What would have happened if Japan had struck with an atomic bomb first?
I have difficulty visualizing the USA giving up unconditionally.

fredg

Hi, Starman,
We might all be speaking Japanese now!
I am sure many have written, in speculation, about this very thing.
I also have difficulty in believing that, too. I also hope we will never know in the future, not speaking of Japan, but any other country.

RickJ

No way, in my opinion. I think if they'd have struck first, we'd have turned Japan into a parking lot.

And agreed. I fear the day that any nation uses an atomic bomb.

phillysteakandcheese

I have seen documentaries talking about how WW2 German scientists were indeed exploring atomic wepaons. I'm not sure how close Japan may have been.

I would speculate that had Japan (or Germany) been very close to developing an atomic weapon, the Allies would have come up with a specific strategy to disrupt that research as much as possible, as well as sabotage the means of producing a deployable atomic weapon.

It certianly is conceivable that had that technology race been lost, the world would have become a very different place than it is today.

Starman

It was generally believed that Japan was incapable of developing a nuclear bomb. But then in the year 2003 evidence was discovered that revealed otherwise. It was learned that a small team of scientists located in occupied Korea had managed to detonate a nuclear device before the bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Japanese requested certain essential material from Nazi Germany and a German submarine carrying the material needed to produce a powerful atomic bomb was on its way to Japan when it was intercepted by the American navy which had been informed by the code breakers who had intercepted the Japanese German messages. After seeing that all was lost, the Japanese destroyed the documents related to the bomb's research. However, one was overlooked and it was this one that revealed what the real situation was.


BTW
This information can be seen on a documentary entitled "Japan's Atomic Bomb" which is presently being given in the USA by Comcast Cable on the "On Demand Channel".

Here are some links:

Japan's Atomic Bomb
The real story behind the bombimg of Japan in World War II. Tell of Japan's atomic bomb and how we were almost too late. ... Email: . Japan's Atomic Bomb: We almost lost all. Japan's Atomic Bomb. by Leon Thompson ...
http://www.grunt.com/scuttlebutt/cor...atomicbomb.asp

OnTV
Japan's Atomic Bomb. Tune In: Tuesday, August 16 @ 8pm ET/PT. A revealing look at the untold story of Japan's atomic bomb, and how they may have detonated a nuclear device just two days before surrender.
http://www.historychannel.com/global...PM&page=search

Tune In: Tuesday, August 16 @ 8pm ET/PT

BobbyC

This would have been really something. But thanks for the schedule time Starman. I have a question for you all. In reading this, I remember having a converstion with with of my classmates at one time where he mentioned a writer, whose name I cannot remember. He has published books on how the world would be if the opposite had happened, going back to the War?

J_9

Haven't we, the U.S., been looking at that lately with North Korea and their "test missles"

Dr D

I may be further digressing from the original topic, but sadly I fear that the crazies will eventually secure a nuclear weapon and attack the US on its own soil. I almost miss the days of the cold war, (Mutualy Assured Destruction)where our enemies valued the lives of their citizens as much as we do ours. The only thing that I do know is that we will not surrender.

talaniman

They shoot theirs we shhot ours end of conversation!!

Dr D

"The Man in the High Castle" (1962) is an alternate-history novel about a post-war United States controlled by the Axis. It was written by Phillip K. ****, whose novels were the basis for "Minority Report" , "Blade Runner" and the new film "A Scanner Darkly". The computer would not print his last name which is short for Richard.