Racing the Enemy : Stalin, Truman, and the Surrender of Japan

With startling revelations, Tsuyoshi Hasegawa rewrites the standard history of the end of World War II in the Pacific. By fully integrating the three key actors in the story--the United States, the Soviet Union, and Japan--Hasegawa for the first time puts the last months of the war into international perspective. From April 1945, when Stalin broke the Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Pact and Harry Truman assumed the presidency, to the final Soviet military actions against Japan, Hasegawa brings to light the real reasons Japan surrendered. From Washington to Moscow to Tokyo and back again, he shows us a high-stakes diplomatic game as Truman and Stalin sought to outmaneuver each other in forcing Japan's surrender; as Stalin dangled mediation offers to Japan while secretly preparing to fight in the Pacific; as Tokyo peace advocates desperately tried to stave off a war party determined to mount a last-ditch defense; and as the Americans struggled to balance their competing interests of ending the war with Japan and preventing the Soviets from expanding into the Pacific. Authoritative and engrossing, Racing the Enemy puts the final days of World War II into a whole new light. (20050515)

with Startling Revelations, Tsuyoshi Hasegawa Rewrites The Standard History Of The End Of World War Ii In The Pacific. By Fully Integrating The Three Key Actors In The Story—the United States, The Soviet Union, And Japan—hasegawa For The First Time Puts The Last Months Of The War Into International Perspective.

from April 1945, When Stalin Broke The Soviet-japanese Neutrality Pact And Harry Truman Assumed The Presidency, To The Final Soviet Military Actions Against Japan, Hasegawa Brings To Light The Real Reasons Japan Surrendered. From Washington To Moscow To Tokyo And Back Again, He Shows Us A High-stakes Diplomatic Game As Truman And Stalin Sought To Outmaneuver Each Other In Forcing Japan's Surrender; As Stalin Dangled Mediation Offers To Japan While Secretly Preparing To Fight In The Pacific; As Tokyo Peace Advocates Desperately Tried To Stave Off A War Party Determined To Mount A Last-ditch Defense; And As The Americans Struggled To Balance Their Competing Interests Of Ending The War With Japan And Preventing The Soviets From Expanding Into The Pacific.

authoritative And Engrossing, racing The Enemy Puts The Final Days Of World War Ii Into A Whole New Light.

anno Tadashi - Monumenta Nipponica

tsuyoshi Hasegawa's racing The Enemy Is A Splendid Book--the First To Examine The End Of The Second World War In The Asia Pacific From A Comprehensive, International Perspective. Based On Archival And Published Materials In Russian, English, And Japanese, It Provides A Gripping Account Of The Complex Diplomatic Maneuvers And Political Battles That Culminated In The Tumultuous Events Of August 1945...hasegawa Has Written The First Truly International History Of The End Of The Pacific War. By Bringing Hitherto Separate Literatures Together Into A Much-needed Dialogue, He Has Recast The Contours Of The Whole Debate. racing The Enemy Will Remain Essential Reading For Students Of Foreign Policy And International History For Many Years To Come.

Annotation With startling revelations, Tsuyoshi Hasegawa rewrites the standard history of the end of World War II in the Pacific. By fully integrating the three key actors in the story--the United States, the Soviet Union, and Japan--Hasegawa for the first time puts the last months of the war into international perspective. From April 1945, when Stalin broke the Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Pact and Harry Truman assumed the presidency, to the final Soviet military actions against Japan, Hasegawa brings to light the real reasons Japan surrendered. From Washington to Moscow to Tokyo and back again, he shows us a high-stakes diplomatic game as Truman and Stalin sought to outmaneuver each other in forcing Japan's surrender; as Stalin dangled mediation offers to Japan while secretly preparing to fight in the Pacific; as Tokyo peace advocates desperately tried to stave off a war party determined to mount a last-ditch defense; and as the Americans struggled to balance their competing interests of ending the war with Japan and preventing the Soviets from expanding into the Pacific. Authoritative and engrossing, Racing the Enemy puts the final days of World War II into a whole new light Contents......Page 8 Maps......Page 9 Note on Transliteration and Spelling......Page 10 Introduction: Race to the Finish......Page 14 1. Triangular Relations and the Pacific War......Page 20 2. Stalin, Truman, and Hirohito Face New Challenges......Page 58 3. Decisions for War and Peace......Page 102 4. Potsdam: The Turning Point......Page 143 5. The Atomic Bombs and Soviet Entry into the War......Page 206 6. Japan Accepts Unconditional Surrender......Page 260 7. August Storm: The Soviet-Japanese War and the United States......Page 297 Conclusion: Assessing the Roads Not Taken......Page 335 Abbreviations......Page 352 Notes......Page 354 Acknowledgments......Page 408 Index......Page 412 "In the first international history of the end of World War II in the Pacific - the only book to fully integrate the roles of the United States, the Soviet Union, and Japan - Tsuyoshi Hasegawa traces an intricate diplomatic and military end game as he shatters standard accounts of the Japanese surrender."--Cloth ed. book jacket In the first international history of the end of World War II in the Pacific -- the only book to fully integrate the roles of the United States, the Soviet Union, and Japan -- Tsuyoshi Hasegawa traces an intricate diplomatic and military end game as he shatters standard accounts of the Japanese surrender. - Jacket flap.