Chapter 49: The Rising Sun Sets
June 12th, 1945- The world watches in shock and horror as reports of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Kokura begin to circulate throughout the world. Rumors that it was American propaganda are quickly silenced as images begin to appear in newspaper worldwide.
President Truman and the Joint Chiefs of Staff listen to the projected civilian casualties that occurred from the bombings, and despite some disgust at what they done, none regret the act itself, at least not initially. Japan must be made aware it cannot win or even fight on an equal footing. They hoped this would frighten Japan into surrendering and saving lives, principally American, in the long term. The Anami Government worried Truman, as they were driven more by fanaticism and a clouded sense of honor rather than common sense and realism.
In Tokyo, Anami and his government are worried. To restore some morale amongst his supporters Anami states that the United States could not have any more of the weapons and decides to remain in Tokyo as a show of his defiance against the Americans.
June 13th, 1945- Winston Churchill is forced out of office by losing the vote of no-confidence and is replaced by Horace Wilson as Prime Minister. Wilson promises to end the war between the Axis Powers and the Entente as swiftly as can be done. Wilson hopes to have the war end on favorable terms for both sides.
Churchill says he plans to retire to Canada to “get away from foolish politicking and spineless cowards.” Though Wilson intends to end the war soon, he will not do so from a position of weakness. Gibraltar will continue to resist and efforts to supply the Free French will be doubled. The Royal Navy escort of the supply ships will increase to deter any German U-boats.
June 14th, 1945- The Battle of Beijing begins between the under-supplied and undermanned Japanese garrison and near two hundred thousand Red Army troops, supported by massed artillery and unquestioned air superiority.
June 16th, 1945- Hitler, ecstatic about the leadership change developing in Britain, authorizes the General Staff to conquer Algeria and capture Gibraltar as quickly as possible for political leverage over the British. On another note Hitler is impressed with the atomic bombings done by the Americans and as a result increases pressure on the
Uranprojekt, the German nuclear research program. Though Germany had the most advanced rocket program, alongside advanced air and ground military assets and an efficient allocation system of resources due to Minister Speer’s work, the German atomic program was far behind the Americans and the British. Even with spies in the Brooklyn Project, siphoning away critical information and theories, it would take the
Reich years to test a bomb, much less field it for use in war. But the wheels were turned, funds given, and the
Uranprojekt for the first time in its existence was given significant attention from the government. Hitler wants a bomb as soon as possible to counter American dominance of that field.
June 18th, 1945- Field Marshal Rommel and his German/Italian army, nicknamed the
Algerien Korps, continue their drive into eastern Algeria. Free French troops reap a heavy toll on the German officer and his men, but cannot truly stop the advance of the German field marshal, though Giraud brings up what few reserves he has, mainly consisting of conscripts taken from the civilian population that fled France in the Exodus. It gives the French leader a dozen divisions but many lack heavy weapons and equipment.
Soviet soldiers defeat what little resistance remained in Beijing and begin to expand their ever-growing grip on the Chinese coast. With Soviet advanced elements nearing the Yellow River and Americans nearing Shanghai, Zhukov wants to take as much of China as possible for his Chinese allies as they will be needed as a counter-weight to the Americans support of Kai-shek’s regime.
June 21st, 1945- The USSR dispatches spies to the United States to observe the Brooklyn Project and attempt to infiltrate it. The chaos of the war, the heavy casualties, and loss of so much Soviet territory to the Axis forced the Soviet government to shutdown dozens of projects, one of which had been their atomic program. Beria intends to have a bomb, built by Soviet scientists preferably, but stolen if need be. The brutal NKVD director/General Secretary wants to have the bombs to stabilize the situation in European Russia. If the USSR received the bombs it could pressure the Germans or, if need be, strike with them in any war that might come.
June 23rd, 1945- Using prisoners of war and Korean labor gangs, Japanese scientists have accumulated a fair amount of radioactive material. Anami wants to strike back at the Americans with their own weapon and orders the scientists to make it so.
The material is to be combined with what little the Japanese atomic program knew to create a make-shift atomic bomb. Their target was to be the massing American fleet in Manila Bay.
June 27th, 1945- U.S. and National Chinese troops enter the outskirts of Shanghai. The Second Battle of Shanghai begins.
An exchange of weapons fire between German and British artillery in the Sinai Peninsula escalate to a large-scale battle between the two sides. After several hours of fighting involving almost exclusively artillery, scout units and aircraft, both Gott and Balck rein in their men and silence reigns for the next several days between both sides.
June 30th, 1945- Early Soviet probes into northern Korea are thrown back by the Kwantung Army but Zhukov is not worried. Plans are being put into motion. He has time on his side.
