Indeed, why? Not so long ago, Trump, and behind him all the US media, began to screech in unison about how America and Britain won the war with Germany. Our habitually responded in the style of "Yes, we saw your Lend-Lease, calm down", in general, everything is as always.
But, having unscrewed a couple of years ago, I looked at what is written in the overseas media on the topic of victory over Japan.
I was surprised because nothing like that. Well, like, the vile Japanese arranged Pearl Harbor for us, and then everything was not very good, but we won and the Japanese improved and became good.
This is, in short, the history of the war between the United States and Japan. In the advanced version, there is still the battle of the Mariana Islands, in Leyte Gulf and, of course, Midway. And Okinawa is like the icing on the cake.
But this is for the most advanced.
And yes, about atomic bombs - with aspiration and tears in my eyes. Well, the Japanese were so desperate and tough fighters that if it were not for the atomic bombs, they could lose or not win the war.
A strange picture.
He started digging. The results were surprising, not to say - plunged into amazement. And therefore, a whole new historical detective story has drew, with which I will introduce you now.
But let's start with one very interesting thing. You can say seditious. Is it true that the Japanese emperor was so scared of atomic bombs that he decided to surrender? Or was there something else?
Something else.
In fact, the atomic explosions did not baffle the Japanese that much. Yes, of course, there was an effect, and a huge number of civilian deaths, and radiation that crippled the Japanese for many years, but …
But it doesn't add up, right?
August 6 Hiroshima, August 9 Nagasaki, and what about the emperor and the "big six" (the most influential ministers)? But nothing. They conferred and thought right up to August 14th. And even then, the votes were divided three against three, and the decisive was the voice of the Emperor Hirohito himself.
But in theory, horrified by the results of Hiroshima, the Japanese immediately had to think. And even more so after Nagasaki, but it did not happen.
Here is a series of photographs that answer the question “why didn’t happen”.
Hiroshima? Nagasaki? Yeah almost. The first three are Hiroshima, the next are Tokyo in March 1945. Who will try to find a significant difference? So you won't find much.
The point is that by August 1945, the Japanese were very trained in American bombing. Exactly the same German scenario, 200-500 bombers are demolished into coal (wood and paper buildings contributed) to the city, fighters, as always, are not able to fight back, in general, everything is clear.
And if you count it in kilotons, then in general you get something unimaginable. In the summer of 1945, the Americans methodically destroyed one Japanese city after another. In Japan, 68 cities were bombed, and all of them were destroyed from 50 to 95%. Approximately 1.7 million people were left homeless, 300,000 were killed and 750,000 were injured.
64 conventional air raids, two with atomic bombs. The power of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima is known - 16 kilotons, the bomb that Nagasaki got was more powerful - 20 kilotons. But the same Americans at one time calculated that 500 B-29 bombers could carry, depending on the range, from 5 to 8 kilotons.
We look at the photo of Tokyo and understand that the difference is not very big.
There is a secret here in weakening the initially terrible shock wave of an atomic explosion by buildings, canals, and other structures standing in the path of the wave. At the same time, thousands of bombs of lower power are very confident in spreading everything, "without distraction." So what else is needed to see what was more effective in terms of destruction.
Tokyo on the night of March 9-10, 1945 got it like no other city in the world got it. The city was destroyed by fires 41 square kilometers of territory. Approximately 120,000 Japanese died. Hiroshima is only the second in the number of deaths, if that …
Yes, from the point of view of a normal person, Hiroshima is something beyond. But in 1945 Japan it was a normal and common thing. 68 cities. Some have been destroyed completely or almost completely. Numazu - 91%. Kuana - 78%. Toyama - 99%.
In the three weeks before Hiroshima, the US Air Force carried out raids on 26 cities. Of these, eight were destroyed either completely or more severely than Hiroshima (17th in terms of the percentage of destruction).
Doesn't fit, right? Well, or it doesn't look very impressive, because by the time of the atomic bombings 66 cities were destroyed. A drop overflowing a bowl? No. It was not like that at all.
In the same March 1945, after Tokyo practically ceased to be a city, ex-Foreign Minister Sidehara Kijuro said words that were shared by many at the time: “People will gradually get used to the fact that they are bombed every day. Over time, their unity and determination will only grow stronger."
