Japanese War

From Turtledove

Previous: World War II Casus: Soviet backed invasion of South Japan by North Japan Japanese War Beginning: 1948 End: 1949 Place: Japanese Islands Outcome: Status quo antebellum territorially, atomic destruction of Sapporo and Nagano Major battles: Utsunomiya Combatants Soviet Union North Japan United States South Japan Commanders Leon Trotsky Joe Steele
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The Japanese War was an outgrowth of World War II. The United States invaded and occupied Japan in late 1945. When it became clear that the U.S., despite massive casualties, was winning, the Soviet Union invaded and occupied Hokkaido and the northern part of Honshu. The Soviet Union established the puppet state of North Japan and the U.S. established the state of South Japan. In 1948, the firmly communist North Japan invaded the south. The South Japanese army proved inadequate to defending their homeland. However, United States Marines were able to hold off the invasion at Utsunomiya. After a year of bloody fighting, U.S. President Joe Steele ordered the destruction of North Japan's capital Sapporo with an atomic bomb on August 6, 1949. In response, Soviet Premier Leon Trotsky ordered the bombing of the South Japanese city of Nagano three days later. The war ended in a stalemate, with a restoration of the status quo ante bellum.