Watching From San Diego - A Two for One July 20th 1944 TL
- Thread starter Bigby
- Start date
- Status
Roosevelt Presidential Cabinet, Fourth Term
Roosevelt Presidential Cabinet, Fourth Term
Vice President: Henry A. Wallace
Secretary of State: Wendell Willkie
Secretary of the Treasury: Rex Tugwell
Secretary of War: Henry Stimson
Attorney General: James Byrnes
Postmaster General: Frank C. Walker
Secretary of the Navy: James Forrestal
Secretary of the Interior: Harold Ickes
Secretary of Agriculture: Claude R. Wickard
Secretary of Commerce: Fred M. Vinson
Secretary of Labor: Frances Perkins
Vice President: Henry A. Wallace
Secretary of State: Wendell Willkie
Secretary of the Treasury: Rex Tugwell
Secretary of War: Henry Stimson
Attorney General: James Byrnes
Postmaster General: Frank C. Walker
Secretary of the Navy: James Forrestal
Secretary of the Interior: Harold Ickes
Secretary of Agriculture: Claude R. Wickard
Secretary of Commerce: Fred M. Vinson
Secretary of Labor: Frances Perkins
The list of upcoming Cabinet members for Roosevelt's fourth term shocked few. Notably, wartime-related positions remained the same, with the notable difference of Wendell Willkie replacing the retiring Cordell Hull. Roosevelt and Wallace both admitted that they did not want drastic change during the country's pivotal moments in the final stretch of World War II. This surprised no one, and was quite welcome. What was more controversial were the choices for Treasury and Commerce. Henry Wallace handpicked these candidates for those Cabinet positions. Members of the conservative coalition sounded alarms, especially with the Brain Trust guru Tugwell. Roosevelt smoothed discussion over on his return from Prague by nominating conservative James Byrnes to Attorney General as a compromise. The plan worked, and the proposed Cabinet was approved.
Last edited:
President Roosevelt's Fourth Inaugural Address
President Roosevelt's Fourth Inaugural Address: January 20th, 1945
President Roosevelt at his Inaugural Address
President Roosevelt at his Inaugural Address
This was Roosevelt's fourth and latest inaugural address. The nation remained dedicated to a burning war in the Pacific as the European Theatre came to a close. Troops from Europe began to find themselves stationed eastward, and the post-VE limited civilian economic measures had to be scaled back from Christmas, but not totally removed. The quagmire of Leyte Gulf was still a recent memory. Success came in Formosa, but very slowly. Roosevelt had a lot to plan for, and his ill health was taking its toll. Therefore, this would be his shortest address, clocking in around a mere fifteen minutes. The President remained brief, but sent a firm message.
"My fellow Americans, I have been elected for a fourth time. You have wisely chosen to remain with experienced leadership, and not to change course during one of America's most trying times. We have defeated the forces of evil in Europe. As we uncover more the atrocities perpetrated by the Germans against the Jews and other groups, we remember what we are fighting against. We will make the men responsible for all these atrocities, all these sins, all these pains, answer for what they have done against humanity as a whole. Justice demands it.
Conversely, the Japanese, the sole remaining Axis Power, must also answer for its crimes. We remember the Rape of Nanking. We remember their naked ambitions for imperial hegemony over innocents. And of course, we remember the day that shall forever live in infamy when they launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. I want the Japanese to know this: we did not give Germany a conditional surrender, and we will not give you one. Americans finish what they start. America will only rest when it has defeated you and your villainy utterly and entirely. I will devote myself, body and soul, to the ending of Japanese aggression.
Once the war ends, America will see a second return to normalcy. Civilian business will reopen. Our GIs will be rewarded for their selfless service. Families will be reunited. Most importantly, I will begin working with Congress to pass the Second Bill of Rights and secure the legacy of the New Deal forever. I owe the American people that much as payment for nearly four years of sacrifice. I want to leave America better than I found it, full of productive, well-fed, happy people. We are the shining example of freedom in the world. Freedom from poverty, freedom from stagnation, freedom from discrimination and oppression."
"My fellow Americans, I have been elected for a fourth time. You have wisely chosen to remain with experienced leadership, and not to change course during one of America's most trying times. We have defeated the forces of evil in Europe. As we uncover more the atrocities perpetrated by the Germans against the Jews and other groups, we remember what we are fighting against. We will make the men responsible for all these atrocities, all these sins, all these pains, answer for what they have done against humanity as a whole. Justice demands it.
