Hard to say, but the thought that a Soviet Army might mount an amphibious operation and invade Japan weighed heavily on the Japanese military leaders’ 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 Russia…The thought of the Russians being part of the invasion forces influenced American war plans, too.
Hard to say, but the thought that a Soviet Army might mount an amphibious operation and invade Japan weighed heavily on the Japanese military leaders’ 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 Russia…The thought of the Russians being part of the invasion forces influenced American war plans, too.