[gaijin]

Japan gave up because of the atomic bomb, right..?

They gave up because Stalin refused to mediate a surrender and instead entered the war against Japan.

The day of the Emperor’s radio broadcast was the day after Stalin attacked Japanese troops in Manchuria; Japan knew there would be no way communists would in peace permit the Emperor system to continue; the Imperial family would die, just as they had in Russia.

In all likelihood we’d today be dealing with a North Japan and South Japan, just as we see in Korea now.

[dfwgator]

In all likelihood we’d today be dealing with a North Japan and South Japan, just as we see in Korea now.

Very true. But Tojo wanted to eliminate the Emperor himself, and keep the war going, and he almost pulled it off.

[nickcarraway]

Gaijin is 100% right. Japan gave up because the USSR entered the war. The USSR was obligated by the terms of the Allies agreement to enter the war by three months after VE Day. So they invaded Japanese territory just after midnight on the 9th. They sliced through the Japanese forces.

FDR should have never made an agreement to ally with Russia without them immediately declaring war on Japan. The War in the Pacific could have ended earlier.

[Huskrrrr]

“They gave up because Stalin refused to mediate a surrender and instead entered the war against Japan.”

Like Germany, the Japanese would much rather see an American occupation.