DDH - The Last Raid

Plausibly Live - The Dave Bowman Show Podcast · Aug 15, 2023 · 35m

In the days following the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, there was confusion and uncertainty in the upper echelons of the Imperial Japanese government. Most of the leadership had deferred the final decision to the Emperor, who told them to “Bear the unbearable.”

During the few days of waiting for the Japanese decision, the United States had paused its B-29 led bombing campaign. There rumors were rampant. Time after time the surrender was said to be imminent, but then faded away to be followed by yet another rumor.

As it became clear that Japan had not been – as yet – convinced to…