Operation Downfall

Operation Downfall was the planned Allied invasion of Japan during World War II, set for late 1945. It aimed to secure Japan by launching massive assaults on the islands of Kyushu and Honshu. The operation envisioned intense fighting, with estimates of significant casualties on both sides. However, it was ultimately canceled after the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, leading to Japan's surrender. The operation highlights the complexities and potential costs of military strategy in securing peace.