Page 30 - All About History - Issue 16-14

What if…
THE SOVIETS HAD INVADED JAPAN IN WWII?
Kuril islands
Russian forces invaded the Kuril Islands in
August 1945. In our alternative scenario,
they push on further south to the
Japanese mainland.

Hokkaido
The second-largest island in Japan – and
largest northern island – falls to Soviet
troops as they continue to push south.

Barrier
Japan is divided
into two
separate zones;
a Communist-
controlled north
and a south Tokyo
with US troops The capital city
in charge. remains under
US control. Its
industry and
booming post-
war economy
sits in sharp
To yo contract to
Japan some of the
northern Soviet-
controlled cities.

A group of US Marines search for
enemy soldiers during fighting in more or less willing to support it. The same with Vietnam – Japan had signed a neutrality pact in 1941, so the Soviet
Japan in WWII perhaps the Americans would have felt over-stretched in Asia Union wasn’t involved in the Pacific theatre of the war until
and not have gotten involved in French colonial questions, August 1945. However, the US had been pushing for Soviet
or maybe the possibility of communist spread would have involvement against Japan since 1942. The Roosevelt and
seemed like an even greater threat. Truman administrations both hoped the Russians could fight
the Japanese army in Manchuria and help with the invasion
What would have been the US response to the invasion? of Japan that was planned before the successful test of the
The Soviets and Americans were allies in WWII, fighting atomic bomb. While there were some dissenting voices in the
together in the European theatre. The Soviet Union and US government, by and large the administration supported the
idea of Russia joining the fight against Japan and becoming
part of the invasion and occupation.
“ A successful pro-Soviet communist
Japan would have increased the Would there have been any Japanese resistance to
Soviet rule?
power of the Soviet Union” The Allies expected substantial resistance after surrender,
both to occupation on the home islands and to surrender

How would it be diff erent? O USSR declares war on Japan
Japan has been at war with the US and
Britain since December 1941, but the
USSR only officially declares war on this
date. The Soviets march into Manchuria
O Pearl Harbour as Japan continues its retreat.
Japan decides to 8 August 1945
launch a surprise
attack on the
Hawaiian US base
Pearl Harbor. 2,335
Real timeline servicemen die. Real timeline
7 December 1941

1937
Alternate timeline
O Second Sino-Japanese War begins
Japan has been expanding into O Naval battle
mainland Asia since 1931 and tensions The Battle of O Atomic bomb dropped
with China reach a head with the Marco Midway, one of the on Hiroshima
Polo Bridge Incident as war breaks out. most important naval With Germany defeated, O Soviet Union invades Japan
July 1937 battles of WWII, President Harry Truman A decision is made by the
takes place. Japan’s orders the dropping of the Soviet hierarchy to press on
plan to draw the US atomic bomb on the city past Manchuria on the Asian
forces into a trap of Hiroshima. A second mainland and an air and sea
fails and they suffer bomb is dropped on assault is followed by a landing
significant losses. Nagasaki three days later. force on Hokkaido.
4-7 June 1942 6 August 1945 20 August 1945
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