I agree completely about the genocide fantasies. The US will still accept a Japanese surrender. In fact, given what the Germans may be up to, the Japanese may still end up being slightly less bad than the Nazis on the US evil-o-meter. What we don't know in this TL is what the Emperor can actually say or do that would make him seem that useful. I think it will need to be a bombshell (pun intended)
How Silent Fall the Cherry Blossoms
- Thread starter Geon
- Start date
- Status
I agree completely about the genocide fantasies. The US will still accept a Japanese surrender. In fact, given what the Germans may be up to, the Japanese may still end up being slightly less bad than the Nazis on the US evil-o-meter. What we don't know in this TL is what the Emperor can actually say or do that would make him seem that useful. I think it will need to be a bombshell (pun intended)
Artatochor
Banned
The surrender still needs to happen, the military will need to lay down the arms. Will they agree to surrender to their worst enemy? Even if Hirohito demands it?
Oh get off it. War crimes, even lots of them, are not genocide. Where is there any documentation that the US ever had any policy to eliminate the Vietnamese as a people? That is genocide. Use of excessive military force during war to achieve a legitimate military aim (such as keeping South Vietnam a non-communist US client state) may have involved thousands of collateral (and even intentional) civilian deaths, but these are war crimes, not genocide.
Artatochor
Banned
There was a nearly successful coup aimed at continuing the war. That coup will succeed if word gets out of Hirohito's negotiation attempt. There's also a possibility that even the moderates may find the situation unsalvageable, and fear US occupation and its effects so much, that they'd prefer to organize mass suicides or something. A long shot, I know.
Hirohito's negotiation attempt will save his life, if as Emperor of Japan is another question
and USA will need him, to control occupy Japan (or what is left of it after ABC raids)
but for the Top Military (and some Politician), wait certainly death, eider by suicide or by US execution...
and USA will need him, to control occupy Japan (or what is left of it after ABC raids)
but for the Top Military (and some Politician), wait certainly death, eider by suicide or by US execution...
Good points. I had infact forgotten about the potential hard line coup. But ultimately I think the bulk of the military would bow to the Emperor's will. I agree a more organized pattern of mass suicides by those feeling shame over the surrender or fearing retribution is possible.
Garrison
Donor
Yeah but priorities have obviously changed and those pristine cities made a good choice to demonstrate the US determination.
I am really enjoying this timeline and its developing menace, what I am not enjoying is the statements and fantasising about what sort of "revenge" the US will take on Japan. Statements like genocide are really inappropriate for this TL, as Zoomar has said. What's unfolding is tragic, both in the US and in Japan.
Geon
Donor
Another Day and the Briefcase Contents Revealed
I trust this was worth the wait. The contents of the briefcase are revealed!
--------------------------------------------------------------
Date: November 25, 1944
Location: Washington, D.C. (OCD)
Time: 9:00 a.m. [EST]
NATJAB now had to deal with both an outbreak of anthrax in the plains states as well as the outbreak of plague throughout the country. More members were being brought into the task force to aid it where a few days ago there had been active talk of beginning to wrap things up!
The map of the United States on the wall by the score sheet now had another map of the state of Montana beside it. There were currently two blue pins in the map indicating where there were now two outbreaks of anthrax on Montana ranches. At present reports indicated only about 8 or 9 head on each ranch had been infected but in the meantime the emergency inoculation program was getting underway as veterinarians from the Department of Agriculture proceeded to fan out in Montana and Wyoming to begin mass inoculations of cattle. In addition it had been decided that human anthrax vaccinations would also be mandated for the farmers. Any who objected would be told in no uncertain terms that if they were not vaccinated their herds would not be allowed to go to market. It should be noted none of the ranchers involved refused to be vaccinated!
Meantime NATJAB was monitoring the numbers of plague cases from around the country. Only in four cities now did the numbers keep rising, albeit now in smaller and smaller increments.
