This Day In History | World War II August 14, 1945 Japan's surrender made public

historychannel.com ^ | 8/14/05 | historychannel.com

[mainepatsfan]

This Day In History | World War II

August 14

1945 Japan's surrender made public

On this day in 1945, an official announcement of Japan's unconditional surrender to the Allies is made public to the Japanese people.

Even though Japan's War Council, urged by Emperor Hirohito, had already submitted a formal declaration of surrender to the Allies, via ambassadors, on August 10, fighting continued between the Japanese and the Soviets in Manchuria and between the Japanese and the United States in the South Pacific. In fact, two days after the Council agreed to surrender, a Japanese submarine sank the Oak Hill, an American landing ship, and the Thomas F. Nickel, an American destroyer, both east of Okinawa.

In the afternoon of August 14, Japanese radio announced that an Imperial Proclamation was soon to be made, accepting the terms of unconditional surrender drawn up at the Potsdam Conference. That proclamation had already been recorded by the emperor. The news did not go over well, as more than 1,000 Japanese soldiers stormed the Imperial Palace in an attempt to find the proclamation and prevent its being transmitted to the Allies. Soldiers still loyal to Emperor Hirohito repulsed the attackers.

That evening, General Anami, the member of the War Council most adamant against surrender, committed suicide. His reason: to atone for the Japanese army's defeat, and to be spared having to hear his emperor speak the words of surrender.

[starfish923]

If it had been up to the Army, the Japanese would still be at war.

[ncountylee]

Thanks Harry!

[mainepatsfan]

I wonder how many cities they were willing to see incinerated.

[SteveMcKing]

Yes, the anti-nukers tend to ignore this day and its significance.

[Smartaleck]

"Japan's unconditional surrender"

The cessation of hostile fire during the first Gulf War was NOT an unconditional surrender by Saddam. A nuance missed by the current war's critics.

[mainepatsfan]

Japan in 1945 would have gladly accepted the terms we gave Saddam in 1991.

[mainepatsfan]

That crowd has no concept what an invasion of Japan would have looked like.

[bill1952]

Entirely correct.

Foreign minister Shidehara wrote, "If we continue to fight back bravely, even if hundreds of thousands of noncombatants are killed... there would be room to produce a more favorable international situation for Japan."

- snip - "Due to the nationwide food shortage... - it will be necessary to kill all of the infirm old people, the very young, and the sick.

Admiral Onishi: "If we are prepared to sacrifice 20 million Japanese lives in kamikaze effort, victory will be ours."

"With luck, we will repulse the invaders before they land." - General Yoshijiro Umezu

"Who can be 100% sure of defeat?" - War minister General Anami

All said in the August 9th meeting of the 6 man 'Supreme Council for the Direction of the War' held in Tokyo.

Note the date.

[starfish923]

That crowd has no concept what an invasion of Japan would have looked like

If they had had the chance to see any photos or movies of Germany, they would have had the concept. Germany was flattened.
THAT is what is looked like.

[bill1952]

All of them.

"The Spirit Warriors prepared for the final decisive battle.

The Battle plan was called Ketsu-Go, or Decisive Operation."
The entire civilian populace - armed with bamboo spears and plenty of Yamato damashii would shatter jewel the hell out of the gaizin

On June 8, the emperor sanctioned Ketso-Go as "The Fundamental Policy to Be Followed Henceforth In the Conduct of the War," which proclaimed that Japan must fight to the finish and choose extinction before surrender."

The American were to be fought in the interior rather than at the waters edge and Japan would use "sure victory weapons."

Japan would become one big Iwo Jima.

The army and the emperor were going to manage the war from vast underground caves in the Matsuhiro mountains

All men ages 15 to 60 and all women 17 to 40 were organized. All schools were suspended and to become military bases.

Suicide tactics would save the realm. Children trained to carry backpacks of explosives would throw themselves under tanks.

Foreign minister Shidehara wrote, If we continue to fight back bravely, even if hundreds of thousands of noncombatants are killed... there would be room to produce a more favorable international situation for Japan."

"Due to the nationwide food shortage... - it will be necessary to kill all of the infirm old people, the very young, and the sick.

Admiral Onishi: "If we are prepared to sacrifice 20 million Japanese lives in kamikaze effort, victory will be ours."

20 million was an understatement.
Behind them were nearly 3 million well armed Japanese troops and 32 million civilians being trained for a heroic last stand.

- But Japan lacked cloth, so henceforth all combatants would all be in civilian dress.

