Indeed, why? Not so long ago, Trump, and after him all the US media began to yell together on the topic of how America and Britain won the war with Germany. Our habitually responded in the style of "Yes, we saw your lend-lease, get on," in general, everything is as always.
But, having unscrewed a couple of years ago, I looked at what was written in the overseas media on the topic of victory over Japan.
Surprised because nothing of the kind. Well, like, the vile Japanese gave us Pearl Harbor, and then everything was not very good, but we won and the Japanese got better and became good.
That is, in short история US and Japanese wars. In the advanced version, there is still a battle at the Mariana Islands, in Leyte Gulf and, of course, Midway. And Okinawa is like a cherry on a cake.
But this is for the most advanced.
And yes, about atomic bombs - with aspiration and tears in his eyes. Well, the Japanese were so desperate and cool, that if it weren’t for atomic bombs, they could have lost or not won the war.
Strange picture.
He began to dig. The results surprised, if not to say, plunged into amazement. And therefore a whole new historical detective story was drawn, 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 afraid of atomic bombs that he decided to surrender? Or was there something else?
Something else.
In fact, the atomic explosions did not greatly perplex the Japanese. Yes, the effect, of course, was, and a huge number of dead civilians, and radiation, which crippled the Japanese for many years, but ...
But it doesn’t add up, right?
Hiroshima on August 6, Nagasaki on August 9, and the emperor and the "Big Six" (the most influential ministers) what? But nothing. We consulted and thought right up to August 14th. And even that, 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 after Nagasaki, all the more, but it didn’t happen.
Here is a series of photos that give an answer to the question “why didn’t happen”.
Hiroshima? Nagasaki? Yeah almost. The first three are Hiroshima, the next are Tokyo March 1945. Who will try to find a significant difference? So you will not find much.
The thing is that by August 1945, the Japanese were very trained in American bombing. The very same German scenario, 200-500 bombers demolished in coal (wooden 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 in kilotons, then in general you get something unimaginable. In the summer of 1945, Americans methodically destroyed one Japanese city after another. In Japan, 68 cities were bombed, and all of them were destroyed from 50 to 95%. About 1,7 million people were left without a roof over their heads, 300 people died and 000 were injured.
64 ordinary aviation 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 that stand in the way of the wave. At the same time, thousands of bombs of lower power very confidently carry everything, "without being distracted." So there is still a need to see what was more effective in terms of destruction.
Tokyo at night from March 9 to 10, 1945, went as it did not get to any city in the world. The city was destroyed by fires 41 square kilometers of territory. About 120 Japanese were killed. Hiroshima is only the second most dead, if that ...
Yes, from the point of view of a normal person, Hiroshima is something beyond. But in Japan, the sample of 1945, it was a normal and ordinary thing. 68 cities. Some are destroyed completely or almost completely. Numazu - 91%. Kuana - 78%. Toyama - 99%.
Three weeks before Hiroshima, the US Air Force raided 26 cities. Of these, eight were destroyed either completely or more than Hiroshima (17th in the percentage of destruction).
Doesn't fit, right? Well, or it does not look very impressive, because by the time of the atomic bombing 66 cities had been destroyed. A drop overflowing the cup? No. It was not like that at all.
In the same March 1945, after Tokyo virtually ceased to be a city, former Foreign Minister Sidehara Kijuro said words that many shared at that time: “People will gradually get used to being bombed every day. Over time, their unity and determination will only grow stronger. ”
By the way, according to contemporaries, Sidehara was a very moderate politician ...
And the preserved minutes of the meetings of the High Council of Japan (yes, not all have survived) indicate that the gentlemen of the emperor’s assisted the bombing of the cities ... twice!
In May 1945, when the Americans smashed three Mitsubishi factories producing fighter jets, and August 9th. The rest of the time the air raids did not bother the government at all.
And yet, why not on August 6 the gentlemen from the High Council rushed to sit, but on the 9th?
Here you need to look at the map. Japan captured a fairly significant 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 climb the Islands. Generals and admirals were well aware that fanatical Japanese soldiers would not just fight, but to die. Given how many of them, the US Army and Navy took such a position, trying to inflict maximum damage by bombing.
The Japanese themselves were well aware that the war was lost. This was understood by both the government and the headquarters. 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 the surrender of Germany and no one had built any illusions.
The United States and Great Britain demanded "unconditional surrender." The Soviet Union was still neutral and demanded nothing. Therefore, the Japanese rulers still hoped to avoid these promising military tribunals, to preserve the existing form of state power and some of the territories captured by Tokyo: Korea, Vietnam, Burma, parts of Malaysia and Indonesia, part of eastern China.
Почему нет?
The Japanese even had two plans: diplomatic and military.
The diplomatic is to plow as an intermediary ... the Soviet Union! Well, a normal plan! The Japanese did not violate the 1941 treaty, they behaved good-naturedly, so why not the Soviet Union become a mediator between Japan and opponents of the empire, who are allies of the USSR at the same time?