Cities/ Number of Casualties/ Deaths/ Special
Los Angeles/ 2,500/ 293
St. Louis/ 201/ 92
New York/ 161/ 65
Seattle/ 15/ 10/ contained
Portland/ 10/ 8/ contained
Youngstown/ 16/ 10/ contained
Detroit / 59/ 30
San Bernadino/ 3/ 1/ contained
San Francisco/ 6/ 3/ contained
Chicago/ 2/ 1/ contained
Oakland/ 2/ 1/ contained
Atlanta / 1/ 1/ contained
Total Infected: 2,976; Total Deaths: 515
In another office at OCD, Thomas Parran, the Surgeon General was speaking with representatives of every major newspaper based in Washington. Parran found himself in the unenviable position of trying to convince these newspaper men not to print a story. All of them were Americans and had been willing to put up with wartime censorship; however some of them were balking at not letting Americans know that the Japanese had struck again. Why not be open with the American public like we’ve been through this whole plague outbreak? Parran answered that right now the country had been through one trauma too many in the form of the plague and the plague riots. Americans were not used to feeling vulnerable like this. It was impossible besides to keep the news of the Japanese attack on Los Angeles and its consequences quiet. But a few outbreaks of anthrax in the plans states could and should be kept quiet for now. Otherwise there could be wholesale panic. Could the major newspapers please restrain themselves on reporting this and not mention anything about the balloons? The Japanese already knew more then enough about the success of their raid on Los Angeles. More news like this might encourage even more such raids. The representatives promised to inform their respective newspapers of the government’s concerns. It is interesting to note that although brief mentions would be made of anthrax outbreaks in some of the plains’ states there would be no mention of the Fu-Go devices until after the war. Just as total openness prevented mass hysteria when the plague bombs hit Los Angeles, so now careful censorship would keep Americans from fearing for their food supply.
Date: November 25, 1944
Location: The Foreign Ministry
Time: 7:00 p.m. [London time]
At 7 p.m. the long odyssey of Ambassador Luis Fernandez was almost over as he entered the Foreign Ministry and was immediately ushered into the office of Anthony Eden, Foreign Minister. For Fernandez the last eleven days had been the most exhausting of his life. He had slept with one eye open all the way from Vladivostok to Moscow. Following his arrival in Moscow there had been “regrettable delays,” according to customs officials in processing him through to his flight. Fernandez knew the cause of those delays was probably the result of his two guards becoming overly talkative on the train. Still, he could only be so angry at the two of them. He would have been more surprised if the Soviets hadn’t tried to learn anything about his mission.
Fernandez had finally been cleared through customs and a Portuguese air courier plane had flown him first to Ankara where Ambassador Fernandez had contacted the Foreign Ministry in Lisbon from the Portuguese embassy informing them of what he carried and requesting a conference with the American ambassador immediately upon his arrival.
So, it had been a surprise when an official from the Foreign Ministry had hurriedly met him at the airport as he got off the courier plane and escorted him and his guard to another plane bound for London, quickly explaining the situation. Fernandez had been in a quandary from the moment the plane took off until it landed in London. His instructions had been specifically to show the contents of the briefcase (still unknown to him) to the Americans. Now, the British and Soviets were involved as well? Fernandez had a choice, he could either insist that the briefcase be opened only in the presence of the American ambassador, this would provoke a diplomatic incident with Great Britain and the Soviet Union which was not acceptable or he could acquiesce and open the briefcase showing its contents to the English and the Soviets.
His government was not happy to be having any interaction with the Soviet Union. There was no Soviet envoy in Portugal and Portugal had to go through its own channels to get a courier plane to enter Soviet air space to take him back to Lisbon. The government in Lisbon did not trust the communists. Nevertheless the official had told Luis to use his best judgment. Luis decided openness here was probably the best thing.
