Operation Downfall

Isn't it always said that history is written by the victor? Well, in the case of the ending of the Second World War, that is exactly what happened. The story that has been fed to the general public is that we dropped the atomic bombs on Japan to force the Japanese to capitulate and save all the lives that would have been lost had an invasion of the Japanese home islands occurred. There is little mention in today's contemporary history books of the other factors that ended the war, and the opportunities that were missed, either on accident or on purpose, that could have ended the war months earlier and saved hundreds of thousands of lives. This project has been written to fill some of the gaps in our historical knowledge, to share the hidden truth about why the atomic bombs were truly dropped on Japan and the different options that were ignored by the Allies which could have saved countless lives. The atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are still prominent events in our culture today; every historian appears to have a different opinion on the attacks. Prestigious authors continue to write about that time in world history, and the average citizen continues to be led on by the belief that the bombs were a necessary evil meant to save the lives that would have been lost in a costly ground invasion. The situation the Allies found themselves in was a difficult one in the summer of 1945. The Japanese empire, the only remaining Axis power was isolated and had no hope for victory. But its military code of bushido, the way of the samurai, urged them to fight on and it appeared that a direct ground invasion of Japan was imminent. The United States issued the Potsdam Declaration in July, stating that Japan must capitulate or face utter destruction. Due to the lack of concessions for the Japanese emperor, the Japanese refused the ultimatum. On August 6th, the first atomic bombing was carried out over Hiroshima, three days later; a second was dropped over the Nagasaki. At the same time, the Soviet Union attacked Japanese-held Manchuria. Japan surrendered quickly afterward on August 15th. That is the official story, but many people are not aware that behind the scenes, the story is much different. The Japanese were well aware that the war was lost and were sending political envoys to the Soviet Union, begging for them to broker a peace between the United States and Japan. On the other side of the Pacific, the United States knew that by extending concessions to the Japanese emperor in the Potsdam declaration, Japan would probably accept the terms, yet they were left in. Finally, the entrance of the Soviet Union did more to sow panic and fear into the hearts of the Japanese than the dropping of the Atomic Bomb did. That being said, the Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were unnecessary and there were several other alternatives that could have ended the Pacific War, without the use of the weapons.

The funny thing about today's contemporary history is that it is written by the victor. In the case of the atomic attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, it is written in every textbook that the dropping of the Atomic bomb ended the Second World War and forced Japan to surrender. That is just not the case. The real truth here is that Japan was a defeated nation in the summer and fall of 1945. Her land, sea, and airpower had been decimated by almost four years of war with America. By June of 1945, the Japanese were actively seeking to settle with the Western allies, with the Soviet Union as an intermediary. Japanese officials had long been aware of the growing tension between the S.U. and the western allies which included the United States, Great Britain, and France. They hoped that by making vast concessions of land to them, they could end the war without losing face at home. William Farmer writes in his article, "The Truth behind Bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki" that Japan was willing to end the war in June and willing to provide both the United States and Britain with access to the Japanese colonies of Korea and Manchuria. Such a move would have been advantageous to both countries and stopped the eventual Soviet expansion into both territories following the wars actual conclusion. (Farmer 29) Most of the Japanese civilian leaders, were for this plan, but they were overpowered by the military and its warmongers. This interference led to events in 1945, including the Soviet Invasion of Manchuria on August 8th, 1945. Many historians feel that this event was the real tipping point that ended the war, and not the dropping of the bombs. For starters, the Japanese response to the atomic bomb, was sluggish and unconcerned, but when the Soviet's entered the war, it spread panic through the general staff in Tokyo. For example, when Army Deputy Chief of Staff Torashiro Kawabe heard the news of the attack on Hiroshima, he noted in his diary that the news had given him a "serious jolt" but, he also stated that, "We must be tenacious and fight on." When he heard the news of the Soviet entry into the war, he immediately drew up orders to declare martial law and in the emergency meeting of top army officers that was convened that morning; he raised the possibility of toppling the government and replacing it with a military dictatorship (Wilson 172). Also, following the Soviet Invasion, Emperor Hirohito, the supreme ruler felt that this event was the event that would bring Japan to her knees. Following the bombing of Hiroshima, Emperor Hirohito took no action except to repeatedly request "more details." When word of the Soviet invasion reached him, however, the emperor immediately summoned Lord Privy Seal Kido and told him, "In light of the Soviet entry...it was all the more urgent to find a means to end the war" (Wilson 172). But what about the other factors, such as the American bombing campaign, many say that this wore down the Japanese will to fight on and end the war. But did this campaign really have the effect that most Americans thought it was having? Or at least have been told it was having throughout history? It is worth noting that between July 15th and August 15th 1946, 25 cities were attacked by the United States Army Air Force and of that number, 8 of them were destroyed to a degree either equal to or greater than `Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Now, one would think, that if such terrible damage is being done, any government would be brought to their knees. Not so, as evidenced by a conversation between several high ranking Japanese leaders. The diary of Deputy Chief of Staff for the Navy Sokichi Takagi provides a remarkable illustration of Japanese attitudes toward the attack on Hiroshima at the highest levels of government. On August 8th, he relates a conversation with his boss, Navy Minister Yonai. Yonai begins by complaining about Prime Minister Suzuki's lack of understanding of the dangers of the domestic