My guess is that Stimson isn't a major figure in the UASR government and therefore there isn't anyone advocating to preserve Kyoto's cultural treasures for the future.
Given that the war lasts into '46, I'd have expected that Germany eats a nuke or two as well. Probably before Japan, in fact; the only reason Germany didn't get hit IOTL is they fell before any nukes were ready. Nuremberg seems a likely target.
And I still think that ITTL Japan would have to be an earlier priority, because an invasion of the Kuriles and South Sakhalin is pretty much required if the UASR and USSR want to keep any sort of supply line between them open during the first four years or so of the war.
Actually I suspect that the focus will still be on Germany as in OTL, although there might be limited American operations in the Kuriles and Sakhalin Island to re-open the supply line to the Russian Far East. It honestly wouldn't surprise me if Magadan gets built up as a supply port, although it may not be ice-free all year round (I'm not an expert on historical or present day climate sadly).
I doubt Germany will get nuked, indeed it wouldn't surprise me if they collapse around the same time as in OTL. On the other hand, it is hinted in previous updates that Japan is invaded by both the Soviets and the Americans, which could delay the end of the war until the latter half of 1946.
Neat, I actually get to be there for the start of a threads rather than playing catch up.
A very nice, if somewhat terrifying, look into the 'Great Crusade,' Jello. I was literally gawking at Orwell's implication of 100 million dead from this. Even with a Holocaust that's not quite as severe as OTL, that's almost beyond words. Especially when, even if it was likely hyperbole, that the Soviets and Americans are going to bear the brunt of it as they're 80% of the casualties.
It's also a bit shocking to hear about the liquidation procedures, even if I rather suspected that would be the case. I'm guessing that this is one of the things posters in Reds!' future point to, if they're in the FBU, to say that the UASR and USSR were almost as bad as Nazi Germany? I really like the quotes by Arendt and Lewis, too.
It's an absolute shame that Kyoto goes up in a mushroom cloud. I'm guessing that this will be a definite point of contention between the Japanese and Americans, even if they become official allies after the war.
P.S. Does Anne Frank have a bright future ahead of her ITTL? I'd assume that's a reason she got a nod in the preview...
There is part of me that suspects that Anne Frank will avoid her OTL fate, it is a strange thing to add right at the end unless it hints towards something, I just hope Jello doesn't make it cheap in some way. (I'm sure he won't...)
I have a funny feeling that the motivations behind Kyoto will be the real point of contention ITTL. I suspect that the reason Kyoto is chosen is to facilitate the revolution in Japan, which will obviously cause tensions between the Comintern and Japan, and controversy within both the UASR and the FBU.
teg