As Luis entered Sir Anthony Eden’s office he noted the two others there beside Eden. Sir Eden quickly made introductions. “Ambassador Fernandez, welcome, first allow me to introduce the other two gentlemen here. This is Ambassador Gusev Fyedor Tarasovich, official representative for the Soviet government and this is Ambassador John G. Winant, representative for the government of the United States.” After handshakes and greetings had been made all around, Sir Eden continued. “Ambassador Fernandez, I recognize that you have been traveling for the last eleven days with very little rest so I will try to come to the point and not keep you here long. We understand that you have a message from a high ranking member of the Japanese government that you were to deliver to the American Ambassador in Portugal. Because of…unforeseen circumstances,” here Eden glanced briefly at Ambassador Tarasovich, “we find it necessary to ask if you would please open your briefcase here for all of us?’
Ambassador Fernandez smiled a tired smile and said, “Given the situation and the graciousness of your government in aiding my exit from Japan,” he acknowledged to Ambassador Tarasovich, “And the willingness of your government to hold the meeting here I would be happy to oblige all of you.”
Ambassador Fernandez reached in his pocket and pulled out the silk bag he had kept on his person since his meeting with the Emperor and removed the key from it. He then leaned over and opened the briefcase. As he did so he said, “Gentlemen, I have no idea of what is in this briefcase, however I will tell you this was presented to me by no less a person then the Emperor of Japan himself in a secret meeting arranged by Foreign Minister Shigemitsu at the Emperor’s personal request. Those words brought stunned looks from the Soviet and American ambassadors and a look of quiet amazement on the face of Sir Anthony Eden.
Inside the briefcase were three items. First was large sealed envelope with the Imperial seal of Japan on it in wax, second were two manila envelopes also both sealed. On top of the sealed envelope was a simple handwritten note “Open First.”
“If I may,” asked a now very curious Anthony Eden? Carefully the Foreign Minister worked open the seal. Within the envelope was a series of sheets written in a careful flowing longhand English script.
The Showa Emperor Hirohito sends greetings to the Ambassador of the United States and requests that this document be read both by the President of the United States and by the Prime Minister of Great Britain.
For the past three years we have been locked in a war that has tested the resolve of all of our nations. The reasons for this war are many and perhaps would best be left for future historians to debate. First however, we must ensure there will be a future for all of us. To this end I have taken it upon myself without any consultation with the rest of my government to send this letter to you in secret.
On November 5th I was informed of the attack by our submarines upon the city of Los Angeles. This attack was carried out without my prior knowledge or support. Indeed, only a handful of the government even knew of this attack and that only after the fact. For myself, I was deeply shocked and saddened that such an attack was even unleashed. The weapons used in this attack are not new to us. Indeed I have known of their development and refinement for the last eight years. Thus, I must bear some of the guilt for their deployment against the United States.
When we began our war back in December of 1941 the desire of the war cabinet then was to bring the United States and Great Britain to the peace table quickly. It was not to commit mass murder, though I must regretfully confess that the last few years of our army and navy’s actions and particularly our recent actions in Los Angeles do not bear out that claim.
I know a great deal about the British and American peoples. I believe you are a fair and just people. But, I also know you can both be very fierce and ruthless once your wrath is raised. I know the recent attacks on Los Angeles and the attacks by our Fu-Go balloons must fill you with a great rage. The former Admiral Isuroku Yamamoto warned us that by attacking the United States we had “awakened a sleeping giant and filled him with a grim and terrible vengeance.” Only now do some of us begin to understand the truth of his words.
You must realize that by this simple act of communicating with you I am committing an act of treason in the sight of many in my government. Many here still believe the war is winnable. If they continue in their plans our nation will suffer and will cease to be a nation. I cannot allow that to happen. I am therefore willing in my authority as Emperor to discuss a complete and unconditional surrender of all Japanese forces with your representatives at your earliest convenience on neutral territory to be decided by you.
