Fear of Invasion
Operation Downfall loomed like a nightmare. Set for November 1945, the planned invasion would dwarf D-Day with 766,000 American troops storming Kyushu’s beaches. Japan prepared a desperate defense: 10,000 kamikaze aircraft, midget submarines, and even civilians armed with sharpened bamboo spears. Women and schoolchildren drilled for close combat. Both sides anticipated millions of casualties. Japanese leaders knew their defense might inflict heavy losses but couldn’t prevent eventual defeat. This grim math pushed many toward seeking peace.
