Would you like to inspect the original subtitles? These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated:
1
00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:06,520
For almost four years,
2
00:00:06,680 --> 00:00:09,680
American soldiers and Marines
in the Pacific
3
00:00:09,840 --> 00:00:12,320
have struggled across beaches,
through jungles
4
00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:16,840
and atop mountains to subdue
a nation that refuses to surrender.
5
00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:19,400
The effort has been immense.
6
00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:21,160
More is required.
7
00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:24,560
In the spring of 1945,
8
00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:27,320
the United States
will start the final push
9
00:00:27,480 --> 00:00:30,040
to defeat the Japanese empire.
10
00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:33,240
All wars changed the world,
11
00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:36,600
but none of them changed the world
like the Second World War did.
12
00:00:36,760 --> 00:00:39,800
Japan's on the march,
Germany's on the march.
13
00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:44,840
No one can imagine the nightmare
they're about to unleash.
14
00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:47,560
The most destructive war
in human history.
15
00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:50,200
Suddenly the world
is turned upside down
16
00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:51,800
and all hell is let loose.
17
00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:56,840
The West is stunned by
the speed of the advance.
18
00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:01,040
You get the allies
led by the big three:
19
00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:03,560
Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin.
20
00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:08,400
Men who are dealing with immensely
complicated questions.
21
00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:12,080
It's the biggest military
operation of human history.
22
00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:15,440
The allies have to come together,
not just militarily,
23
00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:18,400
but industrial scale.
It's a global perspective.
24
00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:20,560
They have to fight
in every climate,
25
00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:24,080
from the Arctic
to the jungles of the Pacific,
26
00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:26,840
to the deserts of Africa
and the depths of the ocean.
27
00:01:29,960 --> 00:01:32,800
But there was no
certainty of victory.
28
00:01:32,960 --> 00:01:35,360
It was going to be
a horrific bloodbath.
29
00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:37,880
We see humans
at their absolute worst,
30
00:01:38,040 --> 00:01:40,200
how they treat other human beings,
31
00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:42,200
and we see them
at their absolute best,
32
00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:44,560
willing to give their lives
that others might live.
33
00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:48,360
World War II was a struggle
in which there could be one victor
34
00:01:49,480 --> 00:01:50,480
and vanquished.
35
00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:13,240
With the Rhine's west bank secured,
36
00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:16,880
Britain expects other crossings
of Germany's river of destiny,
37
00:02:17,040 --> 00:02:19,640
after a law to build up
our own strength,
38
00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:23,280
and after that, the end of the
European war should not be far off.
39
00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:29,160
In America
in the spring of 1945,
40
00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:32,640
there is hope that the war
in Europe is nearing its end.
41
00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:34,440
Husbands and fathers,
42
00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:36,240
boyfriends and brothers
43
00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:38,280
might finally be coming home.
44
00:02:38,440 --> 00:02:41,600
It is front and centre
on the American mind.
45
00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:46,480
How quickly can we get to Berlin
46
00:02:46,640 --> 00:02:48,840
and get the soldiers home?
47
00:02:49,920 --> 00:02:52,560
The public get this sort of
an attitude that, you know,
48
00:02:52,720 --> 00:02:53,760
hey, the war's almost over.
49
00:02:53,920 --> 00:02:57,120
They'll be coming home,
but it's almost like a marathon
50
00:02:57,280 --> 00:02:59,800
and you see the finish line
in the distance,
51
00:02:59,960 --> 00:03:04,760
and so you know you can give one
last kick and then somebody says,
52
00:03:04,920 --> 00:03:07,480
"Actually there's another
three miles to go."
53
00:03:07,640 --> 00:03:10,280
Victory in Europe
seems within reach.
54
00:03:12,200 --> 00:03:15,480
Victory over Tokyo
remains on the far horizon.
55
00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:23,200
For months, hundreds of B-29s
have been striking Japanese cities
56
00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:24,840
to marginal effect.
57
00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:28,560
The army air forces believed
58
00:03:28,720 --> 00:03:32,640
that a sufficient amount of
pinpoint bombing from high altitude
59
00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:34,800
would take out Japanese industry
60
00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:37,360
and make it impossible for them
to continue the war.
61
00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:38,680
It didn't work.
62
00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:43,360
Bombing from 30,000 feet,
the winds were too strong,
63
00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:45,160
blew the bombs all over the place.
64
00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:49,200
Under the command
of General Curtis LeMay,
65
00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:52,040
the Air Force alters its tactics.
66
00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:04,000
On March 9th, 1945,
67
00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:10,160
LeMay's B-29s will attack Tokyo from
only 5,000 feet using a new weapon.
68
00:04:11,520 --> 00:04:12,880
Bombs filled with napalm.
69
00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:18,600
Napalm is this gel combined with
gasoline that will stick to things
70
00:04:18,760 --> 00:04:21,880
and then it catches fire and it
makes it very, very hard to put out.
71
00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:25,440
It's for starting fires that are
designed to just go out of control.
72
00:04:26,280 --> 00:04:29,480
And the reason it's gonna be
so destructive is that Tokyo is
73
00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:34,120
mostly made of wooden paper
and this is just going to explode.
74
00:04:34,280 --> 00:04:36,560
It'll be incredibly inflammable.
75
00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:38,280
The argument was that
76
00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:41,720
if you destroy the housing units
of the Japanese workers,
77
00:04:41,880 --> 00:04:44,200
they wouldn't be able to go to work
and build the planes and tanks.
78
00:04:44,360 --> 00:04:45,960
They needed to continue
the conflict.
79
00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:51,720
But the outcome
was absolutely horrific.
80
00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:05,080
It is just complete
devastation in Tokyo.
81
00:05:07,240 --> 00:05:08,800
100,000 people were killed.
82
00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:14,640
We think of Dresden as
being the worst single moment
83
00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:16,560
in the European Theatre
of Operations.
84
00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:18,160
The fire storm at Dresden,
85
00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:20,160
25,000 were lost there,
86
00:05:20,320 --> 00:05:21,320
but in Tokyo
87
00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:24,560
there's a 100,000 killed
in a single operation.
88
00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:27,760
The whole city was a sea of fire.
89
00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:32,560
It was so hot
that canals start to boil
90
00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:35,720
and the fires eat up so much of
the oxygen that a lot of the people
91
00:05:35,880 --> 00:05:39,040
who die asphyxiate
because there's no oxygen left.
92
00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:42,200
A huge proportion of the city
is simply gone in one night.
93
00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:45,440
The destruction is immense.
94
00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:50,440
16 square miles of Tokyo
are obliterated.
95
00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:54,960
After this one raid, a million
Japanese no longer have a home.
96
00:05:56,280 --> 00:05:57,720
It's unprecedented.
97
00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:03,520
General LeMay later I recall that
98
00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:06,640
he would've been tried
as a war criminal
99
00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:10,440
if United States lost in the war.
