Just as Dresden was part of Thunderclap, which in turn was part of facilitating the advance of the Red Army to take Berlin, which was the prerequisite to the Unconditional Surrender of Nazi Germany, thus it was with the Japanese.To have offered that brutal murderous regime anymore accommodation than the Nazis would have been madness. They had to accept the same stark choice, fight on or unconditionally surrender. It was the regime that had to go, the Empire was gone already to all intents and purposes. The common factor was of course the Emperor. What was done was done in his name. His only act of redemption was his broadcast to his people ordering them to submit. Thus he survived while some of his government were convicted and hung for the same war crimes as their Axis partners. I make no comment other than to point out that surviving British POWs turned their backs on their Sovereign because she happened to be sharing a carriage with the Japanese Emperor, who was making a State visit. That may just seem like bad manners. That generation didn't do bad manners. Diplomacy? You have to be joking!
Last edited by Chugalug2; 21st Feb 2013 at 16:36.