By the way, according to his contemporaries, Sidehara was a very moderate politician …
And the surviving minutes of the meetings of the Supreme Council of Japan (yes, not all of them have survived) indicate that the emperor's assistants paid their attention to the bombing of cities … twice!
In May 1945, when the Americans destroyed three Mitsubishi factories that produced fighters, and on August 9th. The rest of the time, the air strikes did not bother the government at all.
And yet, why did not the gentlemen from the High Council rush to sit on August 6, but on the 9th?
Here you need to look at the map. Japan captured a fairly large territory, but by 1945 it was gradually losing its position in the region.
Yes, the environment was not the best. The fleet suffered irreparable losses, the aviation was also in poor shape, but the ground forces numbered almost 4 million soldiers, of which about 1.2 million were on the Japanese islands.
The Americans categorically did not want to go to the Islands. Generals and admirals were well aware that fanatical Japanese soldiers would not just fight, but to the death. Considering how many there are, the US Army and Navy took this position, trying to inflict maximum damage by bombing.
The Japanese themselves understood perfectly well that the war was lost. Both the government and the headquarters understood this. And the whole question was how to lose the war. On what terms.
By that time, the Japanese were well aware of the results of Germany's surrender and no one was building any special illusions.
The United States and Britain demanded "unconditional surrender." The Soviet Union was still neutral and did not demand anything. Therefore, the Japanese rulers retained the hope of avoiding these promising military tribunals, preserving the existing form of state power and some of the territories seized by Tokyo: Korea, Vietnam, Burma, certain regions of Malaysia and Indonesia, part of eastern China.
Why not?
The Japanese even had two plans: diplomatic and military.
Diplomatic means plow as a mediator … the Soviet Union! What a normal plan! The Japanese never violated the 1941 treaty, they behaved like goodies, so why shouldn't the Soviet Union become an intermediary between Japan and the opponents of the empire, who are at the same time allies of the USSR?
Cunningly twisted, but it made sense. The most interesting thing is that Stalin, who already understood that Truman was not Roosevelt at all, could well have taken such a step. And thus try to weaken the influence of the British and Americans in Asia. As an option - to return Port Arthur and Dalny, lost during the Russo-Japanese War, for example.
Such was the plan of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Togo Shigenori. Quite a logical plan from my point of view.
There was another, from the military under the leadership of the Minister of the Army Anami Koretika. The military believed that when the Americans nevertheless played enough airplanes and began an invasion, they would force them to “wash in blood” and thus try to bargain for more acceptable terms of surrender.
The chances of success were also there, because in reality the command of the US Army was frightened by the possible huge losses during the invasion of the Japanese islands.
And both options were live and were considered until August 8, 1945.
Hiroshima has clearly not scared anyone in Japan. You could still go and ask Stalin to become a mediator, you could still have one or two decisive battles, but …
On August 9th, everything changed.
On April 5, 1945, the Soviet Union denounced the Treaty, and on August 9, declared war on Japan.
It is clear that the diplomatic plan has faded into oblivion. The USSR at one point from a possible mediator became an enemy with all the ensuing consequences.
The worst thing is that there was nothing to hold back the skating rink, which began to gain momentum, moving towards the borders of Japan! Yes, there was the Kwantung Army, but it was greatly weakened by the fact that some (the best) were transferred to defend the Islands.
But even that wouldn't have helped, really. The Red Army did not grind that much, so with the best units, without them - the Kwantung Army was issued a one-way ticket. It would just take a little longer, but the result would be the same.
What to say about the 16th Army, which numbered about 100,000 people and which, in theory, was supposed to be stopped by the 5th Japanese Territorial Army on Sakhalin? Of course, two divisions and two brigades are not the best.
Of course they would. And there already Hokkaido and Honshu are to wave the oars purely …
Yes, our Pacific Fleet was not the largest fleet, 2 light cruisers, 1 leader, 12 destroyers. But the Japanese didn't even have that. More precisely, there were ships, but they stood without fuel. And 43 amphibious assault ships from the Americans (glory to Lend-Lease!) Could catch up on melancholy in all northern territories.
And most importantly, the example of the Germans was indicative: no one won the war on two fronts.
And exactly what the Japanese were so afraid of happened: the Soviet Union began to move, crushing everything in its path.
