On the afternoon of August 14, 1945, a D.C. police officer pulled over a car for making an illegal U-turn. After ten minutes, the driver was allowed to proceed.
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The driver was an RCA messenger, and he was delivering a radiogram to the Swiss Embassy containing Japan's acceptance of the Allied surrender terms.
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As that was happening, across the globe it was the night of August 14-15, 1945, which has been called Japan's longest night, as it agonized over whether to actually surrender to the Allies.
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A week earlier, on August 9, Japan's military leaders had at last recognized their situation was hopeless.
The Soviet Union, until then neutral in the war against Japan, had finally agreed to a meeting between Foreign Minister Molotov and the Japanese Ambassador, Sato.
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The Soviet Union, until then neutral in the war against Japan, had finally agreed to a meeting between Foreign Minister Molotov and the Japanese Ambassador, Sato.
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Sato arrived just before midnight and started to speak but Molotov cut him off. He handed Sato the Soviet Union's declaration of war on Japan, "effective tomorrow" (aside from being just before midnight, it was already dawn the next day in the Far East, so immediately).
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The Soviets had promised President Truman they would declare war on Japan within three months of Germany's surrender (May 7-8). At that moment, 1.5 million Soviet troops invaded Japanese-occupied Manchuria ("Manchukuo"), with a goal of overrunning the territory toward Korea.
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Additionally, August 9 was the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, three days after the first bombing at Hiroshima.
The Soviet entry into the war foreclosed their last Hail Mary (Soviet mediation or even alliance) and increased urgency since Soviet troops might invade within weeks.
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The Soviet entry into the war foreclosed their last Hail Mary (Soviet mediation or even alliance) and increased urgency since Soviet troops might invade within weeks.
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Nagasaki proved the U.S. had more than one bomb.
A captured American airman, under torture, said the U.S. had 100 atom bombs and that Tokyo and Kyoto were next. (He actually knew nothing and was lying to end the torture but the info made an impression on the Japanese.)
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A captured American airman, under torture, said the U.S. had 100 atom bombs and that Tokyo and Kyoto were next. (He actually knew nothing and was lying to end the torture but the info made an impression on the Japanese.)
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U.S. bombing was unceasing. A firebomb air raid on Tokyo on the night of March 9-10 had killed 100,000 and left 1 million homeless. Follow up raids destroyed what remained of the war economy. Food was exhausted.
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Japan's strategy until then was to stake everything on defeating the invasion, with kamikaze plane attacks, immobilized ships (no fuel) as gun platforms, and 3 million Army & Navy employees and a 30 million strong militia armed with whatever they had, such as bamboo spears.
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Recent battles on Okinawa and Iwo Jima had dragged out as Japanese troops fought to the last man, launching suicide attacks rather than surrender.
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American planners understood this and estimated that the war would continue until Japan's total defeat, planning first to seize bases in Kyushu in November, followed by a landing in Tokyo Bay in March 1946 with 40 divisions - three times the size of the Normandy landings.
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(FWIW, the Japanese had correctly deduced the planned U.S. landing sites. Also, on October 24, 1945, a typhoon also hit right when the U.S. fleet would have been concentrating for the invasion.)
history.navy.mil/research/libra…
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history.navy.mil/research/libra…
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U.S. planners estimated hundreds of thousands of American casualties and millions of Japanese dead. 500,000 Purple Heart medals were manufactured in preparation; to this day we draw from that stockpile.
warhistoryonline.com/instant-articl…
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warhistoryonline.com/instant-articl…
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Japan's Supreme War Council of six debated what to do with these new developments.
They deadlocked, 3 to 3.
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They deadlocked, 3 to 3.
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Three argued the time had come for surrender:
* Prime Minister Suzuki who publicly promised to continue the war but was privately working to end it
* Foreign Minister Togo, who opposed the war from the start
* Admiral Yonai, a former premier who had opposed the Axis Pact
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* Prime Minister Suzuki who publicly promised to continue the war but was privately working to end it
* Foreign Minister Togo, who opposed the war from the start
* Admiral Yonai, a former premier who had opposed the Axis Pact
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The other three - Army Minister General Anami, Army chief of staff General Umezu, and Navy chief of staff Admiral Toyoda - argued for fighting on unless the Allies agreed to three demands: no occupation of Japan, no military disarmament, and no trials of war criminals.
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The full Cabinet similarly deadlocked.
At a midnight session early on August 10, the Prime Minister shocked the room by asking the Emperor to resolve the 3 to 3 impasse.
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At a midnight session early on August 10, the Prime Minister shocked the room by asking the Emperor to resolve the 3 to 3 impasse.
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The Emperor, who had rarely spoken up at Cabinet meetings, cleared his throat and ordered his ministers to surrender to the Allies.
