NationStates Jolt Archive

How would have history been different if, in 1945, we learned that large-scale fission explosions were useless? What would have happened differently if we had to invade Japan? What would tensions be between the US and the USSR?

I'm going to bed, so I'll bump this tomarrow afternoon. G'nite.

How would have history been different if, in 1945, we learned that large-scale fission explosions were useless? What would have happened differently if we had to invade Japan? What would tensions be between the US and the USSR?

I'm going to bed, so I'll bump this tomarrow afternoon. G'nite.
I'm afraid we might all be speaking German. Or Japanese. If we were speaking at all that is. Those of us who would have made the "cut" wouldn't be freely expressing our views, that's for sure!

That seems pretty reductive. Germany had already surrendered without the use of nuclear weapons, and between the first and second bomb Russia had declared war on Japan. Japan was facing invasion on two fronts without the resources to maintain the war it had going. Droping the bombs was about shortening the war, it didn't really turn the tide.

I think the most profound effect would be the nature of the Cold War and the way that the culture of the post-nuclear world. Think about things like Godzilla, Duck and Cover, etc. We would still have a consumer manufacturing base that comes from WWII era mass production (kitchen of tommorrow, etc.), but trying to seperate the cultural impact of nuclear weapons and power in the last half of the twentieth century is like trying to get pee out of the pool.

We'd have more countries bitching about why we took so long to invade Japan.

I'm afraid we might all be speaking German. Or Japanese. If we were speaking at all that is. Those of us who would have made the "cut" wouldn't be freely expressing our views, that's for sure!
The whole of Europe would be speaking Russian.
America- Would I believe have realigned itself with the remnants of the Nazi party and aided them in their move to South America.
All to fight the evil of communism.
China wouldve joined with the Soviet Empire...it gets ugly from there.

Or
The whole of Europe is speaking Russian.
At the near end of WWII we follow Pattons direction to continue East to hammer the Soviet menance(since we do not have effective deterrents).
Though the American military industrial complex is a formidable enemy to the Soviets our supply lines are long. The Brittish and french are in No shape to aid us.
The Russians crush American forces be the shear weight of their numbers.
A crippled American military is in no shape to defend against a Soviet invasion, aided by Chinese communist angered atthe American support of Chiang Kai Shek and the KMT.
We become the North American Soviet Socialist Republic...
Sound good??
I was giving an honest try, sound possible?

Not really.

Soviet Russia was still recovering from Stalingrad at that point. The US had a far superior navy, so the shores of the US were secure against Russian advance. However, the US military would have been struggling after a horrendously costly invasion of Japan, so we would not have had the resources or desire to push into Russia.

This is a huge sociopolitical issue, and I'm not sure exactly how smart I'd be to go into it just now...I'll give it some thought later, interesting proposal.

Truman would not have fired MacArthur for crossing into China during the Korean war cause the Russians would not have been able to retaliate with nukes. Hence there would be one Korea today governed by a democratic government.
And we might have democratized China.

We'd have more countries bitching about why we took so long to invade Japan.
Not to mention a lot of Leftists insisting that Japan was a "quagmire" and "the wrong war at the wrong time."

Not to mention a lot of Leftists insisting that Japan was a "quagmire" and "the wrong war at the wrong time."
Heh, that's what they were screaming about Germany at the time.

The US would have simply blockaded Japan until the Soviet forces joined. Most likely the Soviets would have invaded Hokkaido and met heavy resistance, but the Emporer would surrender after the island was lost. There would be a much more violent Cold War ensuing, as there would be no Mutually assured Destruction to hold the USSR and the US back.

The US would have simply blockaded Japan until the Soviet forces joined. Most likely the Soviets would have invaded Hokkaido and met heavy resistance, but the Emporer would surrender after the island was lost. There would be a much more violent Cold War ensuing, as there would be no Mutually assured Destruction to hold the USSR and the US back.
After further consideration, the Korean war would have erupted into World War III between the US and Russia. We still would have won though.

The US would have simply blockaded Japan until the Soviet forces joined. Most likely the Soviets would have invaded Hokkaido and met heavy resistance, but the Emporer would surrender after the island was lost. There would be a much more violent Cold War ensuing, as there would be no Mutually assured Destruction to hold the USSR and the US back.
There's a truly good analysis. The mere existence of nuclear weapons and the willingness of both the US and the USSR to use them, were the major factors in ensuring there never was a nuclear war (paradoxical as it seems.)

After further consideration, the Korean war would have erupted into World War III between the US and Russia. We still would have won though.
I have no doubt the US would emerge victorious- provided the European allies joined in. The US was strong, but the combined forces of the Soviets and Chinese would be quite a match to deal with.

I have no doubt the US would emerge victorious- provided the European allies joined in. The US was strong, but the combined forces of the Soviets and Chinese would be quite a match to deal with.
Why would China and Russia align? Wasn't there a Sino-Chinese conflict aroung the early sixties?

Why would China and Russia align? Wasn't there a Sino-Chinese conflict aroung the early sixties?
A border dispute.

How would have history been different if, in 1945, we learned that large-scale fission explosions were useless? What would have happened differently if we had to invade Japan? What would tensions be between the US and the USSR?

I'm going to bed, so I'll bump this tomarrow afternoon. G'nite.

I think Japan would have been defeated with much more cost to the US... Or that they would have negotiated peace after much fighting.
Without the deterrant of nuclear weapons, a new world war would probably have flared up after a few years (in the 50's or 60's), this time between the soviets/communist nations of europe and the allied nations (GB, USA, France...etc). Also the Korean war and the Vietnam war would not have taken place in the strange form that they did, and would probably just have been theatres in a much much larger war.
And Japan would probably have aligned itself with the allies.

Honestly, I think things would be a lot bloodier if no one had nukes.

First off, without them the invasion of Japan would be very, very bloody. Military experts of the time placed American losses of the invasion of the home island at 1,000,000 deaths.

Now about this Cold War thing... I admit I'm no expert on it... but without the threat of nuclear attacks, the USSR would have tried much harder to take over Europe and America may have fought a war against Russia in Europe.

Nukes I believe are the only things keeping some people from doing some really nasty stuff.

A border dispute.

That led to an enormous schism and almost to war multiple times.

Bump

I'm familiar with Cold war history, and yes, it is forgone that nuclear weapons prevented a lot of war. The Cold war could have started even before the Korean War if one considers the Berlin Blockade.

Also, while the Chinese and The Russians were on terrible terms (The Premier of China said once that Russia was more of a threat to international communism than the US) I think a warless statis allow anyone, and especially the audacious Chinese (who nobody really understands anyway) to say what ever they want. Seriously would France and the US be so antagonistic if there was serious concern about a Franco-American Conflict? I think ultimately the PRC and the USSR would have held togather, if nothing else to defeat the Americans.

Its funny to think that when nuclear weapons Don't play a role, the wars of the world just get bloodier and bloodier.

How would have history been different if, in 1945, we learned that large-scale fission explosions were useless?

Useless for what. Warfare? Science?