Chapter 697 Victory!!

After the outbreak of the Pacific War, Western countries such as the United States and Britain were suitable for war against Japan. The Japanese army fell from the peak of strategic advantages, especially the Chinese military and civilians dragged down millions of Japanese troops, making them fall into mud and unable to extricate themselves, and their manpower and material resources were consumed endlessly.

As time went by, the defeats followed one after another. By the summer of 1944, Japan's boast about the "absolute defense circle" was destroyed, and the local area was within the range of Allied aircraft bombing, and casualties continued to increase.

The Hideki Tojo Cabinet, which provoked the Pacific War, was forced to declare its downfall when Japan was defeated.

The newly-employed Koikiki Kazuki Cabinet accepted a mess of internal and external troubles. After struggling for more than eight months, he finally resigned because he was unable to turn things around.

On April 5, 1945, Suzuki Kantaro became the Prime Minister of the Cabinet. Less than a month after forming the cabinet, bad news came, Hitler was defeated and committed suicide, and Germany surrendered.

Given that Japan's war ability was completely lost and was about to collapse, Suzuki reported to the emperor for permission to formulate countermeasures to clean up the current situation and end the war. He then issued an instructor to Sato, ambassador to the Soviet Union, asking him to ask the Soviet government to come forward to mediate.

On the evening of July 26, the Potsdam Proclamation signed by the United States, China and Britain was broadcast to the world, with the intention of urging Japan to surrender as soon as possible:

The allies will give Japan the final blow, so that it will stop its final resistance. Japan should make a decision as soon as possible and immediately announce that all armed forces will surrender unconditionally, otherwise it will soon be completely destroyed.

At 6 o'clock the next morning, the Japan Overseas Broadcasting Bureau monitored the "Potsdam Proclamation" broadcast from San Francisco again.

At 10 o'clock, the six giants of the Japanese cabinet held the highest war guidance meeting, with only one topic: whether Japan accepts the Potsdam Proclamation. The six giants of the cabinet are Prime Minister Suzuki, Army Minister General Anan, Navy Minister General Mene, Chief of Staff General Umezu, Military Order Minister General Toyota, Foreign Minister Toyogo.

At the meeting, Prime Minister Suzuki and Foreign Minister Togo made a statement, believing that it was unwise to refuse to accept the Potsdam Proclamation. Military officials, headed by Army Minister Anan, firmly advocated no room for consideration.

Submission to the pressure of the majority of the military, Suzuki spoke to the press on behalf of the Japanese government on the 28th: ​​The government's attitude is to kill the Potsdam Proclamation silently.

Japanese and world public opinion commented that the so-called "silent killing" means not paying attention and ignoring it silently is another form of rejection.

In the next few days, Japan eagerly waited for the Soviet Union's reply, and Japan placed its hopes on the Soviet Union's mediation.

After learning that Japan had rejected the Potsdam Proclamation, the United States put the "last strike" on Japan into action, and three atomic bombs were dropped on Japan in succession, killing hundreds of thousands of people.

However, the pro-war faction led by Anan was still not willing to be outdone. In order to prevent the morale of the army, in order to shake the morale of the army, he deliberately belittled the power and destructive effects of the atomic bomb. The announcement of the Department of War issued by him said: The US B-29 bomber attacked three Japanese cities including Hiroshima and used a new type of bomb, causing significant losses.

The long-awaited Soviet Union finally came the reply: not only did it flatly refuse mediation, but it also declared war on Japan unexpectedly!

Japanese Ambassador to the Soviet Union Sato went to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to meet with Molotov at the notice of the Soviet government. Sato secretly prayed that it was good news. In order to create a friendly atmosphere, when he saw Molotov's face, he smiled and asked him politely, and even seemed to be humble and flattering.

Unexpectedly, Molotov was very cold and interrupted him with a serious expression, and read a brief statement, declaring war on Japan.

The Japanese government had not yet had time to respond to the Soviet statement. The Soviet army divided into three groups to cross the Sino-Soviet border and defeated the Japanese Kwantung Army in one fell swoop. On the same day, the Chinese army counterattacked the entire line and launched its last blow to the Japanese army.

Foreign Minister Togo reported the Soviet Union's declaration of war against Japan to the emperor, requesting the emperor to accept the Potsdam Proclamation.

As early as the time when the United States dropped the atomic bomb, the emperor had already developed a desire to truce, so he asked Togo to tell Prime Minister Suzuki: "In view of the enemy's use of new bombs, Japan no longer has the power to continue to attack, and it should work hard to end the war as soon as possible."

He also instructed Suzuki through the Minister of Internal Affairs Kido: "The war situation should be cleaned up as soon as possible. My personal safety is secondary. We must not repeat the tragedy in Hiroshima and other places."

Suzuki held another meeting on the guidance of the Supreme War. He said after conveying the Emperor's words:

"Hiroshima and other places have been destroyed, and the Soviet Russian army has invaded Manchuria on a large scale. The imperial army can't actually fight anymore. According to my personal opinion, there is no other way out except to accept the Potsdam Proclamation. What are your opinions? Please express your opinions."

At the meeting, most people agreed to accept the Potsdam Proclamation, but there was an additional condition: the Emperor was retained to maintain the state system.

