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Nagoyaguy · Joined: 15 May 2003 Posts: 425 Location: Aichi, Japan

The million dollar question that all the "peace activist" types seem not to be able to answer is this;

How could the war have been ended in a way to minimize both civilian casualties in Japan AND Allied casualties?

There really is no answer. The options I have heard are;

a/ wait for Japan to collapse.

Good idea, unless you are Chinese and living in land occupied by the IJA. Approximately 200,000 civilians a month were dying in those areas. If the allies waited 5 months, it would consign a million innocent civilians in Allied lands to death.

b/ blockade Japan and force surrender.

Good idea, unless you are a Japanese civilian. THe military would requisition all food in the country, and the civilian population would bear the brunt of any shortages. How many civilians would starve to death before the IJA surrendered?

It is also worth remembering that Hirohito, in his surrender speech, took pains to SPECIFICALLY mention the use of atomic weapons as a primary reason he gave up. Otherwise, the hard line militants in the Japanese cabinet would have kept fighting until the bitter end. As it was, a large group wanted to keep fighting even after Nagasaki, and even after the Soviets entered the war. There was nearly a coup in fact after Hirohito made his decision.

There is no easy way to end a war. SOmetimes you have to stomp the enemy's guts out.