100
00:06:14,960 --> 00:06:17,000
To survey the damage,
101
00:06:17,160 --> 00:06:22,920
Emperor Hirohito emerges from his
bunker beneath the Imperial Palace.
102
00:06:24,120 --> 00:06:29,680
Emperor Hirohito has been pretty
isolated throughout the war,
103
00:06:29,840 --> 00:06:33,680
but he does have a sense
that the war is not exactly
104
00:06:33,840 --> 00:06:37,120
going as his generals
and admirals are telling him.
105
00:06:37,280 --> 00:06:39,960
So when the fire bombing
in Tokyo happened,
106
00:06:40,120 --> 00:06:42,360
that only intensifies his desire
107
00:06:42,520 --> 00:06:44,800
to start looking for ways
to end the war.
108
00:06:46,320 --> 00:06:49,040
For Emperor Hirohito,
the big concern is not what might
109
00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:51,560
happen to the ordinary
Japanese people,
110
00:06:51,720 --> 00:06:54,240
but if the Americans
make it onto Japanese soil,
111
00:06:54,400 --> 00:06:55,840
what might happen to him?
112
00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:57,840
What might happen
to the imperial line
113
00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:00,280
that goes back centuries in Japan?
114
00:07:00,440 --> 00:07:03,920
He says,
"I can't possibly face my ancestors
115
00:07:04,080 --> 00:07:05,840
having sacrificed the throne."
116
00:07:06,840 --> 00:07:09,960
The emperor of Japan
is considered to be divine
117
00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:13,120
with immense authority
over his people.
118
00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:15,800
But Hirohito rarely
exerts that authority
119
00:07:15,960 --> 00:07:18,160
in political or military matters.
120
00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:21,000
There's the committee for the
supreme direction of the war,
121
00:07:21,160 --> 00:07:23,480
which is six people,
two people from the army,
122
00:07:23,640 --> 00:07:27,040
two people from the navy, the prime
minister and the foreign minister.
123
00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:30,720
Those six are the only six that
had any real say within Japan.
124
00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:35,400
The civilian leaders understood
they couldn't win the war,
125
00:07:35,560 --> 00:07:37,920
but the military
are determined to fight on.
126
00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:40,560
Japanese military leaders
have lived their whole life
127
00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:42,200
under a professional code.
128
00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:46,200
That surrender is so dishonourable
you would rather die,
129
00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:50,520
no matter what the suffering,
the warrior does not surrender.
130
00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:54,040
For all the firebombing,
for all the destruction
131
00:07:54,200 --> 00:07:57,520
already rained on Japan,
there's no sign of surrender.
132
00:07:57,680 --> 00:08:00,960
The American high command
now believes that the Japanese
133
00:08:01,120 --> 00:08:04,320
would not surrender
short of an invasion
134
00:08:04,480 --> 00:08:07,000
and occupation of the Japanese
home islands.
135
00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:12,280
The United States is gathering
its forces for the next phase
136
00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:14,760
of its assault on Imperial Japan.
137
00:08:19,160 --> 00:08:21,400
The capture of Okinawa,
138
00:08:21,560 --> 00:08:24,560
the largest island
on the Ryukyu chain.
139
00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:28,440
Okinawa is just 400 miles
south of Kyushu,
140
00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:30,960
which is the most southerly
of the Japanese home islands,
141
00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:34,080
and therefore can be used
to launch an invasion fleet.
142
00:08:34,240 --> 00:08:38,240
So Okinawa is absolutely
vital to the Americans.
143
00:08:45,120 --> 00:08:46,760
Okinawa would be defended
144
00:08:46,920 --> 00:08:50,080
by about 100,000
Japanese frontline troops
145
00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:53,360
and also native Okinawan
militia forces.
146
00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:57,720
They know that the Americans
have overwhelming superiority
147
00:08:57,880 --> 00:09:00,240
in the air and at sea.
148
00:09:02,560 --> 00:09:05,400
The plan for the defence
of Okinawa
149
00:09:05,560 --> 00:09:06,840
is don't go for a Banzai charge.
150
00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:10,280
Instead, they will prepare
these defensive fortifications,
151
00:09:10,440 --> 00:09:15,040
let the Americans come to them
and take them out that way.
152
00:09:16,760 --> 00:09:19,720
Using native
Okinawans as forced labour,
153
00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:23,960
the Japanese build a network
of bunkers and tunnels.
154
00:09:24,120 --> 00:09:27,280
And the idea
was kill four, five Americans
155
00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:28,760
before you are killed yourself.
156
00:09:29,920 --> 00:09:33,480
The Japanese overall strategy
is to make the Americans pay
157
00:09:33,640 --> 00:09:37,240
so much for Okinawa that an invasion
of the Japanese home islands
158
00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:39,080
would be unthinkable.
159
00:09:43,880 --> 00:09:47,120
The garrison on Okinawa
is only half the Japanese strategy
160
00:09:47,280 --> 00:09:48,680
for defending the island.
161
00:09:48,840 --> 00:09:51,440
The other element of the plan
is to use kamikaze,
162
00:09:51,600 --> 00:09:55,160
but in far greater numbers
than ever been used before.
163
00:09:55,320 --> 00:09:58,080
The Japanese recognise that
when the Americans conduct
164
00:09:58,240 --> 00:10:01,200
these amphibious landing operations,
the ships offshore are the lifeline
165
00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:04,760
that's keeping the battalions ashore
in the fight.
166
00:10:06,160 --> 00:10:09,200
So they came up with this idea
of these organised waves
167
00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:10,640
of kamikaze attacks.
168
00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:16,920
And if you launch 300
kamikaze at the American fleet
169
00:10:17,080 --> 00:10:20,040
and you take out seven aircraft
carriers or something,
170
00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:22,760
that is a war-changing thing.
171
00:10:29,240 --> 00:10:32,480
The Battle of Okinawa
starts with the largest invasion
172
00:10:32,640 --> 00:10:34,320
of the war in the Pacific.
173
00:10:34,480 --> 00:10:38,720
A massive effort combining
naval, air and ground support.
174
00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:44,320
60,000 soldiers and marines are
bound for Okinawa's western beaches.
175
00:10:44,480 --> 00:10:48,120
The invasion force
will land on Hagushi Bay,
176
00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:51,240
then the Marines will sweep north,
and the army south,
177
00:10:51,400 --> 00:10:53,640
to take control of
the entire island.
178
00:10:57,960 --> 00:11:00,200
The biggest danger
in an amphibious operation
179
00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:04,360
is the actual landing because
you are incredibly vulnerable.
180
00:11:04,520 --> 00:11:06,200
You are out in the open.
181
00:11:06,360 --> 00:11:08,000
The combat troops going up first.