Conversely, the Japanese, the sole remaining Axis Power, must also answer for its crimes. We remember the Rape of Nanking. We remember their naked ambitions for imperial hegemony over innocents. And of course, we remember the day that shall forever live in infamy when they launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. I want the Japanese to know this: we did not give Germany a conditional surrender, and we will not give you one. Americans finish what they start. America will only rest when it has defeated you and your villainy utterly and entirely. I will devote myself, body and soul, to the ending of Japanese aggression.
Once the war ends, America will see a second return to normalcy. Civilian business will reopen. Our GIs will be rewarded for their selfless service. Families will be reunited. Most importantly, I will begin working with Congress to pass the Second Bill of Rights and secure the legacy of the New Deal forever. I owe the American people that much as payment for nearly four years of sacrifice. I want to leave America better than I found it, full of productive, well-fed, happy people. We are the shining example of freedom in the world. Freedom from poverty, freedom from stagnation, freedom from discrimination and oppression."
I think you mean the Alps.
For a moment I saw Franco sweating...
BTW, will the new president (FDR or AHW) care about Spain? After all Franco occupied Tangiers on 1940.
Nice TL, please continue it.
Pacific Front January and February 1945
Pacific Front, January and February 1945: New Year, New Gains
Allied POWs Discovered in Taiwan, February 1945
Allied POWs Discovered in Taiwan, February 1945
Originally, the Japanese expected to hold out much longer than Germany in 1945. However, the American landings in Taiwan surprised the Japanese. One of their longest owned colonies falling faster than the recently conquered Philippines was not expected by anyone on either side of the war. Success in the Philippines became failure in Formosa. By this point, British naval reinforcements had fully arrived from the Suez Canal, sandwiching the Japanese Navy from the Philippines to Indonesia. Given Japan's reliance on their Navy, calling this problematic for the Japanese was un utter understatement. Was this the beginning of the end for Japan?
Operation Formosa quickly concluded by February. Coastal resistance to the Americans quickly fell, thanks to Taiwanese partisans. Beigang fell on January 8th, followed by Chiayi on January 11th. Despite the no surrender attitude of the Japanese, the full focus of the Americans as well as the invigorated Taiwanese resistance proved too much to handle. The Americans marched into Taichung on January 14th, defying all expectations. The Japanese decided to withdraw to the mountains, only defending the eastern cities and Taiwan. This allowed them to hold in the Taiwanese capital for a while, slowing the American offensives and allowing them to make incursions against American reinforcements. This only delayed the inevitable, however, and the Americans destroyed the Japanese completely in Taiwan by January 23rd. Though it was the bloodiest battle in Operation Formosa, it was the most critical for the American war effort. The Americans would have to spend much of February clearing Japanese holdouts, but overall, Operation Formosa's main goals were met.
During the following month of February, the Americans focused on clearing the remaining Japanese in Taiwan. Joseph McCarthy, one of the soldiers involved in the war effort, defied his recon orders by heading further east on the coastline when ordered to recon the mountains. This would have received a reprimand, maybe even a court martial, but what McCarthy found received him praise by upper command instead. McCarthy and his men went on the rumors they heard months ago at the start of Operation Formosa, heading towards the still disputed town of Jinguashi. There, they stumbled upon the Kinkaseki copper mines. It was host to Allied POWs, Americans, British, Commonwealth, and so on alike.
What these men saw horrified them. Japanese POW treatment was already infamous, but Kinkaseki took the cake. The liberated soldiers told McCarthy's recon unit of the horrors inflicted upon them. If quotas were not met, the Japanese would beat their captors bloody with hammers. Their only food consisted of cheap rice and watery soup. Even with sickness, they were forced to work. When McCarthy reported back to command, the Americans quickly took the camp and began to expatriate the POWS to medical care and home. McCarthy was rewarded for his bravery, especially by the British given how most of the POWs there were British and Commonwealth troops. McCarthy was happy to free his fellow soldiers, but his friends could not help but notice how sour he felt, deep down. Were these men going to be forgotten, looked over? He could not help but wonder. How many men suffered because of his earlier inaction, and the inaction of his fellow Americans?