Continuing the war would only annihilate the Japanese people and prolong the suffering of all humanity, he said. We must bear the unbearable.
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Continuing the war would only annihilate the Japanese people and prolong the suffering of all humanity, he said. We must bear the unbearable.
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Telegrams to this effect (with a request that the Emperor retain his position) went out that day via the Swiss, asking them to pass them along to the Allies.
Truman faced a quandary on how to reply - was it unconditional surrender if the Allies agreed to keep the Emperor?
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Truman faced a quandary on how to reply - was it unconditional surrender if the Allies agreed to keep the Emperor?
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President Truman responded on August 12 with the clever language that "the Emperor and the Japanese Government...shall be subject to" the Allies in enforcing the surrender - acknowledging that the Emperor would continue to reign.
history.state.gov/historicaldocu…
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history.state.gov/historicaldocu…
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Truman suspended further Allied bombing of Japan (and placed use of atomic bombs under direct presidential control, a directive that remains with us), with propaganda leaflets dropped instead noting that Japan was negotiating surrender.
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The leaflets, containing the text of what Japan had sent, turned up the pressure on the Japanese, with a risk of domestic revolt should their efforts fail.
The Emperor received one from his aide Marquis Kido, who warned that August 15 would end with either peace or a coup.
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The Emperor received one from his aide Marquis Kido, who warned that August 15 would end with either peace or a coup.
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On the 13th and 14th, the Japanese Supreme Council debated the Allied reply, again deadlocking 3-3 as Anami, Umezu, and Toyoda wanted a clearer statement of retention of the Emperor.
The Allies resumed bombing and the last operational oil refinery in Japan was destroyed.
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The Allies resumed bombing and the last operational oil refinery in Japan was destroyed.
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The Emperor again broke the deadlock, and ordered acceptance. This was signaled to the Allies (the telegram to the Swiss).
The Emperor decided to record a broadcast announcing the surrender and to dispatch relatives to the various fronts to make sure the surrender happened.
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The Emperor decided to record a broadcast announcing the surrender and to dispatch relatives to the various fronts to make sure the surrender happened.
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On the night of the 14th, junior Army officers attempted a coup to stop the surrender, seal off the Emperor, and rally the people to fight on.
1,000 soldiers occupied the grounds of the Imperial Palace.
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1,000 soldiers occupied the grounds of the Imperial Palace.
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They sent assassins out for Cabinet officers (Prime Minister Suzuki fled his house, narrowly avoided death), and searched vainly for the record of the Emperor's broadcast for the next day to destroy it, but it had been hidden by loyal officials.
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Army leaders, on the fence about the coup, hesitated for several hours before deciding not to support. By daybreak on the 15th the coup plotters realized they had failed and committed suicide. General Anami, who had not stopped it, also killed himself.
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At 12 noon on August 15, Emperor Hirohito announced the surrender via radio, the first time he had spoken by that medium:
"TO OUR GOOD AND LOYAL SUBJECTS:
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"TO OUR GOOD AND LOYAL SUBJECTS:
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"After pondering deeply the general trends of the world and the actual conditions obtaining in our empire today, We have decided to effect a settlement of the present situation by resorting to an extraordinary measure.
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"We have ordered our government to communicate to the governments of the United States, Great Britain, China, and the Soviet Union that our empire accepts the provisions of their joint declaration.[...]
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"Despite the best that has been done by everyone – the gallant fighting of the military and naval forces, the diligence and assiduity of our servants of the state, and the devoted service of our one hundred million people –
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"the war situation has developed not necessarily to Japan's advantage, while the general trends of the world have all turned against her interest.[...]
"The hardships and sufferings to which our nation is to be subjected hereafter will be certainly great. We are keenly...
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"The hardships and sufferings to which our nation is to be subjected hereafter will be certainly great. We are keenly...
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"...aware of the inmost feelings of all of you, our subjects. However, it is according to the dictates of time and fate that We have resolved to pave the way for a grand peace for all the generations to come by enduring the unendurable and suffering what is insufferable[...]
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"Unite your total strength, to be devoted to construction for the future. Cultivate the ways of rectitude, foster nobility of spirit, and work with resolution – so that you may enhance the innate glory of the imperial state and keep pace with the progress of the world."
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For more:
Pacific War Research Society, "Japan's Longest Day"
Ronald H. Spector, "In the Ruins of Empire"
Charles Messenger, "Chronological Atlas of World War Two"
and many other resources
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Pacific War Research Society, "Japan's Longest Day"
Ronald H. Spector, "In the Ruins of Empire"
Charles Messenger, "Chronological Atlas of World War Two"
and many other resources
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Not sure why it breaks here for some but 24+ is here
https://twitter.com/jbhenchman/status/1426602807147302914?s=19
doh I have two 23s
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