182
00:11:08,160 --> 00:11:12,640
Both Marine and Army have been
told to expect up to 80% casualties.
183
00:11:14,360 --> 00:11:18,360
So if you've drawn the unlucky straw
of being one of the first units,
184
00:11:18,520 --> 00:11:21,400
you're pretty convinced not
many of you're gonna survive.
185
00:11:23,560 --> 00:11:25,320
They get to the beaches
start walking up it,
186
00:11:25,480 --> 00:11:28,880
body's tense waiting
for the bullets to come...
187
00:11:29,040 --> 00:11:30,440
...and there is nothing.
188
00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:36,960
They're experiencing
virtually no opposition.
189
00:11:37,120 --> 00:11:38,640
And so there was a thought that
190
00:11:38,800 --> 00:11:43,040
hey, maybe Okinawa's not gonna turn
out to be a big bloodbath after all.
191
00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:47,560
The first few days go
very well for the landing forces.
192
00:11:47,720 --> 00:11:50,600
They cut across all the way
to the other side of the island
193
00:11:50,760 --> 00:11:52,880
against minimal opposition.
194
00:11:54,120 --> 00:11:56,840
It's looking too good
to be true at this stage.
195
00:12:02,640 --> 00:12:06,600
Military leaders believed
that Japan must fight to protect
196
00:12:06,760 --> 00:12:09,160
the honour of the country.
197
00:12:09,320 --> 00:12:13,920
And these kamikaze pilots
are the chosen ones
198
00:12:14,080 --> 00:12:17,680
to go to this divine mission
to protect their homeland.
199
00:12:18,680 --> 00:12:22,400
They really believe that that
would turn the tide of the war.
200
00:12:23,560 --> 00:12:27,200
The pilots are young,
many of them are teenagers,
201
00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:28,880
they're ill-trained.
202
00:12:29,040 --> 00:12:31,440
They don't even have enough
fuel to come back from this flight
203
00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:34,400
if they wanted to.
They know they're going to die.
204
00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:41,200
So when they get to the first
American ship they see,
205
00:12:42,840 --> 00:12:44,000
they attack.
206
00:12:59,040 --> 00:13:02,040
For the first five days
of the invasion of Okinawa,
207
00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:06,480
there's no opposition to the massive
US fleet surrounding the island.
208
00:13:08,920 --> 00:13:14,280
But just after noon on April 6th,
the Japanese arrive in force.
209
00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:22,880
Imagine we're on the bridge
of one of these destroyers
210
00:13:23,040 --> 00:13:24,560
80 miles north of Okinawa.
211
00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:29,360
The kamikaze come from starboard,
from port, from high, from low.
212
00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:37,480
So you feel like you're in a boxing
ring with about five other boxers
213
00:13:37,640 --> 00:13:39,320
attacking you from every direction.
214
00:13:44,960 --> 00:13:50,520
Hundreds of kamikaze at a time
thrown against the invading fleet.
215
00:13:50,680 --> 00:13:52,440
They thought with the sheer numbers,
216
00:13:52,600 --> 00:13:54,360
they could take out
the capital ships;
217
00:13:54,520 --> 00:13:56,440
that's battleships
and aircraft carriers
218
00:13:56,600 --> 00:13:59,040
and drive off the US fleet
in its entirety.
219
00:14:01,360 --> 00:14:04,240
The kamikaze don't
really have much success
220
00:14:04,400 --> 00:14:06,360
against aircraft carriers...
221
00:14:10,200 --> 00:14:15,120
...but 300+ ships
are targeted by the kamikazes.
222
00:14:15,280 --> 00:14:17,720
More than 36 of them sink.
223
00:14:20,160 --> 00:14:23,880
It is more devastating than
any conventional bombing attack
224
00:14:24,040 --> 00:14:28,600
has been in the war so far,
but it's not enough.
225
00:14:29,840 --> 00:14:34,000
What the kamikaze tells me is that
the Japanese knew the war was lost,
226
00:14:34,160 --> 00:14:36,000
at least by conventional means.
227
00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:41,280
There's nothing more dangerous
in warfare than a cornered enemy.
228
00:14:41,440 --> 00:14:43,720
The Japanese
are gonna go down in flames
229
00:14:43,880 --> 00:14:46,560
but will never surrender, never.
230
00:14:47,560 --> 00:14:48,880
For the US Navy,
231
00:14:49,040 --> 00:14:51,040
the battle against the kamikaze
at Okinawa
232
00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:54,200
is bloodier than any
previous confrontation
233
00:14:54,360 --> 00:14:56,760
of the entire Pacific War.
234
00:14:58,760 --> 00:15:00,800
And American ground forces
are now facing
235
00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:03,080
increasing resistance as well.
236
00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:07,760
The force that had landed on
the beaches is pushing south toward
237
00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:09,800
a place called Kakazu Ridge
238
00:15:09,960 --> 00:15:12,840
where they encounter
the first line of Japanese defences.
239
00:15:16,280 --> 00:15:19,760
It's the first time the
Americans meet serious opposition
240
00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:21,360
and it stops them dead.
241
00:15:27,440 --> 00:15:29,800
The Japanese have created
a defensive system that goes
242
00:15:29,960 --> 00:15:32,280
right across the whole
width of the island,
243
00:15:32,440 --> 00:15:34,440
so they can't be out-flanked.
244
00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:38,760
American troops endure
days of non-stop enemy fire.
245
00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:46,120
This is attritional,
grizzly, meat grinding fighting,
246
00:15:47,680 --> 00:15:49,640
and that's just the first line
of defence.
247
00:15:49,800 --> 00:15:52,200
There are gonna be
many more beyond this.
248
00:15:52,360 --> 00:15:55,920
What we thought was gonna
be a cakewalk is anything but.
249
00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:01,360
April 12th.
250
00:16:01,520 --> 00:16:05,160
The American people learn
Franklin Delano Roosevelt,
251
00:16:05,320 --> 00:16:08,760
the man they elected four times
is dead.
252
00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:16,240
Vice president Harry S. Truman,
a former judge and senator
253
00:16:16,400 --> 00:16:19,000
from Missouri
is sworn in hours later.
254
00:16:20,400 --> 00:16:23,320
Roosevelt had led the country
through the Great Depression
255
00:16:23,480 --> 00:16:25,120
and through the war.
256
00:16:26,560 --> 00:16:29,520
In the 82 days that Truman
had been vice president,
257
00:16:29,680 --> 00:16:32,800
he met with Roosevelt all of twice.
258
00:16:32,960 --> 00:16:36,480
He really knows nothing about
what's going on with the war effort.
259
00:16:36,640 --> 00:16:38,160
He didn't think
he was up to the job
260
00:16:38,320 --> 00:16:40,720
and there are people
who would say he was right.
261
00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:43,320
The new president
is immediately confronted
262
00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:45,160
with enormous challenges.