In Manchuria, the Japanese began to sweat. No signs of Soviet invasion yet manifested. However, Soviet General Secretary Stalin renounced the non-aggression pact he signed with the Japanese back in 1941. Japanese recon reported massive Soviet buildup along the Manchurian border. The Chinese received extra munitions and supplies, rumored to have Soviet connections. Japanese Command quickly withdrew some troops from these Chinese Front to prepare defenses, which cost them some progress, but hopefully this would deter or slow down the Reds in case anything happened. Nothing happened during February, but how long would that be the case?
Operation Formosa quickly concluded by February. Coastal resistance to the Americans quickly fell, thanks to Taiwanese partisans. Beigang fell on January 8th, followed by Chiayi on January 11th. Despite the no surrender attitude of the Japanese, the full focus of the Americans as well as the invigorated Taiwanese resistance proved too much to handle. The Americans marched into Taichung on January 14th, defying all expectations. The Japanese decided to withdraw to the mountains, only defending the eastern cities and Taiwan. This allowed them to hold in the Taiwanese capital for a while, slowing the American offensives and allowing them to make incursions against American reinforcements. This only delayed the inevitable, however, and the Americans destroyed the Japanese completely in Taiwan by January 23rd. Though it was the bloodiest battle in Operation Formosa, it was the most critical for the American war effort. The Americans would have to spend much of February clearing Japanese holdouts, but overall, Operation Formosa's main goals were met.
During the following month of February, the Americans focused on clearing the remaining Japanese in Taiwan. Joseph McCarthy, one of the soldiers involved in the war effort, defied his recon orders by heading further east on the coastline when ordered to recon the mountains. This would have received a reprimand, maybe even a court martial, but what McCarthy found received him praise by upper command instead. McCarthy and his men went on the rumors they heard months ago at the start of Operation Formosa, heading towards the still disputed town of Jinguashi. There, they stumbled upon the Kinkaseki copper mines. It was host to Allied POWs, Americans, British, Commonwealth, and so on alike.
What these men saw horrified them. Japanese POW treatment was already infamous, but Kinkaseki took the cake. The liberated soldiers told McCarthy's recon unit of the horrors inflicted upon them. If quotas were not met, the Japanese would beat their captors bloody with hammers. Their only food consisted of cheap rice and watery soup. Even with sickness, they were forced to work. When McCarthy reported back to command, the Americans quickly took the camp and began to expatriate the POWS to medical care and home. McCarthy was rewarded for his bravery, especially by the British given how most of the POWs there were British and Commonwealth troops. McCarthy was happy to free his fellow soldiers, but his friends could not help but notice how sour he felt, deep down. Were these men going to be forgotten, looked over? He could not help but wonder. How many men suffered because of his earlier inaction, and the inaction of his fellow Americans?
In Manchuria, the Japanese began to sweat. No signs of Soviet invasion yet manifested. However, Soviet General Secretary Stalin renounced the non-aggression pact he signed with the Japanese back in 1941. Japanese recon reported massive Soviet buildup along the Manchurian border. The Chinese received extra munitions and supplies, rumored to have Soviet connections. Japanese Command quickly withdrew some troops from these Chinese Front to prepare defenses, which cost them some progress, but hopefully this would deter or slow down the Reds in case anything happened. Nothing happened during February, but how long would that be the case?
A Meeting of Red Minds
A Meeting of Red Minds
Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov arranged one of the most important, and secret, diplomatic meetings for the Soviet Union in February 1945. It remained an open secret that the Russians were planning to invade Japanese-occupied China soon, as promised in the Tunis and Prague Conferences. Mao did not yet know when the Russians would invade, and how they would cooperate with him once they did. He was also ignorant to the promise of Manchuria in the Soviet sphere at the Prague Conference. The Russians decided to meet with a friendlier candidate before saying anything to Chiang or Mao, especially Mao.
Molotov sat down and offered Wang a drink, which he accepted. "So, you know why we are meeting, yes?" Molotov asked. Wang replied by shaking his head. "No. That rat bastard Mao has discredited me in front of all of China. The communists in my home listen to him now." "But we're not in your home. Not your old home anyway." Molotov learned with a wicked grin. "What if I told you we were going to invade Manchuria soon? But here's the kicker, Stalin hates Mao just as much as you do, and now we have an opportunity to show Mao what happens when you betray the Revolution."
