Japan’s defeat in WWII marked a dramatic turning point in the Pacific, halting decades of expansion. After fierce battles and the devastating atomic bombings, Japan surrendered in 1945, forever transforming regional geopolitics and setting the stage for postwar recovery
Twelve hours before World War II drew to a close, the US launched a fierce firebombing raid on the Japanese city of Kumagaya, leaving the area in ruins. In the years since, many critics have harshly condemned the attack as “utterly foolish,” questioning why such overwhelming destruction was unleashed just moments before Japan’s surrender
