Introduction -- Chronology -- Opposing commanders: US commanders -- Japanese commanders -- Opposing plans: Options for Japan -- Allied strategy for victory -- Diplomacy or destruction -- Operation Downfall: Invasion of Japan: Phase one, Operation Olympic -- Phase two, Operation Coronet -- Setting a timeframe -- Japanese response -- Approach to Armageddon: Choice of target -- Demonstration of power -- 509th Composite Group -- Readying the weapons -- Hiroshima: Plan of attack -- Red plugs for go -- Nagasaki: Plan of attack -- Fat Man and the forecast -- Aftermath: Future of warfare -- Sites today -- Bibliography -- Index.
Summary:
"In this 200th Campaign series title Clayton Chun examines the final stages of World War II as the Allies debated how to bring about the surrender of Japan. Chun not only describes the actual events but also analyzes the possible operations to capture the Japanese mainland which were never implemented. He details Operation Downfall (the planned invasion of the Japanese home islands) and its two-phased approach. Firstly Operation Olympic would see the invasion of Kyushu, followed by Operation Coronet which would see the invasion of the area around Tokyo. Chun goes on to examine exactly why these plans were never implemented, including Allied fears that both military and civilian casualties would be terrible and would result in a long, drawn out war of attrition. He then goes on to examine the horrific alternative to military invasion - the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki with nuclear weapons - which made the Allied threat of "prompt and utter destruction" a reality. With a series of illustrations, including detailed diagrams of the atomic bombs, a depiction of the different stages of the explosions and maps of the original invasion plans, this book provides a unique perspective of a key event in world history."--Publisher.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.