Operation Downfall

Atomic Bomb Controversy

Though Japan surrendered in World War II just days after "Fat Man" was dropped on Nagasaki, many people felt that the bombing was a "crime against humanity." Those who argued in favor of dropping the bomb believed that it ended the war months earlier and saved many more lives than an invasion would have. The U.S. also offered Japan a chance to surrender on July 26, 1945 in the Potsdam Declaration and warned them that if they didn't surrender, they would face "prompt and utter destruction." Some people, however, still thought that it was so destructive that it "violated the most basic legal principles governing the conduct of war." Many also believed that Japan was already defeated and would surrender soon anyway.

Operation Olympic

 The alternative to the atomic bomb was an invasion of Japan called Operation Downfall, which consisted of two parts. The first was Operation Olympic, which was planned to capture the southern part of the Japanese island, Kyushu. It was to begin on "X-Day" (November 1, 1945), and the Allied armada included 42 aircraft carriers, 24 battleships, and 400 destroyers and destroyer escorts. Before the main invasion, the islands Tanegashima, Yakushima, and Koshikijima had to be captured. The U.S. Sixth Army was to invade Kyushu at three points: Miyazaki, Ariake, and Kushikino. If things went according to plan, the U.S. soldiers would outnumber the Japanese soldiers by a ratio of about 3 to 1. Only southern Kyushu needed to be capured because it would provide a base for Operation Coronet, the second part of Operation Downfall.

This is a diagram for the design of Operation Olympic. The main goal was to capture the southern portion of Kyushu and use it as a base for Operation Coronet.

 



 

 



 



 

This picture is cited at http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/89/Operation_Olympic.jpg

Operation Coronet

Operation Coronet was scheduled to begin on "Y-Day" (March 1, 1946), and would have been the largest amphibious operation of all time with 25 divisions. The U.S. First Army was set to invade Kujukuri while the U.S. Eighth Army was to invade Hiratsuka. Both armies would drive inland and meet to capture Tokyo. Had Japan not surrendered and made Operation Downfall unnecessary, millions of Allied casualties were estimated as well as tens of millions of Japanese casualties.

This is a diagram of the design for Operation Coronet. Two armies were to start at different cities and then meet at Tokyo, which is the circled area in the center of the map.



 

 

 

 

 

 

 
This picture is cited at http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/db/Operation_Coronet.jpg