The Japanese had not responded officially to U.S. demands for surrender, even after Hiroshima, but it was the news of the Soviet smashing of the Japanese Kwantung Army in Manchuria added to the dropping of the second A bomb that finally forced the Emperor to stop the fighting. But even then, nationalistic hotheaded Army officers tried a palace coup, but failed.
The Japanese had not responded officially to U.S. demands for surrender, even after Hiroshima, but it was the news of the Soviet smashing of the Japanese Kwantung Army in Manchuria added to the dropping of the second A bomb that finally forced the Emperor to stop the fighting. But even then, nationalistic hotheaded Army officers tried a palace coup, but failed.
Hard to say, but the thought that a Soviet Army might mount an amphibious operation and invade Japan weighed heavily on the Japanese military leadersтАЩ minds. The Soviets had completely collapsed the entire front in Manchuria and captured thousands more prisoners in one swoop than the U.S. had done in over three years, a complete military disaster for the Imperial forces. Even today, the Russians still occupy the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin, a sore point in diplomatic relations between Japan and RussiaтАжThe thought of the Russians being part of the invasion forces influenced American war plans, too.
The Japanese had not responded officially to U.S. demands for surrender, even after Hiroshima, but it was the news of the Soviet smashing of the Japanese Kwantung Army in Manchuria added to the dropping of the second A bomb that finally forced the Emperor to stop the fighting. But even then, nationalistic hotheaded Army officers tried a palace coup, but failed.
Hard to say, but the thought that a Soviet Army might mount an amphibious operation and invade Japan weighed heavily on the Japanese military leadersтАЩ minds. The Soviets had completely collapsed the entire front in Manchuria and captured thousands more prisoners in one swoop than the U.S. had done in over three years, a complete military disaster for the Imperial forces. Even today, the Russians still occupy the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin, a sore point in diplomatic relations between Japan and RussiaтАжThe thought of the Russians being part of the invasion forces influenced American war plans, too.