Quote:
Originally Posted by Nightshift
However, the real question is, did the bomb dropped on Nagasaki occur before or after the Japanese surrendered?
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In the 1960's a group of Japanese historians interviewed surviving witnesses to
the Japanese surrender decision. They published a book "Nihon no Ichiban Nagai Hi"
(Japan's Longest Day) in 1965 that provides the account.
Despite the bombing of Hiroshima on the 6th, the Supreme War Council didn't
do anything until the morning after the Russians declared war on the 8th.
They met on the morning of the 9th and they were still split on the decision
to surrender. During the meeting, news came through that Nagasaki had also
been bombed.
in the early hours of the 10th, they were still arguing amongst themselves but
by 4am had drafted a formal note of surrender for cabinet approval. It
included wording to the effect that the allies pay respect to the Emperor.
It is important to keep in mind that the Allies back on July 26th issued
the Potsdam Declaration which spelt out the terms of surrender including that
those in authority who had led Japan into war would be removed.
Later on August 10th, B-29's fire bombed Tokyo.
The US reply came in th early hours of the 12th but they changed the wording
so that the the Emperor would be under their control.
In Japan, Hirohito accepted the US terms on the 14th, but even then there was
an attempt at a coup. On the 15th, the Japanese people heard Hirohito's voice for
the very first time when he broadcast the surrender on radio.
Amazon still has copies of the English translation of "Japan's Longest Day".
Given it is based on original sources, it remains amongst the most credible
of accounts for students of history -
http://www.amazon.com/Japans-Longest...7s+longest+day