General MacArthur told Secretary of War Stinson that the invasion would cost over a million casualties to American forces alone, and the War department report concluded that the Japanese would suffer between 5 and 10 million dead, and the United States between 1.7 and 4 million casualties.

Secret intercepts indicated that Japanese defenses were far in excess of original estimates.

D Day in Europe was conducted with 175,000 troops.
Seven million American troops were in the Pacific now...

From Flyboys. pages 291-295

[trek]

Why I'm sure the New York Times described the Japanese die-hards as brave freedom fighters. Or maybe they were just insurgents out to depose the illegitimate Emperor.

[SandRat]

Happy V-J Day!

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!!

[Valin]

Back at ya!

[HRoarke]

Sure we've won, but what are implications for the future. Surely this enemy we've beaten will continue to resist us. Their culture is so different that they'll never form a democracy or learn to co-exist peacefully. Certainly they'll never transform their economy into anything successful and we'll be stuck propping them up forever.

-Howard Dean's Father (1945) :)

[SevenofNine]

OMG that my birthday today is my birthday

VJ day was that day?

Rack itttt

[A.A. Cunningham]

President Harry S. Truman announces Japan's surrender to a press conference in the oval office at 7:00 PM, Tuesday, 14 August 1945.

Hirohito's Surrender Broadcast, 15 August, 1945

At noon on 15 August, 1945, for the first time in history, the voice of the Japanese emperor was heard on the radio. His Imperial Majesty Hirohito had recorded the message the previous day, and he spoke to his people in the very formal language of the Imperial Court, which many of his subjects could not understand:

"To Our good and loyal subjects: After pondering deeply the general trends of the world and the actual conditions obtaining to Our Empire today, We have decided to effect a settlement of the present situation by resorting to an extraordinary measure.
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.

To strive for the common prosperity and happiness of all nations as well as the security and well-being of Our Subjects is the solemn obligation which has been handed down by Our Imperial Ancestors, and which we lay close to heart. Indeed, We declared war on America and Britain out of Our sincere desire to ensure Japan's self-preservation and the stabilization of East Asia, it being far from Our thought either to infringe upon the sovereignty of other nations or to embark upon territorial aggrandisement. But now the war has lasted for nearly four years. 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, the war situation has developed not necessarily to Japan's advantage, while the general trends of the world have all turned against her interest. Moreover, the enemy has begun to employ a new and most cruel bomb, the power of which to damage is indeed incalculable, taking the toll of many innocent lives. Should We continue to fight, it would not only result in an ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese nation, but also it would lead to the total extinction of human civilization. Such being the case, how are We to save the millions of Our subjects; or to atone Ourselves before the hallowed spirits of Our Imperial Ancestors? This is the reason why We have ordered the Acceptance of the provisions of the Joint Declaration of the Powers.

We cannot but express the deepest sense of regret to our Allied nations of East Asia, who have consistently co-operated with the Empire towards the emancipation of East Asia. The thought of those officers and men as well as others who have fallen in the fields of battle, those who died at their posts of duty, or those who met with untimely death and all their bereaved families, pains Our heart day and night. The welfare of the wounded and the war sufferers, and of those who have lost their homes and livelihood, are the objects of Our profound solicitude. The hardships and sufferings to which Our nation is to be subjected hereafter will certainly be great. We are keenly aware of the inmost feelings of all ye, Our subjects. However, it is according to the dictate 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.

Having been able to safeguard and maintain the structure of the Imperial State, We are always with ye, Our good and loyal subjects, relying upon your sincerity and integrity. Beware most strictly of any outbursts of emotion which may engender needless complications, or any fraternal contention and strife which may create confusion, lead ye astray and cause ye to lose the confidence of the world. Let the entire nation continue as one family from generation to generation, ever firm in its faith of the imperishableness of its divine land, and mindful of its heavy responsibilities, and the long road before it. Unite your total strength to be devoted to the construction for the future. Cultivate the ways of rectitude; foster nobility of spirit; and work with resolution so as ye may enhance the innate glory of the Imperial State and keep pace with the progress of the world.

14th day of the 8th month of the 20th year of Showa."

[elbucko]

That crowd has no concept what an invasion of Japan would have looked like.

If the US invaded Japan and forced its surrender in 1945, there would be protests about it today. They would argue that the slaughter could have been avoided by dropping the atomic bomb. "That crowd" comes from those who are eternally confused.

[SandRat]

LOL!