263
00:16:46,160 --> 00:16:49,080
It's important for the wartime
president to demonstrate
264
00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:52,120
that he has a plan for bringing
this war to a successful conclusion
265
00:16:52,280 --> 00:16:54,240
and as rapidly as possible.
266
00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:56,840
It's clear to the American
population that Germany
267
00:16:57,000 --> 00:17:00,480
is on its last legs,
but Japan is still fighting hard.
268
00:17:00,640 --> 00:17:02,080
The question really is,
269
00:17:02,240 --> 00:17:05,480
how many American lives am
I going to lose to end this war?
270
00:17:05,640 --> 00:17:08,600
That's the whole ball game
for Harry Truman.
271
00:17:14,520 --> 00:17:17,400
Truman meets with
Secretary of War Henry Stimson
272
00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:19,960
and Army General Leslie Groves.
273
00:17:20,120 --> 00:17:22,400
The agenda is classified.
274
00:17:22,560 --> 00:17:24,960
They hand Truman a document.
275
00:17:25,120 --> 00:17:26,680
Truman opens it up and reads it
276
00:17:26,840 --> 00:17:29,160
and the memo begins
with these dramatic words.
277
00:17:29,320 --> 00:17:33,400
"Within four months, we shall,
in all probability, have completed
278
00:17:33,560 --> 00:17:36,880
the most terrible weapon
ever known in human history,
279
00:17:37,040 --> 00:17:41,200
one bomb which can
destroy a whole city."
280
00:17:42,280 --> 00:17:46,680
The Manhattan Project,
the top secret American program
281
00:17:46,840 --> 00:17:49,440
to develop the world's
first atomic bombs.
282
00:17:51,160 --> 00:17:55,000
For three years, thousands
of scientists and engineers
283
00:17:55,160 --> 00:17:58,560
have worked on the most powerful
weapon in history.
284
00:17:58,720 --> 00:18:01,160
It is set to be tested mid-summer.
285
00:18:02,120 --> 00:18:04,920
Truman and his commanders
are ready to pay any price
286
00:18:05,080 --> 00:18:07,120
to bring this war to an end.
287
00:18:07,280 --> 00:18:09,760
But an invasion of
the Japanese home islands
288
00:18:09,920 --> 00:18:11,920
will be bloody
on an unimaginable scale.
289
00:18:12,080 --> 00:18:14,720
Higher losses than
any previous campaign,
290
00:18:14,880 --> 00:18:17,760
either in the Pacific War
or in the war in Europe.
291
00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:24,440
The Manhattan project, the attempt
to develop atomic weapons.
292
00:18:24,600 --> 00:18:27,080
If that proves to be successful,
293
00:18:27,240 --> 00:18:31,480
if those tests prove out,
then that is an alternative.
294
00:18:43,680 --> 00:18:46,000
The war in Europe is over.
295
00:18:46,160 --> 00:18:48,240
The Nazi Third Reich
has been destroyed.
296
00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:56,520
But for war-weary America
and its allies,
297
00:18:58,520 --> 00:19:00,720
the war in the Pacific continues,
298
00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:03,720
and many of the men
who helped defeat Germany
299
00:19:03,880 --> 00:19:07,120
may now be required to fight Japan.
300
00:19:07,280 --> 00:19:09,440
At this point,
people in the military knew
301
00:19:09,600 --> 00:19:12,360
that a lot of these units are
gonna need to be transferred.
302
00:19:12,520 --> 00:19:15,600
Just because the war in Europe
is over, don't get excited.
303
00:19:15,760 --> 00:19:18,120
We're gonna need those troops
in the Pacific.
304
00:19:23,360 --> 00:19:25,400
After two months
of ceaseless combat,
305
00:19:25,560 --> 00:19:28,040
Marine and Army units break through
306
00:19:28,200 --> 00:19:31,160
the main Japanese defensive line
on Okinawa.
307
00:19:32,400 --> 00:19:34,840
Japanese troops
are forced to retreat
308
00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:38,720
and attempt a last stand
on the Kiyan Peninsula.
309
00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:41,400
By this point,
the Japanese soldiers on Okinawa
310
00:19:41,560 --> 00:19:42,760
are low on ammunition,
311
00:19:42,920 --> 00:19:44,920
they are starving,
they're exhausted,
312
00:19:45,080 --> 00:19:48,600
but they realise that the next step
for the allies after Okinawa
313
00:19:48,760 --> 00:19:50,080
is the home islands.
314
00:19:50,240 --> 00:19:53,320
They are all that stand between
the allies and their families,
315
00:19:53,480 --> 00:19:54,720
their homes.
316
00:19:54,880 --> 00:19:58,920
They are the last line of defence
and everyone is depending on them.
317
00:20:05,160 --> 00:20:07,840
Although the Americans
have gained ground...
318
00:20:09,760 --> 00:20:13,400
...the more you push and the more
terrain that has been captured,
319
00:20:13,560 --> 00:20:16,280
the more dangerous and costly
the battle is becoming.
320
00:20:18,640 --> 00:20:20,560
But the Americans know
we're making progress.
321
00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:22,480
If war is a clash of wills,
322
00:20:22,640 --> 00:20:25,480
the United States is a nation
willing to fight it out to the end.
323
00:20:29,280 --> 00:20:32,760
Organised resistance on Okinawa
ends On June 22nd.
324
00:20:33,920 --> 00:20:36,080
The Japanese army's
commanding general
325
00:20:36,240 --> 00:20:40,960
and his chief of staff both
commit suicide by ritual seppuku.
326
00:20:41,840 --> 00:20:44,360
100,000 Japanese
servicemen are killed.
327
00:20:46,080 --> 00:20:49,400
On the American side, the casualties
are 50,000 killed and wounded.
328
00:20:50,280 --> 00:20:53,920
These are the worst of battle
casualties in the Pacific War
329
00:20:54,080 --> 00:20:55,080
for the Americans,
330
00:20:56,560 --> 00:21:00,120
worse than all of that are
the number of civilians killed.
331
00:21:00,280 --> 00:21:02,360
Up to 125,000,
332
00:21:02,520 --> 00:21:06,240
which is a third of the population
caught in the crossfire.
333
00:21:06,400 --> 00:21:08,120
This is just Okinawa.
334
00:21:08,280 --> 00:21:10,480
What happens when we
get to their home islands?
335
00:21:10,640 --> 00:21:13,440
The cost is gonna be enormous.
336
00:21:13,600 --> 00:21:17,520
This war ain't over.
It's not even close to being over.
337
00:21:22,440 --> 00:21:25,360
American leaders understand
the Battle of Okinawa
338
00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:28,000
is a frightening preview
of what to expect
339
00:21:28,160 --> 00:21:30,960
when Japan's home islands
are invaded.
