Japan 1945 (C. #200)

In this 200th Campaign series title Clayton Chun examines the final stages of World War II (1939-1945) as the Allies debated how to bring about the surrender of Japan. Chun not only describes the actual events but also analyzes the possible operations to capture the Japanese mainland which were never implemented. He details Operation Downfall (the planned invasion of the Japanese home islands) and its two-phased approach. Firstly Operation Olympic would see the invasion of Kyushu, followed by Operation Coronet which would see the invasion of the area around Tokyo.
Chun goes on to examine exactly why these plans were never implemented, including Allied fears that both military and civilian casualties would be terrible and would result in a long, drawn out war of attrition. He then goes on to examine the horrific alternative to military invasion - the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki with nuclear weapons - which made the Allied threat of "prompt and utter destruction" a reality. With a series of illustrations, including detailed diagrams of the atomic bombs, a depiction of the different stages of the explosions and maps of the original invasion plans, this book provides a unique perspective of a key event in world history. "From the fire-bombing of Japanese cities to the use of the atomic bombs, Dr. Chun acknowledged the aguish of those who planned and ordered he attacks, but did not digress into the moral debate himself. Questions surrounding President Truman's decision to launch atomic weapons persist to this day; Japan 1945 should be an essential piece of reference material for anyone wishing to weigh those questions within their proper historical and political contexts." - C. Peter Chen, "World War 2 Database / ww2db.com "(January 2010)
"Author Zaloga along with some superb photographs and the illustrations of Ian Palmer, tells the story of these vehicles from their earliest inception to the current range of vehicles to those being developed for the future. A story that has really just begun and is as fascinating today as it was when first developed. A book I know you will find interesting and informative. Highly recommended along with all of Osprey's titles in this series." -Scott Van Aken, "