Was it a mistake for President Harry Truman to order the dropping of Little Boy and Fat Man on Hiroshima and Nagasaki? The alternate was an invasion of the Japanese homeland: Operation Downfall. Historians estimate the casualties would have been in the millions, including both Japanese nationals and invading Allies. The sites below offer the insights into crucial information upon which Truman relied in making the decision to go nuclear.
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WORLD WAR II IN THE PACIFIC - Operation Downfall: Olympic, Coronet - The Invasion of Japan www.ww2pacific.com Narrative description of Operation Downfall, including background, its two phases "Coronet" and "Olympic", Japanese defenses, alternatives, and casualties. Section is part of a larger site with menu to war in the Pacific Theater. Described as "some areas in which I find an interest and that seem little known or of possible help in understanding the period." Emphasis on Naval operations. Interesting, eclectic site, includes personal histories. |
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CHAPTER XIII - "DOWNFALL" THE PLAN FOR THE INVASION OF JAPAN CHAPTER XIII - "DOWNFALL" Generously illustrated with maps, site in real time describes run-up to intended Operation Downfall. “Downfall” chapter is part of a larger site "Reports of General MacArthur." "The Reports of General MacArthur include two volumes being published by the Department of the Army in four books reproduced exactly as they were printed by General MacArthur's Tokyo headquarters in 1950, except for the addition of this foreword and indexes." |
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OPERATION DOWNFALL: THE PLANNED ASSAULT ON JAPAN Operation Downfall Historical analysis of Operation Downfall with numerous backup resource lists: timeline, weapons, battles. Also includes index for research. Site has overall information about warfare in all periods and geographical areas. "We aim to make our site your first call for information on any aspect of military history." |
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AN INVASION NOT FOUND IN THE HISTORY BOOKS by James Martin Davis www.waszak.com A brief essay reprinted from the Omaha World Herald, November 1987. This site is really weird! It is run by an OB-GYN (who in fact delivered my two sons!) The site is a composite of info on theWaszak family, sports, CDC updates, global warming, and links to the Latin Mass. |