# A-bombs vs. firebombing of Tokyo **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 28, 2016, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bombs-vs-firebombing-of-tokyo/755893 "2016-05-28T15:22:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2016, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bombs-vs-firebombing-of-tokyo/755893/161 "2016-06-19T02:15:47Z")
> [@Johnwaynelsd25](#): > > Personally I think the soviet factor merely coincided with the events already in motion. So there you have it. Interesting and controversial topic, although I don’t have time to debate it endlessly. This is the best one to quote; I believe the emperor was overwhelmed. Japan had come to a point that “the war situation has developed not necessarily to Japan’s advantage”. It was overwhelming. Continued nuclear bombs would have caused a Japanese surrender, as would a Russian intervention. Hirohito realized that the jig was up. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2016, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bombs-vs-firebombing-of-tokyo/755893/162 "2016-06-19T02:30:52Z")
> [@Johnwaynelsd25](#): > > And besides it is irrelevant to the main point here. Hirohito made no mention of the soviet invasion of manchuria as a contributing factor to the Japanese surrender. The problem of depending on what Hirohito thought is that he was only consulted in the very end, the military was in control. AFAIK The Imperial Army and Navy, limited Hirohito to blessing plans and strategy formulated by the imperial forces, with little or no input from the Emperor. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2016, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bombs-vs-firebombing-of-tokyo/755893/163 "2016-06-19T02:38:39Z")
One more thing that it should not be forgotten, but close to the end of WWII a lot of the military fabrics and fuel production that was left for Japan remained or was moved to Manchuria to avoid the destruction coming to the manufacturing of weapons and other materials in mainland Japan. Once it was clear that Russia was going to take over the region it was like when Albert Speer told to Hitler that the war was lost just by looking at the final losses of the industry of war. ---
**Author:** ![Johnwaynelsd25](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c68b51/32.png) [@Johnwaynelsd25](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnwaynelsd25)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2016, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bombs-vs-firebombing-of-tokyo/755893/164 "2016-06-19T03:57:09Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > One more thing that it should not be forgotten, but close to the end of WWII a lot of the military fabrics and fuel production that was left for Japan remained or was moved to Manchuria to avoid the destruction coming to the manufacturing of weapons and other materials in mainland Japan. > > Once it was clear that Russia was going to take over the region it was like when Albert Speer told to Hitler that the war was lost just by looking at the final losses of the industry of war. Indeed this was a significant factor. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2016, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bombs-vs-firebombing-of-tokyo/755893/165 "2016-06-26T14:30:03Z")
> [@Johnwaynelsd25](#): > > To say the Soviets provoked surrender is laughable. Did you even read the thread? This was addressed in detail. Look at the specific points which I and others have brought up. > [@Johnwaynelsd25](#): > > Indeed this was a significant factor. Bull shit. ---
**Author:** ![Johnwaynelsd25](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c68b51/32.png) [@Johnwaynelsd25](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnwaynelsd25)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2016, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bombs-vs-firebombing-of-tokyo/755893/166 "2016-06-26T22:31:59Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > Did you even read the thread? This was addressed in detail. > > Look at the specific points which I and others have brought up. > Bull shit. Right on [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bombs-vs-firebombing-of-tokyo/755893.md?page=8)