Wang raised a brow. "That's great, but how does invading Manchuria hurt Mao? Opening another front will do nothing but help collapse Japan and relieve Mao and his forces-" Molotov interrupted Wang by placing a map down with Manchuria painted red, labelled as "the Manchurian People's Republic." Not as part of China, not as a Japanese puppet, but as a free Marxist state. "This will be yours if you offer to help us against the Japanese, and against Mao. Don't announce these plans yet; play nice with Mao for now. Keep this secret, and Stalin will return you to greatness by making you Premier of Manchuria. Deal?"
Wang though for a few seconds before nodding and finishing his drink. "You know what? Deal. If I can't have China, Manchuria will do nicely. At least that region will develop communism properly instead of Mao's perversion." "My thoughts exactly. Now, you'll need this..." Molotov handed Wang a train ticket. "Prepare for Vladivostok. I want you side by side with us when we arrive in Manchuria. We'll need you close by for propaganda reasons."
Molotov sat down and offered Wang a drink, which he accepted. "So, you know why we are meeting, yes?" Molotov asked. Wang replied by shaking his head. "No. That rat bastard Mao has discredited me in front of all of China. The communists in my home listen to him now." "But we're not in your home. Not your old home anyway." Molotov learned with a wicked grin. "What if I told you we were going to invade Manchuria soon? But here's the kicker, Stalin hates Mao just as much as you do, and now we have an opportunity to show Mao what happens when you betray the Revolution."
Wang raised a brow. "That's great, but how does invading Manchuria hurt Mao? Opening another front will do nothing but help collapse Japan and relieve Mao and his forces-" Molotov interrupted Wang by placing a map down with Manchuria painted red, labelled as "the Manchurian People's Republic." Not as part of China, not as a Japanese puppet, but as a free Marxist state. "This will be yours if you offer to help us against the Japanese, and against Mao. Don't announce these plans yet; play nice with Mao for now. Keep this secret, and Stalin will return you to greatness by making you Premier of Manchuria. Deal?"
Wang though for a few seconds before nodding and finishing his drink. "You know what? Deal. If I can't have China, Manchuria will do nicely. At least that region will develop communism properly instead of Mao's perversion." "My thoughts exactly. Now, you'll need this..." Molotov handed Wang a train ticket. "Prepare for Vladivostok. I want you side by side with us when we arrive in Manchuria. We'll need you close by for propaganda reasons."
I am enjoying this timeline. The repurposing of pictures works well. Just curious. Where and when did this one take place?
OTL, this particular picture was from POWs being freed by Australians in Singapore. Not the same, but I thought it worked well here.
79th Congress Overview
79th Congress Overview, January 1945
The updated Senate map for the 79th Congress, serving 1945 - 1947
The updated Senate map for the 79th Congress, serving 1945 - 1947
The Democrats enjoyed wider control of Congress after the 1944 elections. While not filibuster proof, the Senate was firmly in Democratic hands, and Speaker Rayburn in the House increased his majority margins. Down-ballot Democrats did well in riding off of Roosevelt's coattails from the huge boon in defeating Germany. Western Democrats, however, expressed concern about Roosevelt's mixed performance with the Pacific Theatre and small scale restarting of limited civilian enterprise on the Eastern Seaboard. Success n Formosa quelled their concerns for now.
The progressive, pro-Labor faction of the Democrats grew thanks to key victories in the North. This gave the Conservative Coalition of conservative Democrats, Southerners, and Republicans concern, especially on economic matters. Roosevelt could pass more left-wing legislation more easily, especially after the war. There was no guarantee with Henry Wallace, since Roosevelt had more subtlety and charisma, but the issue was still there. The exit of Robert Taft in Ohio did not help matters for the conservatives. Their one small reprieve was Progressive Senator Bob La Follette, who broke ranks by becoming outspokenly anti-communist during the war. This led to a lot of controversy in the Wisconsin Progressive Party, even from moderates, as La Follette was basically criticizing the President's choice of allies during wartime.
Vice President Wallace used the expanding progressive Democratic base to begin talks of postwar economic programs. Though unable to decide on anything until after the war, many Democrats agreed that it would soon be the time to push for the Second Bill of Rights. Secretly, legislators worked with Wallace and Treasury Secretary Rex Tugwell on the project. While war waged in the Pacific, this draft would remain on the backburner until the war ended and President Roosevelt could focus on domestic matters. Wallace also used this opportunity to test the waters with his fellow progressives, having Presidential ambitions for 1948.