340
00:21:31,120 --> 00:21:33,040
Truman has a meeting
with General Marshall
341
00:21:33,200 --> 00:21:36,080
and the joint chiefs of staff
on Operation Downfall;
342
00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:38,960
the invasion of the Japanese
home islands.
343
00:21:39,120 --> 00:21:41,800
This plan goes back to
the Roosevelt presidency.
344
00:21:41,960 --> 00:21:43,440
Planning is going forward
345
00:21:44,400 --> 00:21:47,160
and the most interested person
at the meeting is George Marshall.
346
00:21:47,320 --> 00:21:50,120
He wants Truman to sign off on it.
347
00:21:50,280 --> 00:21:52,880
Operation Downfall will be
a two-pronged operation,
348
00:21:53,040 --> 00:21:55,000
the first called Operation Olympic.
349
00:21:56,080 --> 00:21:59,560
The idea of Operation Olympic is to
invade the southern island of Kyushu
350
00:21:59,720 --> 00:22:04,480
and seize naval bases and air bases
while pushing Japanese forces north.
351
00:22:04,640 --> 00:22:06,840
The critical phase, though,
of Operation Downfall
352
00:22:07,000 --> 00:22:09,080
is what's code-named
Operation Coronet.
353
00:22:09,240 --> 00:22:12,120
It's the invasion of Honshu,
which is where Tokyo itself sits.
354
00:22:12,280 --> 00:22:13,680
So this would inevitably end
355
00:22:13,840 --> 00:22:17,080
in either the destruction
or capture of the Japanese capital.
356
00:22:18,320 --> 00:22:21,360
Think about the scale of
Operation Downfall as a whole.
357
00:22:21,520 --> 00:22:22,840
5 million men involved,
358
00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:25,360
up to a million British
and Commonwealth troops,
359
00:22:25,520 --> 00:22:28,960
4 million American troops,
and this is gonna dwarf D-Day
360
00:22:29,120 --> 00:22:32,640
in the logistics and the naval of
forces that are gonna be involved.
361
00:22:32,800 --> 00:22:35,200
Then the forces that
are actually gonna land
362
00:22:35,360 --> 00:22:38,480
and most importantly of all is gonna
dwarf the number of casualties.
363
00:22:40,360 --> 00:22:42,640
If the allies
had to invade Japan,
364
00:22:42,800 --> 00:22:46,200
that would be the largest amphibious
assault ever undertaken.
365
00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:51,000
And the Americans were gonna
bear almost the entire weight of it,
366
00:22:52,080 --> 00:22:53,640
and the President understood that
367
00:22:53,800 --> 00:22:55,960
better than most of
the American public did.
368
00:22:57,560 --> 00:23:00,040
Truman specifically
says to his chiefs of staff,
369
00:23:00,200 --> 00:23:03,160
I don't want an Okinawa from
one end of Japan to the other.
370
00:23:07,600 --> 00:23:10,560
So Truman, in June of '45,
371
00:23:10,720 --> 00:23:14,840
is looking at a brutal final act
against Japan.
372
00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:17,000
But it is very important
to Harry Truman
373
00:23:18,040 --> 00:23:20,240
that he always be
seen as the decider.
374
00:23:20,400 --> 00:23:22,000
The buck stops here.
375
00:23:23,440 --> 00:23:27,000
Truman understands that this
war with Japan needs to end,
376
00:23:27,160 --> 00:23:29,200
the invasion looks horrible.
377
00:23:29,360 --> 00:23:32,560
But what's option B
in this situation?
378
00:23:32,720 --> 00:23:34,440
Even at this late date in June,
379
00:23:34,600 --> 00:23:38,040
there's no sense that the Manhattan
Project is going to work.
380
00:23:38,200 --> 00:23:40,400
They really don't know
if they have a bomb yet.
381
00:23:40,560 --> 00:23:43,520
And so Truman signs off
on Operation Downfall,
382
00:23:43,680 --> 00:23:46,240
the two big invasions of Japan.
383
00:23:46,400 --> 00:23:50,640
Stage one, Operation Olympic
is set for November 1st.
384
00:23:50,800 --> 00:23:52,240
The clock is ticking.
385
00:23:55,560 --> 00:24:01,280
The Japanese army's plan
is to fight to the bitter end
386
00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:06,200
with a decisive and final battle
in the home islands.
387
00:24:07,280 --> 00:24:09,800
For a while now,
the Japanese army had been planning
388
00:24:09,960 --> 00:24:12,800
what they call Operation Ketsugo,
which means operation decisive.
389
00:24:12,960 --> 00:24:15,680
It's a plan to defend Kyushu.
They think they've got
390
00:24:15,840 --> 00:24:18,600
perhaps a million men that
they can put into the field.
391
00:24:20,120 --> 00:24:23,000
They also want to put civilians
into the field.
392
00:24:23,160 --> 00:24:26,320
Their idea is that they will
make things so terrifying,
393
00:24:26,480 --> 00:24:28,240
that it will stop the Americans
394
00:24:28,400 --> 00:24:30,840
trying to do anything anywhere else
in the home islands.
395
00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:35,440
Women and children were
going through the military drills
396
00:24:35,600 --> 00:24:37,920
where everybody was
given a bamboo spear.
397
00:24:39,920 --> 00:24:45,040
They are essentially mobilising
everybody older than 12 years old...
398
00:24:47,440 --> 00:24:49,160
...to fight to the death.
399
00:25:01,360 --> 00:25:04,120
In July, for the first time,
President Truman
400
00:25:04,280 --> 00:25:07,360
meets with both British Prime
Minister Winston Churchill
401
00:25:07,520 --> 00:25:11,000
and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin
at Potsdam,
402
00:25:11,160 --> 00:25:14,640
formerly the home of Prussian kings
and the German Kaiser.
403
00:25:16,000 --> 00:25:17,640
Europe is devastated.
404
00:25:19,840 --> 00:25:22,440
It's a massive disaster zone.
405
00:25:24,280 --> 00:25:25,880
The point of the Potsdam Conference
406
00:25:26,040 --> 00:25:28,640
is for these three governments
to come together
407
00:25:28,800 --> 00:25:31,600
and figure out how these countries
are gonna be rebuilt.
408
00:25:32,800 --> 00:25:36,400
But Truman has his eyes on
a completely different problem.
409
00:25:36,560 --> 00:25:39,000
He huddles with
Secretary of War Stimson,
410
00:25:39,160 --> 00:25:40,960
and what are they talking about?
411
00:25:41,120 --> 00:25:43,040
They're talking about the Pacific.
412
00:25:46,360 --> 00:25:48,600
With Operation Downfall
months away,
413
00:25:48,760 --> 00:25:51,960
President Truman seeks
assurance that the Soviets
414
00:25:52,120 --> 00:25:55,840
will participate in the war
against Japan as pledged.
415
00:25:56,000 --> 00:25:59,920
All this time, Japan and
the Soviet Union had been neutral.
