Unfounded. U.S. and Britain had begged Stalin at the Tehran Conference and at Yalta to join the war against Japan. He promised to so 90 days after German surrender. Deal was made, both sides kept promises.https://twitter.com/wellerstein/status/1027574361262383104 …
Yes, at Tehran and Yalta. But by Potsdam, attitudes had changed, and they sort of hoped it wouldn't happen (but didn't feel they could "take back" the request). The experience of the Soviet occupation of Poland weighed heavily in their minds.
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It would have been impossible to stop the Soviet move after mid July. Huge forces were already in positions. U.S. had no means to prevented their attack. Point of nuking was probl. mostly about demonstrating nukes to Soviets. Stalin wasn't impressed. (He already knew about them.)
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Impossible for... who? Stalin. I mean, Stalin gets what Stalin wants. Evidence for US wanting to demonstrate to Soviets is pretty weak. One of many possible motivations. Stalin WAS impressed, FWIW. Depressed in his dacha all day long. Sad Stalin.
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After his depressed day (we've all had them), he did two things: 1. move up the schedule of invasion, and 2. give a full-steam-ahead on the Soviet bomb project, and tell his scientists that their job was to keep the USSR from becoming like Japan. For what it is worth.
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The Soviet defeat of 1,000,000 of Japan’s best remaining forces in Manchuria induced Japan to surrender as much as the A-bombings. Japanese historians confirm this.
End of conversation
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