Cunningly twisted, but there was a sense. The most interesting thing is that Stalin, who already understood that Truman was not Roosevelt at all, could very well have taken such a step. And thereby try to weaken the influence of the British and Americans in Asia. As an option - return lost during the Russo-Japanese War Port Arthur and Dalniy, for example.
That was the plan of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Togo Shigenori. From my point of view, a logical plan.
There were others, from the military under the leadership of Army Minister Anami Koretika. The military believed that when the Americans did run into airplanes and start the invasion, they would force them to "wash their blood" and thereby try to bargain for more acceptable conditions for surrender.
There were also chances of success, 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 alive and were considered until August 8, 1945.
Hiroshima clearly didn't scare anyone in Japan. You could still go and ask Stalin to become a mediator, you could still give 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 gone into oblivion. The USSR at one point from a possible mediator became an adversary 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 part (the best) was transferred to protect the Islands.
But even that would not save, really. The Red Army didn’t grind like that, so a one-way ticket was issued with the best units, without them — the Kwantung Army. They would just have tinkered a bit longer, but the result would have been the same.
What can we say about the 16th Army, which numbered about 100 people and which, in theory, was to be stopped by the 000th Japanese Territorial Army on Sakhalin? Two divisions and two brigades, of course, are not the best.
Of course they would. And there already Hokkaido and Honshu give up pure oars ...
Yes, our Pacific Fleet was not the biggest fleet, 2 light cruisers, 1 leader, 12 destroyers. But the Japanese no longer had that. More precisely, there were ships, but they stood without fuel. And 43 landing ships from the Americans (glory to Lend-Lease!) Could catch the nostalgia for all the 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 the movement, crushing everything in its path.
The worst thing about this was that, yes, our soldiers were not so cared for. And if the Americans were simply trampling on the doorstep of the Japanese hut, then our soldiers, who were already tired of fighting, began to spread 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 stagger.
But the Japanese rulers came to this conclusion a few months before. At a meeting of the High Council in June 1945, they came to the conclusion that the entry into the war of the USSR would sentence the empire. The 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 without strategic consequences.
Unlike the Stalinist iron broom, which began to sweep Asia.
Put yourself in the place of the emperor.
The country is losing (and rapidly) the war. The economy is in ruins. 80% of cities are destroyed and burned. The fleet suffered heavy losses and does not leave the bases. People are starting to starve. The army, however, is still good, but the Russians are working on this problem.
Americans until this moment grabbed territory that, in fact, were not Japanese. Rob the loot, in fact.
Soviet troops began the return of 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 his people that now these northern barbarians will devour us. And so they wanted to remove the emperor and abolish capitulation, it’s good that the coup did not succeed.
And following the example of many Germans (and not only Germans), the emperor made the most advantageous decision. That is, he rushed to the feet of good Americans. Yes, yes, thereby destroying 68 cities with a population and infecting Japan with radiation for a long time.
Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs have become a very convenient occasion. Luxurious like that.
The proud Japanese nation capitulated to the newest miracleweaponsbut not before the crowds of Russians! Neither the military who lost the war nor the politicians who failed to dissuade Stalin from the denunciation of the Treaty were to blame, the atomic bomb was to blame.
Accordingly, the emperor is not at all to blame. And his ministers are not to blame. And the military. Nobody is to blame for the fact that the Americans invented the atomic bomb.
An interesting twist, isn't it?
Two bombs killed three rabbits.
First.
They preserved the legitimacy and popularity of the emperor. On the arm of the Japanese, on the arm (of course!) The Americans. On the throne, a completely obedient and controlled monarch! Well, a gift!
Second.
Agree, until recently, we also looked at Japan as a victim country. Well, nuclear weapons, such cruelty ... And they left behind the scenes how the Japanese behaved in the occupied territories and with the prisoners. Nanking massacre, "death marches", the total destruction of the Burmese ... Everything somehow faded into the background. Only poor Japanese residents remained, on which the Americans dropped atomic bombs.
The third.
Complete submission of the entire region to the Americans. Well, a share of flattery, because atomic bombs ensured victory over Japan.
In general, it is worth recalling that the Japanese really got off cheaply in terms of trials of war criminals. It took ...
Overall a very mutually beneficial deal. The emperor remained on the throne, the specter of communism went north, the Americans enjoy the laurels of the victors.
Indeed, on the part of the Soviet Union and Russia, there has never been a creep about the fact that in five days we did what the Americans failed in four years. Yes, the Americans, the British, the New Zealanders, the Australians - they all did a great job by stopping and bled Japan.
We have helped. It was. There is no way to erase this 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. Here it is, like ours. Because such relative silence in the East and so close attention in the West.
I'd like, you know, to be the first in everything. Today - at all costs.
It is very difficult to fight with such huge forces that they rush into the battle against us today. But - it is possible. Especially if you look at things correctly.
And everything becomes very simple: neither American landmines and lighters, nor even atomic bombs caused panic at the Japanese ruling elite. Not the US Navy so scared Emperor Hirohito.
This was done by our soldiers, who extended a helping hand to their American allies and brothers in arms.
I'm sorry that in America they try to forget it. But nothing, we recall.
We have the right.