416
00:26:00,080 --> 00:26:02,080
They had not been at war
with one another.
417
00:26:02,240 --> 00:26:06,440
Stalin promised within 90 days
of the end of the war in Europe,
418
00:26:06,600 --> 00:26:08,320
he'll join the war against Japan.
419
00:26:08,480 --> 00:26:11,040
He promised that to Roosevelt
back at Yalta.
420
00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:13,040
So Truman hopes that's a go.
421
00:26:14,080 --> 00:26:16,080
But at the start
of the conference,
422
00:26:16,240 --> 00:26:19,760
Stimson receives a coded cable
from the War Department.
423
00:26:20,680 --> 00:26:24,760
"Operated on this morning,
diagnosis not yet complete,
424
00:26:24,920 --> 00:26:26,840
but results seem satisfactory.
425
00:26:27,000 --> 00:26:29,080
Dr Groves is pleased."
426
00:26:30,280 --> 00:26:34,720
Truman now knew that the atomic bomb
had been detonated successfully.
427
00:26:37,480 --> 00:26:38,600
In this moment,
428
00:26:38,760 --> 00:26:41,120
we have this amazing window
into Truman's thinking,
429
00:26:41,280 --> 00:26:42,800
because he was keeping a diary.
430
00:26:44,520 --> 00:26:48,760
Truman realises this bomb could be
a short circuit to ending the war.
431
00:26:49,960 --> 00:26:54,760
When Truman hears that
the atomic bomb actually works,
432
00:26:54,920 --> 00:26:56,880
he knows they have to use it,
433
00:26:57,040 --> 00:26:58,720
but he wants to give the Japanese
434
00:26:58,880 --> 00:27:01,400
one last chance to surrender
before he does.
435
00:27:02,760 --> 00:27:05,840
President Truman, along
with Churchill and Chiang Kai-shek,
436
00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:11,040
the leader of the Republic of China,
issue the Potsdam Declaration,
437
00:27:11,200 --> 00:27:13,000
a warning to Japan of what awaits
438
00:27:13,160 --> 00:27:15,400
if they don't surrender
unconditionally.
439
00:27:15,560 --> 00:27:17,520
But Stimson suggests
440
00:27:17,680 --> 00:27:21,640
they consider allowing Hirohito
to keep his throne.
441
00:27:21,800 --> 00:27:25,320
Stimson understands the
constitutional and cultural position
442
00:27:25,480 --> 00:27:29,720
that the emperor plays in Japanese
life, this kind of demigod status.
443
00:27:29,880 --> 00:27:33,040
So he insists on inserting
into the declaration,
444
00:27:33,200 --> 00:27:36,080
assurance that they won't try
the emperor for war crimes.
445
00:27:36,240 --> 00:27:39,160
But beyond that, it will be
unconditional surrender,
446
00:27:39,320 --> 00:27:41,200
and no other terms
will be acceptable.
447
00:27:42,320 --> 00:27:45,000
Also in this document is wordage
448
00:27:45,160 --> 00:27:47,320
that does not mention
the atomic bomb,
449
00:27:47,480 --> 00:27:50,720
but it does say that if
unconditional surrender
450
00:27:50,880 --> 00:27:56,040
is not coming, the destruction was
going to be historic and massive.
451
00:28:00,440 --> 00:28:04,640
The Office of War Information
releases the Potsdam Declaration
452
00:28:05,560 --> 00:28:08,880
and the Japanese receive it
via radio from San Francisco.
453
00:28:10,440 --> 00:28:14,360
Prime Minister Suzuki
and Emperor Hirohito
454
00:28:14,520 --> 00:28:17,360
are of the opinion that
455
00:28:17,520 --> 00:28:23,520
the Potsdam Declaration
is not really vindictive.
456
00:28:24,560 --> 00:28:28,160
They see some hope.
457
00:28:29,160 --> 00:28:31,520
Emperor Hirohito himself,
at this point,
458
00:28:31,680 --> 00:28:34,400
he is open to accepting it, but he
459
00:28:34,560 --> 00:28:37,880
understands his role as an emperor.
460
00:28:38,040 --> 00:28:41,480
There are only certain times
for him to weigh in.
461
00:28:41,640 --> 00:28:43,320
The emperor
and the Peace Party
462
00:28:43,480 --> 00:28:45,120
are in an impossible position here.
463
00:28:45,280 --> 00:28:48,080
I mean, if they respond
positively to the ultimatum,
464
00:28:48,240 --> 00:28:49,680
the military might
turn against them,
465
00:28:49,840 --> 00:28:51,200
but if they completely ignore it,
466
00:28:51,360 --> 00:28:53,840
there's a danger that the Americans
are actually gonna carry out
467
00:28:54,000 --> 00:28:55,360
what they suggest.
468
00:28:56,560 --> 00:28:57,840
Two days later,
469
00:28:58,000 --> 00:29:01,960
Japan's Prime Minister Kantaro
Suzuki holds a press conference.
470
00:29:03,360 --> 00:29:06,760
When press asks
about Potsdam Declaration,
471
00:29:06,920 --> 00:29:09,520
Suzuki uses the word "mokusatsu."
472
00:29:10,600 --> 00:29:13,840
The best translation for that
is "no comment"
473
00:29:14,000 --> 00:29:17,480
or I'm not going to respond
to that question.
474
00:29:18,440 --> 00:29:23,000
However, the word mokusatsu can
also mean we're going to ignore it.
475
00:29:23,160 --> 00:29:26,080
I think the Japanese media,
they're very quick to interpret it
476
00:29:26,240 --> 00:29:28,000
in the most hostile
and negative way.
477
00:29:29,280 --> 00:29:30,840
Then the American media pick it up,
478
00:29:31,000 --> 00:29:34,520
then that becomes the view of the
American administration as well
479
00:29:34,680 --> 00:29:38,400
that the Japanese are rejecting
the Potsdam Declaration.
480
00:29:38,560 --> 00:29:42,000
And to Truman, the Japanese
response is plain and clear.
481
00:29:42,160 --> 00:29:45,920
He believes that the Japanese
told him to go to hell.
482
00:29:58,440 --> 00:30:00,720
By early 1945,
483
00:30:00,880 --> 00:30:05,480
Tinian Island in the Marianas
is the largest air base on Earth.
484
00:30:07,280 --> 00:30:10,080
Hundreds of B-29s have taken off
485
00:30:10,240 --> 00:30:12,720
from its multiple runways
to bomb Japan.
486
00:30:19,320 --> 00:30:22,920
But there's a very mysterious
restricted area
487
00:30:23,080 --> 00:30:24,840
at one part of the base.
488
00:30:25,000 --> 00:30:27,720
No one really knows
what's going on up there.
489
00:30:27,880 --> 00:30:32,240
It belongs to some unit called
the 509th Composite Group.