The worst thing about this was that, yes, our soldiers were not so taken care of. And if the Americans simply stomped on the threshold of the Japanese hut, then our soldiers, who were already tired of fighting, began to demolish the outbuildings in the north. And (according to plans) in 10 days already be directly on Japanese territory.
That's where the horror is. The empire began to totter.
But the Japanese rulers came to this conclusion a few months before. At a meeting of the Supreme Council in June 1945, they came to the conclusion that the entry into the war of the USSR would sentence the empire. Deputy Chief of Staff of the Japanese Army Kawabe said at that meeting: "Maintaining peace in our relations with the Soviet Union is an indispensable condition for the continuation of the war."
That is why the Japanese leadership was not particularly worried about the bombing. It was like a nuisance with no strategic consequences.
Unlike Stalin's iron broom that began sweeping Asia.
Put yourself in the shoes of the emperor.
The country is losing (and rapidly) the war. The economy is in ruins. 80% of cities were destroyed and burned. The fleet suffered heavy losses and does not leave its bases. The people are starting to starve. The army, it is true, is still good, but the Russians are working on this problem.
Until that moment, the Americans were seizing territories that, in fact, were not Japanese. Steal the loot, as a matter of fact.
Soviet troops began to return their territories, lost after the Russo-Japanese War, but who said that they would rest on their laurels?
After Germany, hardly anyone could speak with confidence about such things. The loss of real Japanese territories and (horror!) The introduction of the communist regime there is really a nightmare for the Japanese emperor.
But, on the other hand, capitulating is also not very pleasant. Especially telling my people that these northern barbarians will devour us now. And so they wanted to remove the emperor and cancel the surrender, it is good that the coup failed.
And following the example of many Germans (and not only Germans), the emperor made the most profitable decision. That is, he threw himself at the feet of good Americans. Yes, in the same way, which destroyed 68 cities with a population and infected Japan with radiation for a long time.
The Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs were a very convenient occasion. So luxurious.
The proud Japanese nation capitulated to the latest miracle weapon, but not to the crowds of Russians! Neither the military who lost the war, nor the politicians who failed to dissuade Stalin from denouncing the Treaty are to blame; the atomic bomb is to blame.
Accordingly, the emperor is not in the least to blame. And his ministers are not to blame. And the military. No one is to blame for the fact that the Americans invented the atomic bomb.
Interesting twist, isn't it?
Two bombs killed three rabbits.
First.
They retained the legitimacy and popularity of the emperor. Into the hands of the Japanese, into the hands (of course!) Of the Americans. A completely obedient and controlled monarch is on the throne! Well, a gift!
Second.
Agree, until recently, we also looked at Japan as a victim country. Well, of course, nuclear weapons, such cruelty … And they left behind the scenes how the Japanese behaved in the occupied territories and with the prisoners. The Nanking massacre, "death marches", the total annihilation of the Burmese … All somehow faded into the background. Only the poor Japanese people remained, on whom the Americans dropped atomic bombs.
Third.
Complete subordination of the entire region to the Americans. Well, and a bit of flattery, because the atomic bombs ensured victory over Japan.
In general, here it is worth remembering that the Japanese really got off cheaply in terms of trials of war criminals. It was read …
All in all a very mutually beneficial deal. The emperor remained on the throne, the specter of communism went north, and the Americans were enjoying the laurels of victors.
Indeed, the Soviet Union and Russia have never been inclined to say that we have done in five days what the Americans have not been able to do in four years. Yes, the Americans, the British, the New Zealanders, the Australians have all done a great job of stopping and bleeding Japan.
We helped. It was. This cannot be erased from history.
Today, when we calmly look at what ended 75 years ago, some gentlemen burn in one place and just want to steal the Victory. Such as ours. That is why there is such relative silence in the East and such close attention in the West.
I really want, you know, to be the first in everything. Today, at any cost.
It is very difficult to fight with such huge forces that are rushing into battle against us today. But - you can. Especially if you look at things correctly.
And everything becomes very simple: neither American landmines and lighters, nor even atomic bombs caused panic among the Japanese ruling elite. It wasn't the American navy that scared Emperor Hirohito that much.
This was done by our soldiers, who extended a helping hand to their American allies and brothers-in-arms.
I'm sorry that America is trying to forget it. But nothing, we will remind.
We have the right.
