prisoners in the Pacific were inhumanely treated, and we owe it to them to hear how they suffered, and to help them get compensation. German companies are coming forward to pay for the slave labor they used during WW II. It is about time that our men in the Pacific also received compensation for their work and suffering.

Upon the heads of your grandfathers

I always knew of the atrocities set upon the world by the Nazis in WWll. I knew there were prisoners of war in the Pacific. I did not know that 9 out of every 10 prisoners of war who died in captivity, died due to Japanese hands. I did not know that "white" prisoners of war were sold into slave labor to the major corporations in Japan. I now know that the companies we Americans helped to rebuild after the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor, have yet to apologize to us for the treatment the prisoners received. I read. I learned. I learned that until apologies come forth, I will not support Japanese companies in any way. While it is true that the people running the companies now were probably not even born yet, it would honor the memories of their ancestors, if an apology came forth. The honor would come back with honesty, and maybe their grandfathers' souls can rest.