The progressive, pro-Labor faction of the Democrats grew thanks to key victories in the North. This gave the Conservative Coalition of conservative Democrats, Southerners, and Republicans concern, especially on economic matters. Roosevelt could pass more left-wing legislation more easily, especially after the war. There was no guarantee with Henry Wallace, since Roosevelt had more subtlety and charisma, but the issue was still there. The exit of Robert Taft in Ohio did not help matters for the conservatives. Their one small reprieve was Progressive Senator Bob La Follette, who broke ranks by becoming outspokenly anti-communist during the war. This led to a lot of controversy in the Wisconsin Progressive Party, even from moderates, as La Follette was basically criticizing the President's choice of allies during wartime.
Vice President Wallace used the expanding progressive Democratic base to begin talks of postwar economic programs. Though unable to decide on anything until after the war, many Democrats agreed that it would soon be the time to push for the Second Bill of Rights. Secretly, legislators worked with Wallace and Treasury Secretary Rex Tugwell on the project. While war waged in the Pacific, this draft would remain on the backburner until the war ended and President Roosevelt could focus on domestic matters. Wallace also used this opportunity to test the waters with his fellow progressives, having Presidential ambitions for 1948.
I remembered that OTL Vinson served in the Treasury Department, so I made him Commerce Secretary here as a retcon. Hope this works better.
Pacific Front March 1945: The Red Horde Marches East
Pacific Front March 1945: The Red Horde Marches East
Soviet plans for incursions into Japanese Manchuria, March 1945.
Soviet plans for incursions into Japanese Manchuria, March 1945.
The Japanese were on their last legs. Formosa had be been practically lost. The Americans spent the first half of March contesting Iwo Jima and the northern Philippines. The British naval reinforcements cost them any naval superiority. Their German allies had been gone for months. It seemed like the beginning of the end, and the Japanese began to wonder how long they could last. Could this get any worse?
Yes, it could, and it did. While the Japanese were busy trying to repel a second Operation Comeback in the northern Philippines, the Soviets broke in through Manchuria on March 21st, 1945. While the Japanese were at least somewhat prepared in Manchuria, their island fronts were neglected. The Soviets took Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands completely by March 24th, a mere three days after invasion. The only reprieve was the dispelling of rumors that the Soviets were going to invade the northern Japanese home islands. However, the Russians did use their limited naval capacity to blockade the sea near Korea and western Japan.
Manchuria itself fared little better. By the end of March, the Soviets had captured Qiqhar and and Daqing in the north and Mudanjiang in the east. Harbin was entered by still contested by the start of April. Russian onslaught was at maximum, as despite terrain advantage and prior reinforcements, the Japanese found themselves stretched too thin. Their only real success was keeping the Soviets pinned down in Menjiang, and the Russians were not yet trying too hard in that region. Everyone involved in the war, including the Americans and British, watched in awe at the Soviets' magnificent speed into Manchuria. Wang Ming, Chinese communist, announced to the world that the Russians would be the liberators of China. While this announcement secretly infuriated Mao, most Chinese were relieved as it meant the Japanese would surely suffer in China. Peace was no longer an option thanks to Soviet declaration of war, only unconditional surrender.
The Americans were relieved. Not only did Stalin keep his promise, this worked exactly as planned. Landings made in Santa Ana and Claveria in the Philippines early in March were costly but successful, The Americans had only progressed to Santiago and the outskirts of Luzon by March 21st, with the Japanese offering no surrender in hopes of crushing MacArthur a second time. However, the announcement of Russian entry into war threw the Japanese garrisons into disarray. Within two days, the Americans had taken Luzon and reached Manila. The Battle on Manila lasted only two days, being a resounding American victory. The American ships Enterprise and Lexington cornered the Musashi in the Leyte Gulf, during the last week, sinking the Japanese ship on March 30th. This quickly allowed further landings to take the rest of the Philippines, which would conclude in April. Unexpectedly, the Americans marched into Iwo Jima with overwhelming naval and aerial superiority on March 30th as well, the battle having lasted for only a day. No one expected an island so close to Japan to be taken so quickly, but the Japanese crumbling towards the Reds meant they were pulling out wherever they could. Siam sued for peace unconditionally with the British on March 30th, forcing the Japanese to respond hastily in Indochina.
