The Context of Nuclear Weapons Use

In the summer of 1945, as World War II was nearing its end, Japan remained defiant despite facing imminent defeat. The Japanese Armed Forces were still largely intact, with millions of soldiers positioned in Asia, and a substantial number waiting for an invasion on the island of Kyushu. Despite suffering from severe blockades leading to starvation, the civilian population remained largely quiescent, showing no inclination towards rebellion. The Japanese government, meanwhile, militarized civilians in preparation for an American invasion, readying them to resist with whatever means available.