Greatest Strategic Air Missions

"Venik" wrote in message
...
Keith Willshaw wrote:

That just whacked a huge number of civilians.



Well no.

Are you saying that a large number of civilians was not killed in that
bombing?


Nope and a large number of civilians died in the
Soviet capture of Berlin - war is hell.


Hirsohima was not only the home port for much of the
Japanese Navy it was also the home of 2nd Army Headquarters,
which commanded the defense of all of southern Japan.
There were large numbers of troops based there. At
least 3 divisions IRC

The bombing did not target any specific military facilities.

Hiroshima was a major army and naval centre, like
Kronstadt , Portsmouth or Konigsberg

According
to the Japanese figures, military casualties from the attack accounted
for less than 3% of the overall casualties. Thus, for every Japanese
soldier killed in the Hiroshima bombing there was 97% of "collateral
damage." So, no, it was not the greatest strategic air mission.

Getting the enemy to surrender unconditionally is about as
strategic as it gets.

The Soviet advances were the primary reason for the fact that the Japs
were even considering a surrender.

The Japanese cabinet stated otherwise. Indeed more than one
of those in that body publically stated that only the use of the bomb
allowed them to surrender.


They figured maybe Stalin won't stop
with the Kurils. Same situation as with the Germans trying to surrender
to the Americans

Hint the Americans refused to accept that surrender and
held out for uncoditional surrender - as with Japan.

The USSR lacked the amphibious capability to invade the
Japanese home islands. Even the combined carrier forces
of Britain and America were barely adequate at Okinawa.
Lots of luck trying to invade Honshu without air cover.


and nobody nuked them.


Except that the Japanese werent prepared to surrender until after
the second bomb and even the the Emperor had to intervene.

Keith




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