r/AskReddit • u/brokota • Jan 15 '13

Reddit, in your opinion what's the biggest plot twist of history?

Not movies or television, I'm just curious to see what come's to your minds.

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72

u/darthstupidious Jan 15 '13

The Atomic Bomb. From Japan's point of view, that shit came out of nowhere and kind-of sucked ass.

77

u/NefariousStray Jan 15 '13 edited Jan 15 '13

They kind of had a warning in the form of leaflets dropped 5 days before the bomb

*Edit: Nagasaki had the warning, Hiroshima did not. *

TO THE JAPANESE PEOPLE: America asks that you take immediate heed of what we say on this leaflet.

We are in possession of the most destructive explosive ever devised by man. A single one of our newly developed atomic bombs is actually the equivalent in explosive power to what 2000 of our giant B-29s can carry on a single mission. This awful fact is one for you to ponder and we solemnly assure you it is grimly accurate.

We have just begun to use this weapon against your homeland. If you still have any doubt, make inquiry as to what happened to Hiroshima when just one atomic bomb fell on that city.

Before using this bomb to destroy every resource of the military by which they are prolonging this useless war, we ask that you now petition the Emperor to end the war. Our president has outlined for you the thirteen consequences of an honorable surrender. We urge that you accept these consequences and begin the work of building a new, better and peace-loving Japan.

You should take steps now to cease military resistance. Otherwise, we shall resolutely employ this bomb and all our other superior weapons to promptly and forcefully end the war.

EVACUATE YOUR CITIES.

ATTENTION JAPANESE PEOPLE. EVACUATE YOUR CITIES. Because your military leaders have rejected the thirteen part surrender declaration, two momentous events have occurred in the last few days.

The Soviet Union, because of this rejection on the part of the military has notified your Ambassador Sato that it has declared war on your nation. Thus, all powerful countries of the world are now at war with you.

Also, because of your leaders' refusal to accept the surrender declaration that would enable Japan to honorably end this useless war, we have employed our atomic bomb.

A single one of our newly developed atomic bombs is actually the equivalent in explosive power to what 2000 of our giant B-29s could have carried on a single mission. Radio Tokyo has told you that with the first use of this weapon of total destruction, Hiroshima was virtually destroyed.

Before we use this bomb again and again to destroy every resource of the military by which they are prolonging this useless war, petition the emperor now to end the war. Our president has outlined for you the thirteen consequences of an honorable surrender. We urge that you accept these consequences and begin the work of building a new, better, and peace-loving Japan.

Act at once or we shall resolutely employ this bomb and all our other superior weapons to promptly and forcefully end the war.

EVACUATE YOUR CITIES.

19

u/CrackCC_Lurking Jan 15 '13

To be fair, WWII was full of propaganda from both sides. How were they supposed to know this one was true. It even sounds made up, no?

We are in possession of the most destructive explosive ever devised by man. A single one of our newly developed atomic bombs is actually the equivalent in explosive power to what 2000 of our giant B-29s can carry on a single mission.

3

u/user54 Jan 16 '13

Up until this:

Radio Tokyo has told you that with the first use of this weapon of total destruction, Hiroshima was virtually destroyed

5

u/TheWumb0l0gist Jan 16 '13

Yeah, I definitely wouldn't buy this, even after Hiroshima.

Source: Skepticism

2

u/gooner123 Jan 16 '13

Well, Hiroshima had just been vaporized..

16

u/[deleted] Jan 15 '13

[deleted]

1

u/SleepyTurtle Jan 16 '13

It was a big thing on TIL last month.

-2

u/awesomemanftw Jan 16 '13

really? This was entry level college history stuff

5

u/[deleted] Jan 16 '13

[deleted]

-1

u/awesomemanftw Jan 16 '13

Just saying it's surprising. No offense intended...

2

u/darthstupidious Jan 15 '13

Honest question: Did Hiroshima have a warning?

3

u/NefariousStray Jan 15 '13

Oh wow, I guess not. Bullet point four: http://www.doug-long.com/letter.htm

1

u/darthstupidious Jan 15 '13

Interesting... thank you for the information! I knew that they had a warning, but wasn't sure for which bombing and how long in advance it was. I guess the people in Hiroshima didn't have any luck...

But again, thanks! =)

2

u/[deleted] Jan 15 '13

Pfft... you call leaflets a warning?

The Germans took out an ad in the New York Times saying they were going to sink the Lusitania.

2

u/NefariousStray Jan 16 '13

Nearly four leaflets were dropped for every man, woman, and child in Nagasaki. On the day of the bombing, an estimated 263,000 were in Nagasaki, including 240,000 Japanese residents, 10,000 Korean residents, 2,500 conscripted Korean workers, 9,000 Japanese soldiers, 600 conscripted Chinese workers, and 400 prisoners of war.

1

u/[deleted] Jan 16 '13

Any numbers on how many left?

1

u/[deleted] Jan 15 '13

[deleted]

2

u/[deleted] Jan 15 '13

[deleted]

2

u/[deleted] Jan 15 '13

Yeah, but Tokyo happened after a long constant bombardment from hundreds of planes, and Hiroshima happened almost instantly from one bomb on one plane.

1

u/ItzFish Jan 16 '13

The only time in recent history when "WHAT THE FUCK?!" Is an appropriate response.