alternatehistory.com

All,

Apparantly, Marshall did not believe that Japan would capitulate after the 2 nuclear bombs:

Wiki:

"On Marshall's orders, Major General John E. Hull looked into the tactical use of nuclear weapons for the invasion of the Japanese home islands (even after the dropping of two strategic atomic bombs on Japan, Marshall did not think that the Japanese would capitulate immediately). Colonel Lyle E. Seeman reported that at least seven bombs would be available by X-Day, which could be dropped on defending forces".

Tactical nukes in 1945/6? things moved fast, after all.

What would have happened if another 7-15 bombs (15 being another estimate)had been dropped?

Now, the planned invasion was supposed to be a total US show. King was not even intrested in having RN involved at all, if he could avoid it.

More wiki:

"MacArthur blocked proposals to include an Indian Army division, because of differences in language, organization, composition, equipment, training, and doctrine.[16] He also recommended that the (non-US) corps should be organized along the lines of a US corps, should use only US equipment and logistics, and should train in the US for six months before deployment; these suggestions were accepted"
(Italics are mine).

That is a bit heavy on supposedly allied troops, I should think?

Now, the bigger question is:

Would this massive operation have been along the llines of pacific war invasions of islands or would it have been a more Overlord type operation?

By that I mean: more planning, more involvement of navy/army cooperation, especially if britain got involved?

There is a subtle difference between tarawa and Tokyo Plain?

What now if Churchill/Rosevelt/Truman had agreed that since US had the supreme commander for Overlord, Britain could have the supreme commander for Downfall? Was it even likely (I don't think so, though) and who would it have been?

Brooke? Montgomery? Slim? ??? (maybe they would have hired Manstein on a consultancy contract?)

Another question: How tired of war was the general japanese population at that time? Would it have made a big difference if Downfall was put off until 1948 (as the very early plans had looked at)?

Comments?

ivan
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