Yes, it could, and it did. While the Japanese were busy trying to repel a second Operation Comeback in the northern Philippines, the Soviets broke in through Manchuria on March 21st, 1945. While the Japanese were at least somewhat prepared in Manchuria, their island fronts were neglected. The Soviets took Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands completely by March 24th, a mere three days after invasion. The only reprieve was the dispelling of rumors that the Soviets were going to invade the northern Japanese home islands. However, the Russians did use their limited naval capacity to blockade the sea near Korea and western Japan.
Manchuria itself fared little better. By the end of March, the Soviets had captured Qiqhar and and Daqing in the north and Mudanjiang in the east. Harbin was entered by still contested by the start of April. Russian onslaught was at maximum, as despite terrain advantage and prior reinforcements, the Japanese found themselves stretched too thin. Their only real success was keeping the Soviets pinned down in Menjiang, and the Russians were not yet trying too hard in that region. Everyone involved in the war, including the Americans and British, watched in awe at the Soviets' magnificent speed into Manchuria. Wang Ming, Chinese communist, announced to the world that the Russians would be the liberators of China. While this announcement secretly infuriated Mao, most Chinese were relieved as it meant the Japanese would surely suffer in China. Peace was no longer an option thanks to Soviet declaration of war, only unconditional surrender.
The Americans were relieved. Not only did Stalin keep his promise, this worked exactly as planned. Landings made in Santa Ana and Claveria in the Philippines early in March were costly but successful, The Americans had only progressed to Santiago and the outskirts of Luzon by March 21st, with the Japanese offering no surrender in hopes of crushing MacArthur a second time. However, the announcement of Russian entry into war threw the Japanese garrisons into disarray. Within two days, the Americans had taken Luzon and reached Manila. The Battle on Manila lasted only two days, being a resounding American victory. The American ships Enterprise and Lexington cornered the Musashi in the Leyte Gulf, during the last week, sinking the Japanese ship on March 30th. This quickly allowed further landings to take the rest of the Philippines, which would conclude in April. Unexpectedly, the Americans marched into Iwo Jima with overwhelming naval and aerial superiority on March 30th as well, the battle having lasted for only a day. No one expected an island so close to Japan to be taken so quickly, but the Japanese crumbling towards the Reds meant they were pulling out wherever they could. Siam sued for peace unconditionally with the British on March 30th, forcing the Japanese to respond hastily in Indochina.
MacArthur's men raising the flag in Manila, March 1945. MacArthur snidely remarked, "Now THIS is me coming back!"
Due to the butterflies, the Battle of Manila in TTL isn't as bloody as OTL. Took a whole month to reclaim the city which was razed to the ground. Because the Japanese were losing, they massacred over 100,000 civilians as payback.The Americans were relieved. Not only did Stalin keep his promise, this worked exactly as planned. Landings made in Santa Ana and Claveria in the Philippines early in March were costly but successful, The Americans had only progressed to Santiago and the outskirts of Luzon by March 21st, with the Japanese offering no surrender in hopes of crushing MacArthur a second time. However, the announcement of Russian entry into war threw the Japanese garrisons into disarray. Within two days, the Americans had taken Luzon and reached Manila. The Battle on Manila lasted only two days, being a resounding American victory. The American ships Enterprise and Lexington cornered the Musashi in the Leyte Gulf, during the last week, sinking the Japanese ship on March 30th. This quickly allowed further landings to take the rest of the Philippines, which would conclude in April. Unexpectedly, the Americans marched into Iwo Jima with overwhelming naval and aerial superiority on March 30th as well, the battle having lasted for only a day. No one expected an island so close to Japan to be taken so quickly, but the Japanese crumbling towards the Reds meant they were pulling out wherever they could. Siam sued for peace unconditionally with the British on March 30th, forcing the Japanese to respond hastily in Indochina.
MacArthur's men raising the flag in Manila, March 1945. MacArthur snidely remarked, "Now THIS is me coming back!"
The iconic flag raising photo is in Manila instead of Iwo Jima. I assume Iwo Jima would still be deadly as it was in OTL?
I imagine Iwo Jima is still bloody, but not as much since it did not last as long. You are right about Manila. MacArthur really wanted to rub it in, having lost the first time, so that's why I used it there.
The iconic photo would be known "Raising the flag over Manila" and would remain as this TL's equivalent of the Iwo Jima flag raising. My next question would be if A-bombs would be used or would Operation Downfall go ahead.
So I've done good on that part. I'm writing the next bits, so answering that final question would be spoilers.
- Status