There is however one matter you need to understand. While I may speak I believe for all of Japan, not all of Japan speaks with me. The present cabinet is determined with very few exceptions to carry this war to a final and terrible end. These men have deluded themselves with images of a victory that is no longer possible. Were any of them to learn that I have written this letter to you they would certainly seek my death and put my son, who at his age is more tractable, on the Chrysanthemum Throne. Until this war cabinet is removed my hands are tied.
The situation is perilous. So, I ask for your help in freeing my hands as it were. I have included within the first of these folders the dates that the war cabinet will be meeting and the times as well as the places. I believe I can arrange for those who are of the “peace” faction to be elsewhere during these meetings. I trust that my meaning here is plain enough.
In addition in the second manila folder I provide all available information my aides were able to gather in a short time on the existence of the group that created the biological warfare agents used against Los Angeles. The group is named Unit 731 and is headed by a Dr. Shiro Ishii. The war faction endorses his work and so ties my hands again so that I cannot act against him. Despite what you may think as Emperor I am not all-powerful. The folder contains some known details of Ishii’s work as well as the locations for one of his laboratories near Canton, China. This was where the bombs that fell on Los Angeles were designed.
The hour is late and my hands are tied. I beg of you to untie my hands so that I may prevent the destruction of my people. Help me to achieve peace now, while there is still time.
Showa Emperor Hirohito of the Chrysanthemum Throne.
I trust this was worth the wait. The contents of the briefcase are revealed!
--------------------------------------------------------------
Date: November 25, 1944
Location: Washington, D.C. (OCD)
Time: 9:00 a.m. [EST]
NATJAB now had to deal with both an outbreak of anthrax in the plains states as well as the outbreak of plague throughout the country. More members were being brought into the task force to aid it where a few days ago there had been active talk of beginning to wrap things up!
The map of the United States on the wall by the score sheet now had another map of the state of Montana beside it. There were currently two blue pins in the map indicating where there were now two outbreaks of anthrax on Montana ranches. At present reports indicated only about 8 or 9 head on each ranch had been infected but in the meantime the emergency inoculation program was getting underway as veterinarians from the Department of Agriculture proceeded to fan out in Montana and Wyoming to begin mass inoculations of cattle. In addition it had been decided that human anthrax vaccinations would also be mandated for the farmers. Any who objected would be told in no uncertain terms that if they were not vaccinated their herds would not be allowed to go to market. It should be noted none of the ranchers involved refused to be vaccinated!
Meantime NATJAB was monitoring the numbers of plague cases from around the country. Only in four cities now did the numbers keep rising, albeit now in smaller and smaller increments.
Cities/ Number of Casualties/ Deaths/ Special
Los Angeles/ 2,500/ 293
St. Louis/ 201/ 92
New York/ 161/ 65
Seattle/ 15/ 10/ contained
Portland/ 10/ 8/ contained
Youngstown/ 16/ 10/ contained
Detroit / 59/ 30
San Bernadino/ 3/ 1/ contained
San Francisco/ 6/ 3/ contained
Chicago/ 2/ 1/ contained
Oakland/ 2/ 1/ contained
Atlanta / 1/ 1/ contained
Total Infected: 2,976; Total Deaths: 515
----------
In another office at OCD, Thomas Parran, the Surgeon General was speaking with representatives of every major newspaper based in Washington. Parran found himself in the unenviable position of trying to convince these newspaper men not to print a story. All of them were Americans and had been willing to put up with wartime censorship; however some of them were balking at not letting Americans know that the Japanese had struck again. Why not be open with the American public like we’ve been through this whole plague outbreak? Parran answered that right now the country had been through one trauma too many in the form of the plague and the plague riots. Americans were not used to feeling vulnerable like this. It was impossible besides to keep the news of the Japanese attack on Los Angeles and its consequences quiet. But a few outbreaks of anthrax in the plans states could and should be kept quiet for now. Otherwise there could be wholesale panic. Could the major newspapers please restrain themselves on reporting this and not mention anything about the balloons? The Japanese already knew more then enough about the success of their raid on Los Angeles. More news like this might encourage even more such raids. The representatives promised to inform their respective newspapers of the government’s concerns. It is interesting to note that although brief mentions would be made of anthrax outbreaks in some of the plains’ states there would be no mention of the Fu-Go devices until after the war. Just as total openness prevented mass hysteria when the plague bombs hit Los Angeles, so now careful censorship would keep Americans from fearing for their food supply.
