This episode of History 102 features a follow up analysis of World War II focused on Japan, China, and the events located in the Pacific. WhatifAltHist creator Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg discuss the build-up to the Pacific War, the geopolitical backdrop of Japan's militaristic expansion, and the cultural psyche that fueled its aggressive actions.

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Key points include Japan's transition to authoritarianism in the 1920s, its strategic ambitions in China leading to the Sino-Japanese War, and the critical battles and dynamics with other global powers including the USSR and the USA. The episode also explores the nuanced causes and justifications behind the Pacific War, Japan's wartime atrocities, and the decisive moments that led to Japan's surrender, including discussions around the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Tourism content in the episode includes the broader implications of WWII, the downfall of colonial empires, and the socio-political changes in post-war Japan. 

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@whatifalthist (Rudyard)

@eriktorenberg (Erik)

@TurpentineMedia

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Recommended Books:

• Tragedy and Hope by Carroll Quigley
• Inside Asia by John Gunther
• Eagle Against the Sun by Ronald H. Spector
• Japan and the Shackles of the Past by R. Taggart Murphy
• Author Ian Cross