311. More Than the Bomb: The Soviet Factor in Japan's Surrender

Battleground

Goalhanger

History

4.6 • 703 Ratings

🗓️ 6 August 2025

⏱️ 32 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In this episode of Battleground 45 Saul is joined by Evan Mawdsley to examine the final weeks of World War II from the perspective of the Soviet Union. Together they explore Stalin’s strategic goals at the Potsdam Conference, his reaction to the successful test of the atomic bomb, and the subsequent decision to accelerate the invasion of Manchuria. They look at why the Soviet declaration of war on Japan on August 8, 1945, may have been the decisive factor for the Japanese leadership's surrender. We'll delve into the lightning-fast invasion of Manchuria and Korea, the Soviet's thwarted plans to co-occupy Japan, and what the end of the fighting meant for the Soviet Union's future geopolitical ambitions. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com Producer: James Hodgson X (Twitter): @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Why are businesses like HelloVet choosing Apple products and services?
0:04.8	So we started the business two years ago.
0:07.2	We had a few people who were used to PCs and this was their first foray into Macs.
0:12.5	But it's been super smooth getting everyone onto those devices and everyone seems really, really happy.
0:18.0	Find out how Mac can help you run and grow your business at apple.com forward slash hellovet.
0:26.0	Here's the truth about AI.
0:28.4	AI is only as powerful as the platform it's built into.
0:32.0	ServiceNow puts AI to work for people across your business,
0:35.8	removing friction and frustration for your employees,
0:39.0	supercharging productivity for your developers, providing intelligent tools for your service agents
0:44.2	to make customers happier, all built into a single platform you can use right now.
0:49.5	That's why the world works with ServiceNow.
0:52.8	Visit ServiceNow.com slash UK slash AI for people.
0:56.5	Welcome fellow mystery lovers
0:58.4	to a brand new season of only murders in the building on Disney Plus.
1:02.9	These people can be killers.
1:04.8	Settle in for a tale of mobsters and murder.
1:07.8	We'd assumed murder.
1:09.5	We'll be joined by killer special guests, Merrill Streep.
1:13.0	Let's talk murder.
1:14.1	And Renee Zellwiger.
1:15.7	Oh.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Goalhanger, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Goalhanger and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.