Date: November 25, 1944
Location: The Foreign Ministry
Time: 7:00 p.m. [London time]
At 7 p.m. the long odyssey of Ambassador Luis Fernandez was almost over as he entered the Foreign Ministry and was immediately ushered into the office of Anthony Eden, Foreign Minister. For Fernandez the last eleven days had been the most exhausting of his life. He had slept with one eye open all the way from Vladivostok to Moscow. Following his arrival in Moscow there had been “regrettable delays,” according to customs officials in processing him through to his flight. Fernandez knew the cause of those delays was probably the result of his two guards becoming overly talkative on the train. Still, he could only be so angry at the two of them. He would have been more surprised if the Soviets hadn’t tried to learn anything about his mission.
Fernandez had finally been cleared through customs and a Portuguese air courier plane had flown him first to Ankara where Ambassador Fernandez had contacted the Foreign Ministry in Lisbon from the Portuguese embassy informing them of what he carried and requesting a conference with the American ambassador immediately upon his arrival.
So, it had been a surprise when an official from the Foreign Ministry had hurriedly met him at the airport as he got off the courier plane and escorted him and his guard to another plane bound for London, quickly explaining the situation. Fernandez had been in a quandary from the moment the plane took off until it landed in London. His instructions had been specifically to show the contents of the briefcase (still unknown to him) to the Americans. Now, the British and Soviets were involved as well? Fernandez had a choice, he could either insist that the briefcase be opened only in the presence of the American ambassador, this would provoke a diplomatic incident with Great Britain and the Soviet Union which was not acceptable or he could acquiesce and open the briefcase showing its contents to the English and the Soviets.
His government was not happy to be having any interaction with the Soviet Union. There was no Soviet envoy in Portugal and Portugal had to go through its own channels to get a courier plane to enter Soviet air space to take him back to Lisbon. The government in Lisbon did not trust the communists. Nevertheless the official had told Luis to use his best judgment. Luis decided openness here was probably the best thing.
As Luis entered Sir Anthony Eden’s office he noted the two others there beside Eden. Sir Eden quickly made introductions. “Ambassador Fernandez, welcome, first allow me to introduce the other two gentlemen here. This is Ambassador Gusev Fyedor Tarasovich, official representative for the Soviet government and this is Ambassador John G. Winant, representative for the government of the United States.” After handshakes and greetings had been made all around, Sir Eden continued. “Ambassador Fernandez, I recognize that you have been traveling for the last eleven days with very little rest so I will try to come to the point and not keep you here long. We understand that you have a message from a high ranking member of the Japanese government that you were to deliver to the American Ambassador in Portugal. Because of…unforeseen circumstances,” here Eden glanced briefly at Ambassador Tarasovich, “we find it necessary to ask if you would please open your briefcase here for all of us?’
Ambassador Fernandez smiled a tired smile and said, “Given the situation and the graciousness of your government in aiding my exit from Japan,” he acknowledged to Ambassador Tarasovich, “And the willingness of your government to hold the meeting here I would be happy to oblige all of you.”
Ambassador Fernandez reached in his pocket and pulled out the silk bag he had kept on his person since his meeting with the Emperor and removed the key from it. He then leaned over and opened the briefcase. As he did so he said, “Gentlemen, I have no idea of what is in this briefcase, however I will tell you this was presented to me by no less a person then the Emperor of Japan himself in a secret meeting arranged by Foreign Minister Shigemitsu at the Emperor’s personal request. Those words brought stunned looks from the Soviet and American ambassadors and a look of quiet amazement on the face of Sir Anthony Eden.
