Surrender of Japan: Difference between revisions
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The '''surrender of Japan''' ended [[World War Two in the Pacific]], but getting to that endpoint was no simple process. There were Japanese factions quite prepared to fight to national death, until the unprecedented direct intervention of [[Hirohito|Emperor Hirohito]] in the decision process. | The '''surrender of Japan''' ended [[World War Two in the Pacific]], but getting to that endpoint was no simple process. There were Japanese factions quite prepared to fight to national death, until the unprecedented direct intervention of [[Hirohito|Emperor Hirohito]] in the decision process. | ||
Had Japan not surrendered, the U.S. was preparing the [[Operation DOWNFALL]] invasions, the Japanese response to which were in the [[Operation KETSU-GO]] plans. | Had Japan not surrendered, the U.S. was preparing the [[Operation DOWNFALL]] invasions, the Japanese response to which were in the [[Operation KETSU-GO]] plans. It remains controversial if Hirohito would have intervened without the [[nuclear attacks on Japan]], or if Japan would have surrendered had [[strategic bombing]]] and [[naval blockade]] had continued. | ||
==July 1944== | ==July 1944== | ||
The [[Battle of Saipan]] ended on 7 July, bringing the Home Islands into [[B-29]], Hirohito first told the military to recapture it, having said to Tojo on | The [[Battle of Saipan]] ended on 7 July, bringing the Home Islands into [[B-29]], Hirohito first told the military to recapture it, having said to Tojo on June 17, "If we ever lose Saipan, repeated air attacks on Tokyon will follow. No matter what it takes, we have to hold there.<ref>{{citation | ||
| title = Hirohito and the making of modern Japan | |||
| author = Herbert P. Bix | |||
| publisher = Harper Perennial | |||
| year = 2001 | isbn = 978-0060931308 | |||
}}, pp. 475-476</ref> | |||
Hirohito thought the battle was costly enough that a new Prime Minister might encourage an American peace proposal. He withdrew support from [[Hideki Tojo]] and replaced him with a covert operations specialist, [[Koisi Kuniaki]].<ref>Bergamini, pp. 65-66</ref> | Hirohito thought the battle was costly enough that a new Prime Minister might encourage an American peace proposal. He withdrew support from [[Hideki Tojo]] and replaced him with a covert operations specialist, [[Koisi Kuniaki]].<ref>Bergamini, pp. 65-66</ref> | ||
==February 1945== | ==February 1945== | ||
Just before the start of the [[Battle of Iwo Jima]] and six weeks before the [[Battle of Okinawa]], [[Hirohito]] met with former Lord Privy Seal [[Nobuaki Makino]], and six former prime ministers — [[Kiichi Hiranuma]], [[Koki Hirota]], [[Reijiro Wakatsuki]], [[Keisuke Okada]] and [[Fumimaro Konoe]]. They recommended continuing the war; Hiranuma and Hirota specifically mentioned fighting to the end while others suggesting finding an opportune moment. <ref | Just before the start of the [[Battle of Iwo Jima]] and six weeks before the [[Battle of Okinawa]], [[Hirohito]] met with former Lord Privy Seal [[Nobuaki Makino]], and six former prime ministers — [[Kiichi Hiranuma]], [[Koki Hirota]], [[Reijiro Wakatsuki]], [[Keisuke Okada]] and [[Fumimaro Konoe]]. They recommended continuing the war; Hiranuma and Hirota specifically mentioned fighting to the end while others suggesting finding an opportune moment. <ref<Bix, pp. 487-488</ref> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
Revision as of 23:30, 9 September 2010
The surrender of Japan ended World War Two in the Pacific, but getting to that endpoint was no simple process. There were Japanese factions quite prepared to fight to national death, until the unprecedented direct intervention of Emperor Hirohito in the decision process.
Had Japan not surrendered, the U.S. was preparing the Operation DOWNFALL invasions, the Japanese response to which were in the Operation KETSU-GO plans. It remains controversial if Hirohito would have intervened without the nuclear attacks on Japan, or if Japan would have surrendered had strategic bombing] and naval blockade had continued.
July 1944
The Battle of Saipan ended on 7 July, bringing the Home Islands into B-29, Hirohito first told the military to recapture it, having said to Tojo on June 17, "If we ever lose Saipan, repeated air attacks on Tokyon will follow. No matter what it takes, we have to hold there.[1]
Hirohito thought the battle was costly enough that a new Prime Minister might encourage an American peace proposal. He withdrew support from Hideki Tojo and replaced him with a covert operations specialist, Koisi Kuniaki.[2]
February 1945
Just before the start of the Battle of Iwo Jima and six weeks before the Battle of Okinawa, Hirohito met with former Lord Privy Seal Nobuaki Makino, and six former prime ministers — Kiichi Hiranuma, Koki Hirota, Reijiro Wakatsuki, Keisuke Okada and Fumimaro Konoe. They recommended continuing the war; Hiranuma and Hirota specifically mentioned fighting to the end while others suggesting finding an opportune moment. <ref<Bix, pp. 487-488</ref>
References
- ↑ Herbert P. Bix (2001), Hirohito and the making of modern Japan, Harper Perennial, ISBN 978-0060931308, pp. 475-476
- ↑ Bergamini, pp. 65-66