490
00:30:32,400 --> 00:30:36,600
These are the preparations
for the arrival of the atomic bomb.
491
00:30:38,480 --> 00:30:42,400
Components for the atomic
bombs are delivered in late July
492
00:30:42,560 --> 00:30:45,840
and carefully assembled
over the following days.
493
00:30:47,640 --> 00:30:51,160
So the Manhattan Project was
able to produce enough uranium
494
00:30:51,320 --> 00:30:53,080
and plutonium for three bombs.
495
00:30:53,240 --> 00:30:55,320
And after the Trinity test,
496
00:30:55,480 --> 00:30:58,200
the Americans only had
two bombs in the arsenal.
497
00:30:58,360 --> 00:31:01,320
Truman makes
the decision to drop the bomb.
498
00:31:01,480 --> 00:31:03,680
He legitimately wants
to save US casualties
499
00:31:03,840 --> 00:31:06,240
and bring this war
to an end rapidly.
500
00:31:06,400 --> 00:31:10,320
At the same time, he wants to assert
his authority as president.
501
00:31:16,680 --> 00:31:19,800
It is one of the most
consequential decisions that...
502
00:31:21,600 --> 00:31:24,240
...any nation has ever made,
503
00:31:26,320 --> 00:31:30,240
and no one knows
what was gonna happen.
504
00:31:31,280 --> 00:31:33,800
But President Truman did understand
505
00:31:33,960 --> 00:31:36,720
that this was of a different
scale and scope.
506
00:31:37,640 --> 00:31:40,600
He compares it to the biblical flood
in his diary,
507
00:31:40,760 --> 00:31:45,000
"As the world was once destroyed
by water for Noah,
508
00:31:45,160 --> 00:31:48,360
perhaps now it'll be destroyed
by fire and destruction."
509
00:31:52,880 --> 00:31:56,200
By design, the target
of the first atomic bomb is a city
510
00:31:56,360 --> 00:31:58,640
relatively unscathed by the war.
511
00:31:59,720 --> 00:32:04,360
American military leaders
want the Japanese to understand
512
00:32:04,520 --> 00:32:08,080
the awful destructive power
of this new weapon.
513
00:32:08,240 --> 00:32:11,280
That morning in Hiroshima
is an ordinary morning.
514
00:32:11,440 --> 00:32:12,880
People are going
about their business.
515
00:32:13,040 --> 00:32:15,120
Some people are going
into the factories to work.
516
00:32:15,280 --> 00:32:17,640
They're still wondering why
they've not yet been bombed
517
00:32:17,800 --> 00:32:20,400
and they're expecting it
more or less any day.
518
00:32:20,560 --> 00:32:23,400
And then people see
this light in the sky,
519
00:32:23,560 --> 00:32:27,240
sun shining off a single aircraft.
520
00:32:59,560 --> 00:33:03,400
The first thing is
the flashing light
521
00:33:03,560 --> 00:33:05,640
as if sun explodes,
522
00:33:06,600 --> 00:33:09,360
then a noise and a shock.
523
00:33:13,640 --> 00:33:18,480
The people who were near
the epicentre evaporate.
524
00:33:20,000 --> 00:33:22,680
The casualties mount
until you get between 90,000
525
00:33:22,840 --> 00:33:25,360
and 160,000 people who've died.
526
00:33:27,320 --> 00:33:30,640
The dominant image that
survivors give of Hiroshima
527
00:33:30,800 --> 00:33:33,040
is of one of the Buddhist hells.
528
00:33:38,600 --> 00:33:41,160
One thing really difficult
for historians to jive with
529
00:33:41,320 --> 00:33:44,840
is this idea that Truman
has chosen military targets
530
00:33:45,000 --> 00:33:48,280
and he writes even in his diary, the
words, "And not women and children."
531
00:33:49,480 --> 00:33:51,560
We'll never really know.
532
00:33:51,720 --> 00:33:54,880
Did he really feel that
this was a military target
533
00:33:55,040 --> 00:33:58,240
or was he writing that in his diary
understanding that
534
00:33:58,400 --> 00:34:02,640
history for generations
was gonna judge him for this?
535
00:34:05,960 --> 00:34:08,720
Truman is at sea
coming home from Potsdam
536
00:34:08,880 --> 00:34:11,040
when he received the news.
537
00:34:11,200 --> 00:34:13,760
Later that same day,
he goes on the airwaves to address
538
00:34:13,920 --> 00:34:16,600
the American people and to tell them
what has just happened.
539
00:34:16,760 --> 00:34:20,720
He says it's a new type of bomb
that America has used it
540
00:34:20,880 --> 00:34:23,760
and will continue to use it
until Japan surrenders.
541
00:34:23,920 --> 00:34:26,880
If they do not now
accept our terms,
542
00:34:27,040 --> 00:34:29,840
they may expect a rain of ruin
from the air,
543
00:34:30,000 --> 00:34:32,960
the like of which has never
been seen on this earth.
544
00:34:39,280 --> 00:34:44,320
Even with Hiroshima in ruins,
Japanese leaders do not surrender.
545
00:34:44,480 --> 00:34:47,360
The peace camp
pushed for immediate acceptance
546
00:34:47,520 --> 00:34:49,840
of the Potsdam Declaration,
547
00:34:50,000 --> 00:34:53,680
but the military side insists
on continuing the war.
548
00:34:53,840 --> 00:34:58,520
The reasoning is that may be
the only atomic bomb that they had.
549
00:34:58,680 --> 00:35:00,720
So they're still at the stalemate.
550
00:35:02,240 --> 00:35:04,920
And then the Soviet Union
declares war on Japan.
551
00:35:11,280 --> 00:35:13,280
Just as Stalin promised,
552
00:35:13,440 --> 00:35:16,920
exactly 90 days after
the surrender of Germany,
553
00:35:18,640 --> 00:35:21,320
one and a half million Soviet troops
554
00:35:21,480 --> 00:35:26,000
pour across the border into
Japanese occupied Manchuria.
555
00:35:26,160 --> 00:35:28,640
The Japanese aren't
aware that for months the Soviets
556
00:35:28,800 --> 00:35:32,320
have amassed their armour
on the borders with Manchuria.
557
00:35:32,480 --> 00:35:35,320
But now the Russians
are rolling into Manchuria
558
00:35:35,480 --> 00:35:37,840
and they're rolling over
the Japanese.
559
00:35:38,000 --> 00:35:40,200
And now you've got the prospect
of the Soviets,
560
00:35:40,360 --> 00:35:42,280
not just making their way
into Manchuria,
561
00:35:42,440 --> 00:35:44,720
but possibly across to the Japanese
home islands.
562
00:35:45,880 --> 00:35:48,560
For Japan, it's a complete disaster.