Inside the briefcase were three items. First was large sealed envelope with the Imperial seal of Japan on it in wax, second were two manila envelopes also both sealed. On top of the sealed envelope was a simple handwritten note “Open First.”
“If I may,” asked a now very curious Anthony Eden? Carefully the Foreign Minister worked open the seal. Within the envelope was a series of sheets written in a careful flowing longhand English script.
----------
The Showa Emperor Hirohito sends greetings to the Ambassador of the United States and requests that this document be read both by the President of the United States and by the Prime Minister of Great Britain.
For the past three years we have been locked in a war that has tested the resolve of all of our nations. The reasons for this war are many and perhaps would best be left for future historians to debate. First however, we must ensure there will be a future for all of us. To this end I have taken it upon myself without any consultation with the rest of my government to send this letter to you in secret.
On November 5th I was informed of the attack by our submarines upon the city of Los Angeles. This attack was carried out without my prior knowledge or support. Indeed, only a handful of the government even knew of this attack and that only after the fact. For myself, I was deeply shocked and saddened that such an attack was even unleashed. The weapons used in this attack are not new to us. Indeed I have known of their development and refinement for the last eight years. Thus, I must bear some of the guilt for their deployment against the United States.
When we began our war back in December of 1941 the desire of the war cabinet then was to bring the United States and Great Britain to the peace table quickly. It was not to commit mass murder, though I must regretfully confess that the last few years of our army and navy’s actions and particularly our recent actions in Los Angeles do not bear out that claim.
I know a great deal about the British and American peoples. I believe you are a fair and just people. But, I also know you can both be very fierce and ruthless once your wrath is raised. I know the recent attacks on Los Angeles and the attacks by our Fu-Go balloons must fill you with a great rage. The former Admiral Isuroku Yamamoto warned us that by attacking the United States we had “awakened a sleeping giant and filled him with a grim and terrible vengeance.” Only now do some of us begin to understand the truth of his words.
You must realize that by this simple act of communicating with you I am committing an act of treason in the sight of many in my government. Many here still believe the war is winnable. If they continue in their plans our nation will suffer and will cease to be a nation. I cannot allow that to happen. I am therefore willing in my authority as Emperor to discuss a complete and unconditional surrender of all Japanese forces with your representatives at your earliest convenience on neutral territory to be decided by you.
There is however one matter you need to understand. While I may speak I believe for all of Japan, not all of Japan speaks with me. The present cabinet is determined with very few exceptions to carry this war to a final and terrible end. These men have deluded themselves with images of a victory that is no longer possible. Were any of them to learn that I have written this letter to you they would certainly seek my death and put my son, who at his age is more tractable, on the Chrysanthemum Throne. Until this war cabinet is removed my hands are tied.
The situation is perilous. So, I ask for your help in freeing my hands as it were. I have included within the first of these folders the dates that the war cabinet will be meeting and the times as well as the places. I believe I can arrange for those who are of the “peace” faction to be elsewhere during these meetings. I trust that my meaning here is plain enough.
In addition in the second manila folder I provide all available information my aides were able to gather in a short time on the existence of the group that created the biological warfare agents used against Los Angeles. The group is named Unit 731 and is headed by a Dr. Shiro Ishii. The war faction endorses his work and so ties my hands again so that I cannot act against him. Despite what you may think as Emperor I am not all-powerful. The folder contains some known details of Ishii’s work as well as the locations for one of his laboratories near Canton, China. This was where the bombs that fell on Los Angeles were designed.
The hour is late and my hands are tied. I beg of you to untie my hands so that I may prevent the destruction of my people. Help me to achieve peace now, while there is still time.
Showa Emperor Hirohito of the Chrysanthemum Throne.
