I'm not saying that things were hunky-dory by any stretch, but looking at the horror stories from most of the world, Japan seems tonhave been considerably less fucked over. Why?

  • Dessa [she/her]
    ·
    4 months ago

    I didn't know the lost decade was deliberate! Also: The USSR forced Japanese surrender? I know the nukes weren't necessary and Japan was already on the verge of surrender, but I guess I assumed that was to the US, considering all that was going on in the pacific

    • Maoo [none/use name]
      ·
      4 months ago

      The timeline of Japanese surrender suggests that they were trying to buy some time to get a favorable deal and the Soviets made that a non-option by invading Sakhalin. The Japanese then immediately surrendered to the Americans, presumably seeing no path forward for a better deal. The timeline of meetings of Japanese leadership suggest the same. They did not rapidly respond to the nukes. Not surprising, as the nukes were no different in impact than the previous firebombings. They flipped out when the Soviets declared war and rapidly took South Sakhalin, however.