The reason they chose to surrender was that Okinawa had become a bridgehead for the US military to attack Kyushu, the US ships had begun to bombard the coastal cities, the people were exhausted, and Japan had no longer had the strength and means to continue to attack. If it did not surrender, it would be that both jade would be destroyed.

Of course, except for the firm and strong opposition of the pro-war factions such as Anan, Toyota, Umetsu, etc., they believe that the war can still continue.

Anan once shouted irritably: "Enough, enough, everyone knows these situations. I and my loyal and brave subordinates have a belief that no matter how dangerous the situation is, I must fight to the end, and I would rather be broken than surrender!"

In fact, many of these people are completely crazy...

......

August 14, 1945.

The Emperor of Japan issued the "Armistice" signed by the deputy ministers of various states, saying:

"In view of the general trend of the world and the current situation of the empire, I want to take extraordinary measures to clean up the current situation. I hereby inform you and other subjects. I have ordered the imperial government to inform the four people of the United States, Britain, China, and the Soviet Union to accept their joint announcement."

At noon on August 15, the Japanese Emperor's "Armature Decree" was officially broadcast and announced unconditional surrender.

Citizens had no right to hear his voice before. He did not use the word surrender, but people understood that the ceasefire was carried out according to the conditions proposed by the Allies. They knew that life had changed irreversibly.

The bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the atomic bombing and the Soviet troops on August 8 finally forced Japan to surrender. Japan agreed to the amendment conditions for the Potsdam Conference. The Allied forces would occupy Japan and lift Japan's militarist system.

At around 6 p.m. on August 15, news of Japan's unconditional surrender was reported by Chongqing Radio.

Chongqing citizens set off firecrackers, and their joy was unprecedentedly high.

On the short and narrow gray wall of Chongqing Central News Agency, a huge outline of "Japan surrendered" was posted.

Several reporters drove tricycles and rang the gongs around the city to report to the citizens the news of Japan's surrender and victory in the War of Resistance. The crowds were everywhere in the streets and clapped their hands.

On the same evening, the National Gazette published the "Japan Surrender" and was the first to go to the center of Chongqing. Citizens competed for purchases, and the supply was in short supply. Chongqing's firecracker shops were in good business, and firecrackers were sold out in an instant.

At night, firecrackers were set off, and searchlights from all walks of life were illuminated, making the city like daylight. At the same time, in the theater where movies were being screened in Kunming, the audience cheered when the subtitles of "Japanese Unconditional Surrender" were shown on the screen. They took out their hats and handkerchiefs danced in the air.

In the theater where he was acting, someone heard the news of victory and jumped onto the stage, hugged the big face that was shaking his voice and shouted: "Japan has surrendered!"

The audience was ecstatic and ran to the street to cheer for victory. On the same day, the Chengdu Evening News reported the scene of the Chengdu people celebrating victory with the title "Victory is coming, Chengdu is carnival".

Hearing the news of Japan's surrender, the crowds all over the streets were surging like floods, and many people were flying all over the streets with long strings of firecrackers.

Run, beat drums and drums, and some take out the wash basin to pat and beat them randomly.

In Chengdu newspapers issued a number, citizens rushed to buy it first, and some bought it for 500 yuan; many people wanted to buy it as souvenirs for the end of World War II.

Many shops and important streets set off firecrackers to celebrate until midnight, and tourists cheered and celebrated.

In the evening, in the ancient city of Xi'an, people burned firecrackers everywhere, and the bell tower became the center of joy. If the soldiers couldn't buy firecrackers, they fired guns into the sky to celebrate. That night, the teahouse provided free tea and the tavern provided free wine. The watermelon sells half of the red-fleshed melon, like the sun flag, cut it into pieces and entertains passers-by for free.

On the morning of August 15, the highest national flag in Shanghai was raised at the top of the Shanghai International Hotel, and thousands of people raised their heads to pay tribute. Shanghai was closed, and firecrackers were heard all day long. People spontaneously marched to cheer for the liberation and victory of the Chinese nation.

On the same day, Chiang Kai-shek delivered a radio speech to military and civilians across the country and people around the world. He said excitedly:

"Our truth that 'justice must surpass power' has finally been proven by it... Our China's belief in eight years of struggle in a period of darkness and despair has only been realized today."

He also pointed out: "We have always claimed that we only recognize the Japanese militaristic warlords as enemies and do not take the Japanese people as enemies. Today, the enemy has been defeated by our allies. Of course, we must strictly entrust him to faithfully implement all the surrender clauses, but we do not attempt to retaliate."

To celebrate the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, the whole country will have three days off today, and the people will have a carnival and the nightmare is over!

On August 15, the United States celebrated peace grandly. The long-awaited victory of the war against Japan finally came. There is no more war.

The people of New York spontaneously took to the streets to sing and dance. In San Diego, drunk sailors smashed the shop windows. On the roads in the Midwest, farmers who had always been serious and depressed kept pressing the car horns, like teenagers who violated the law and discipline.

After the young men returned to their motherland, they might feel that the girls had changed. During the war, they worked side by side in the factory with the men, forming an unprecedented independent personality. But the letters flying abroad said: "Come back, let us build a family like our elders lived."

The War of Resistance is really over!
Chapter completed!