----------
For several minutes Sir Anthony Eden and the ambassadors gathered in his office looked at one another with stunned expressions on their face. Then Sir Eden touched his intercom and asked the secretary to have the kitchens send in some dinner and to not disturb him unless it was an emergency, they and others would be looking at this note and evaluating it long into the night and for several days to come.
Last edited:
Geon
Donor
Last Update for the Day
And just so you know that Skorzeny's men haven't been idle.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Date: November 25, 1944
Location: Stockholm harbor
Time: 7:00 p.m. [Stockholm time]
The assistant radio technician of the Arctic Dream was resting on the bottom of Stockholm harbor, his hands tied at his side, his feet tied together around a cement block. A few hours before the unfortunate individual had accepted a doped drink from one of the four German SS officers as they drank in a bar frequented by merchant seamen. Shortly afterward his new “friend,” had carried him out of the bar, then in a quiet area a quick stab with the knife and it was over. Removing the body and making sure it disappeared had been the hardest part.
Now Skorzeny’s agent was back in the small room he had rented near the waterfront. Come morning he would begin to show up at the mercantile headquarters to offer his services to replace the missing crew man. If all went well he would be on Arctic Dream when it sailed in seven days.
And just so you know that Skorzeny's men haven't been idle.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Date: November 25, 1944
Location: Stockholm harbor
Time: 7:00 p.m. [Stockholm time]
The assistant radio technician of the Arctic Dream was resting on the bottom of Stockholm harbor, his hands tied at his side, his feet tied together around a cement block. A few hours before the unfortunate individual had accepted a doped drink from one of the four German SS officers as they drank in a bar frequented by merchant seamen. Shortly afterward his new “friend,” had carried him out of the bar, then in a quiet area a quick stab with the knife and it was over. Removing the body and making sure it disappeared had been the hardest part.
Now Skorzeny’s agent was back in the small room he had rented near the waterfront. Come morning he would begin to show up at the mercantile headquarters to offer his services to replace the missing crew man. If all went well he would be on Arctic Dream when it sailed in seven days.
That depends on how much the Emperor's will is known. Valkyrie fell apart when it turned out Hitler was still alive, but a "Japanese Hardliner Valkyrie" that does away with Hirohito and uses his son as a puppet might work if they can successfully dispose of the Emperor.
Nuke them. Nuke Unit 731. Burn them from existence in holy sunfire.
Actually getting Allied bombers in a position to hit Manchuria could be geographically tricky, but if the militarists kill the Emperor to rule through his son and this causes some kind of civil war, who knows?
Well, seeing as the US based bombers in China in 1943-44 to start their long bombing of Japan, it would probably be pretty easy to base them there to hit Manchuria...
Ooh, ooh! An attempt by the Emperor himself to arrange the deaths of his political opponents in an allied raid! I suspect many expected him to offer up Unit 731 to allied bombs, but this takes the cake.
Geon, the originality and outstanding writing of this TL continues to amaze. Wouldn't it just screw the Nazis every which way if the US jumped on Hirohito's offer and the Pacific War ended before the Germans do their dastardly best? Or would this galvanize the reluctant and unexpectedly moral Doenitz and Von Rundstedt to yet find a way to sabotage the SS plans. Or is it all a missed opportunity when the US believes its a hoax or trap by the absolutrely dastardly Japs and blows them to kingdom come anyway?
I'm on pins and needles.
Geon, the originality and outstanding writing of this TL continues to amaze. Wouldn't it just screw the Nazis every which way if the US jumped on Hirohito's offer and the Pacific War ended before the Germans do their dastardly best? Or would this galvanize the reluctant and unexpectedly moral Doenitz and Von Rundstedt to yet find a way to sabotage the SS plans. Or is it all a missed opportunity when the US believes its a hoax or trap by the absolutrely dastardly Japs and blows them to kingdom come anyway?
I'm on pins and needles.
Tyr Anazasi
Banned
The peacock throne was in Teheran (and is missing). It is the synonym of the Iranian shah. The chrysanthemum throne is the Japanese equivalent.
- Status