Product Description
In 1945, the United States and its allies planned the greatest invasion in world history. This work examines what might have happened had that invasion taken place, as well as the lingering controversies over the decision that made all those plans obsolete. It is a story of millions of human lives - those that would fight and that the US military divisions declared expendable, the survivors who wanted to build a new, peaceful Japan and those that were in favour of national suicide. Using extensive original research and interviews, the author shows that history can be influenced by what almost happened as much as by what actually happened. For the Americans, the invasion planning was always linked to concerns about occupation. For the Japanese, the last great defense of the homeland was linked to disagreements over Japan's future.
About the Author
Tim Maga, Oglesby Professor of American Heritage at Bradley University and a former coordinator in the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, is the author of several books, including Judgment at Tokyo: The Japanese War Crimes Trials.