July 2nd, 1945- Rommel’s
Algerien Korps stalls out near central Algeria. Free French and French-loyal Algerians are plaguing his supply lines. Rommel does not want to overstretch himself and risk a defeat. The Führer had been very adamant that a defeat would hurt them in future negotiations.
July 6th, 1945- The Soviet Union launches a massive invasion of Korea. In the north, hundreds of thousands of infantry push southward, whilst in the air transport planes drop thousands of paratroopers throughout key communication hubs and known supply depots. To the west Soviet soldiers land in landing craft, much of it is captured from Japanese stores though some is Soviet craft.
July 9th, 1945- After three days of hectic fighting, the Kwantung Army is on the retreat throughout Korea. Japanese divisions are withdrawing to the south-east of Korea to set up a defensive perimeter around the port of Pusan.
July 17th, 1945- After a bloody street by street sweep of the city, Shanghai is liberated by the American and Chinese army. General Kai-shek arrives to the city with much fanfare, pictured to be shaking hands with General Bradley, and proclaims to the Chinese people that “…the age of foreign tyranny is over. The age of China’s rebirth has begun.” The Nationalist leader would go on to set up his headquarters in the rubble strewn city, to boost civilian morale and to cement himself as liberator of the city.
July 23rd, 1945- Brazilian fascists are largely defeated in Brazil's vast jungles, securing the new regime. Democratic elections are to be held at years end to symbolize the country's pursuit towards liberty. These elections are heavily encouraged by the Americans and the new regime, key players in the Colonels Coup done earlier that year, are unhappy with it but bear it nonetheless as having little to no power was better than being a corpse or in prison.
July 27th, 1945- Gibraltar falls to the united Axis army that had besieged it. This drives home to Wilson that the war could not end on favorable terms and must instead be ended as quickly as possible to prevent further loss of British prestige. Despite this major defeat early in his government, Wilson is able to deflect the blame onto Churchill, who had recently arrived in Canada for his retirement.
Spanish and German losses are heavy but Hitler deems it worth the price. Italian losses are minuscule at best, largely ships that engaged Royal Navy squadrons or aircraft.
July 28th, 1945- Wilson asks the Germans for an armistice and is quickly agreed to. From France to the Eastern Territories, from Scandinavia to North Africa, silence reigns in Europe for the first time in nearly six years.
July 29th, 1945- A commercial ship, crewed by hand-picked Japanese soldiers loyal to Japan and Anami, moves into Manila Bay under a Dutch East Indies flag. The ship nears the American fleet as close as it dared before detonating the Japanese atomic bomb nestled in its cargo hold.
The explosion would sink dozens of American ships, including two carriers, damaging scores more and sinking/damaging hundreds of commercial ships, leading to tens of thousands to be dead or dying. Radioactive fallout would descend onto Manila itself due to wind. American authorities quickly go about containing the radiation and trying to heal an afflicted with minor cases of radiation sickness. The ones that had received more severe doses of radiation are made comfortable; their health in no doubt as their bodies begin to shutdown.
The White House is shocked by the audacity of the Japanese and alarmed by what they had created. Truman and the Joint Chiefs decree the war must end now.
August 2nd, 1945- The Axis Powers and the Entente agree to meet in Zurich, Switzerland for the peace conference. The conference is to begin on August 12th.
August 4th, 1945- Three atomic bombs arrive to secure U.S. airbases on Saipan. Pilots and bombers, briefed hours ago, ready themselves for the long trek to Japan and the cargo they were soon to drop on the Home Islands. The bombers would leave later that night.
August 5th, 1945- In retaliation to the destruction caused in Manila Bay the cities of Niigata, Yokohama and Tokyo have atomic bombs dropped on them, killing hundreds of thousands and wounding well over a million. War Minister Anami, his staff and most important supporters are killed when Tokyo was bombed. With the military government now radioactive ash, chaos reigns in Japan similar to when Anami initiated his coup but multiplied.
August 6th, 1945- To ease public concern and show that though Japan lacked a proper government it still had a monarch the Emperor goes on the radio for the first time in his life and tells the Japanese people that the Empire of Japan is surrendering unconditionally to spare the rest of Japan the horrors and atrocities of war. Emperor Hirohito invites the Americans, British, and Soviets to Japan so the surrender could commence.
Marshal Admiral Yamamoto and former Prime Minister Tojo are released from prison to help govern the country until a proper government could be formed.
August 7th, 1945- As the day reaches noon on the deck of the
USS Missouri the Empire of Japan surrenders unconditionally to the Entente, the Soviet Union, and the United States of America.