563
00:35:52,320 --> 00:35:55,680
On the same day the Red Army
moves into Manchuria,
564
00:35:58,400 --> 00:36:01,280
B-29s appear over Nagasaki.
565
00:36:02,680 --> 00:36:04,960
One carries an atomic bomb.
566
00:36:06,320 --> 00:36:09,040
The US has
just one more atom bomb left.
567
00:36:10,240 --> 00:36:13,200
But the whole idea is to give Japan
the impression
568
00:36:13,360 --> 00:36:15,520
that the US has an unlimited stock
569
00:36:17,160 --> 00:36:19,400
and that if Japan won't surrender,
570
00:36:19,560 --> 00:36:23,640
the US will continue to unleash
atom bombs on Japan.
571
00:36:27,680 --> 00:36:31,560
Between 60 and 70,000 people
are killed instantly.
572
00:36:43,520 --> 00:36:45,960
Prime Minister Suzuki
convenes the war council
573
00:36:46,120 --> 00:36:50,880
and the discussion is, are we gonna
accept the Potsdam Declaration?
574
00:36:52,120 --> 00:36:53,800
And the answer
from the military is no.
575
00:36:56,920 --> 00:36:58,680
You've had two atomic bombs.
576
00:36:58,840 --> 00:37:01,200
You've had the Soviet
invasion of Manchuria,
577
00:37:01,360 --> 00:37:04,200
and yet the Supreme War Council
is still split.
578
00:37:04,360 --> 00:37:06,160
The war faction, the military,
579
00:37:06,320 --> 00:37:09,440
they're absolutely not willing to
consider unconditional surrender.
580
00:37:09,600 --> 00:37:14,960
That's when Prime Minister
Suzuki makes the very important move
581
00:37:15,120 --> 00:37:19,320
saying that we need
to ask the emperor.
582
00:37:20,200 --> 00:37:21,960
This is a standout moment.
583
00:37:22,120 --> 00:37:24,040
This is something you
would never normally do.
584
00:37:24,200 --> 00:37:26,400
There's a sense Hirohito
is semi-divine
585
00:37:26,560 --> 00:37:29,640
and shouldn't be troubled with
the decision making process.
586
00:37:29,800 --> 00:37:32,000
It's a really extraordinary step.
587
00:37:33,080 --> 00:37:36,000
But Hirohito, I think,
sees the gravity of the situation.
588
00:37:36,160 --> 00:37:39,000
He sees that this is a moment
where it's his responsibility
589
00:37:39,160 --> 00:37:41,120
to step up as the leader
effectively.
590
00:37:42,600 --> 00:37:45,080
And he says,
591
00:37:45,240 --> 00:37:50,080
"We must bear the unbearable
and suffer the insufferable.
592
00:37:50,240 --> 00:37:54,320
We will end the war
and then move on."
593
00:38:05,360 --> 00:38:07,360
I have received this afternoon
594
00:38:07,520 --> 00:38:10,080
a message from the Japanese
government.
595
00:38:10,240 --> 00:38:15,080
I deem this reply, a full acceptance
of the Potsdam Declaration,
596
00:38:16,200 --> 00:38:19,640
which specifies the unconditional
surrender of Japan.
597
00:38:21,120 --> 00:38:22,720
And people go nuts.
598
00:38:22,880 --> 00:38:26,200
Tens of thousands of people gather
at the gate of the White House.
599
00:38:27,320 --> 00:38:30,840
The world has been holding
its breath since the war began.
600
00:38:32,280 --> 00:38:36,760
Now it is over
and there is great celebration.
601
00:38:38,320 --> 00:38:41,080
One of the crucial factors
in ending this war is that you have
602
00:38:41,240 --> 00:38:43,920
Harry Truman, an accidental
president who had to be briefed
603
00:38:44,080 --> 00:38:46,440
on the wartime situation
when he enters the Oval Office.
604
00:38:47,920 --> 00:38:52,880
And Hirohito, who has never
really made political decisions.
605
00:38:53,040 --> 00:38:57,840
They assert themselves and bring
the war to an end in August of 1945.
606
00:39:00,240 --> 00:39:06,240
Batan, Guadalcanal,
Iwo Jima, Okinawa,
607
00:39:07,760 --> 00:39:10,000
once obscure points on a map,
608
00:39:10,160 --> 00:39:13,360
now each place has a new meaning.
609
00:39:19,440 --> 00:39:22,160
In Japan on August 15th,
610
00:39:22,320 --> 00:39:27,040
Emperor Hirohito addresses a nation
that has never surrendered.
611
00:39:28,280 --> 00:39:30,920
Most Japanese had never
heard the emperor's voice before,
612
00:39:31,080 --> 00:39:34,280
but the Jewel Voice Broadcast
as it became known,
613
00:39:34,440 --> 00:39:38,840
is essential to getting most
Japanese used to the idea
614
00:39:39,000 --> 00:39:41,480
of laying their arms
and admitting surrender.
615
00:39:56,840 --> 00:39:59,040
When the Japanese
hear that the war is over,
616
00:39:59,200 --> 00:40:01,320
there has to be a combination
of feelings.
617
00:40:01,480 --> 00:40:04,080
We sacrificed all these people,
all this money
618
00:40:04,240 --> 00:40:07,400
and these cities of Japan,
and we lost.
619
00:40:08,520 --> 00:40:10,880
Shock, sadness,
620
00:40:12,240 --> 00:40:17,800
but also this incredible sense of
grief that we let the emperor down.
621
00:40:18,720 --> 00:40:20,920
Our lack of effort let
the emperor down.
622
00:40:22,280 --> 00:40:25,320
The Japanese accepted
the idea of surrender.
623
00:40:25,480 --> 00:40:27,640
The allies accepted
the idea of Hirohito
624
00:40:27,800 --> 00:40:31,640
remaining on the Japanese throne,
and that was the end of the war.
625
00:40:32,720 --> 00:40:35,400
September 2nd, 1945,
626
00:40:35,560 --> 00:40:39,400
on the deck of the USS Missouri
anchored in Tokyo Bay,
627
00:40:39,560 --> 00:40:43,240
the Japanese sign the instrument
of surrender,
628
00:40:43,400 --> 00:40:45,400
the largest conflict
in world history
629
00:40:45,560 --> 00:40:48,240
closes with a signature
and a speech.
630
00:40:49,480 --> 00:40:51,600
Douglas MacArthur
marks the occasion.
631
00:40:51,760 --> 00:40:55,200
"It is my earnest hope
and indeed the hope of all mankind,
632
00:40:55,360 --> 00:40:56,960
that from this solemn occasion,
633
00:40:57,120 --> 00:41:00,920
a better world shall emerge out of
the blood and carnage of the past."
634
00:41:01,080 --> 00:41:03,080
Subtitles by Sky Access Services
53958
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get subtitles in any language from opensubtitles.com, and translate them here.