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World War II
Episode163

December 08, 2025

Waiting for X-Day: Marines in the Shadow of Downfall

Waiting for X-Day: Marines in the Shadow of Downfall
33:25
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This episode follows the Marines from the mud and caves of Okinawa into the strange, uneasy rehabilitation camps on Guam, Saipan, Motobu, and Hawaii, where exhausted divisions rebuilt, trained, and quietly braced for the largest amphibious operation in history—Operation Downfall.

We break down how Marine divisions and air wings were wired into Operations OLYMPIC and CORONET, the internal fight in Washington over whether to starve, burn, or invade Japan, and how troops were reshaped for a direct assault on Kyushu and then the Tokyo Plain.

References

  1. Alexander, Joseph H. The final campaign: Marines in the victory on Okinawa. History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, 1996.
  2. Allen, Thomas B., and Norman Polmar. Code-name downfall: The secret plan to invade Japan and why Truman dropped the bomb. Simon & Schuster, 1995.
  3. Aurthur, Robert Alan, and Kenneth Cohlmia. The Third Marine Division. Battery Press, 1948.
  4. Bernstein, Barton J. “The Alarming Japanese Buildup on Southern Kyushu, Growing U.S. Fears, and Counterfactual Analysis: Would the Planned November 1945 Invasion of Southern Kyushu Have Occurred?” Pacific Historical Review 68, no. 4 (1999): 561–609. https://doi.org/10.2307/4492371.
  5. Butow, Robert J. C. Japan’s decision to surrender. A study in policy evolution. Stanford University Press, 1954.
  6. Cass, Bevan G. History of the Sixth Marine Division. Battery Press, 1948.
  7. CONDIT, KENNETH W. Hold high the torch: A history of the 4th Marines. Historical Branch, G-3 Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, 1960.
  8. Condon, John P. Corsairs and flattops: Marine carrier air warfare, 1944-1945. Naval Institute Press, 1998.
  9. De Chant, John A. Devilbirds: The story of United States Marine Corps aviation in World War II. Zenger Pub. Co, 1947.
  10. Frank, Benis M., and Henry I Shaw. Victory and occupation: History of U.S. Marine Corps operations in World War II. vol 5. Historical Branch, G-3 Division Headquarters, U S Marine Corps, 1968.
  11. Frank, Richard B. Downfall: The end of the imperial japanese empire. Penguin Books USA, 2001.
  12. Giangreco, D. M. “Casualty Projections for the U.S. Invasions of Japan, 1945-1946: Planning and Policy Implications.” The Journal of Military History 61, no. 3 (1997): 521. https://doi.org/10.2307/2954035.
  13. MACARTHUR, DOUGLAS. Campaigns of macarthur in the pacific: Volume I. U.S. Government Printing Office, 1966.
  14. MACARTHUR, DOUGLAS. Japanese operations in the Southwest Pacific Area: Volume II - part II. Government Printing Office, 1966.
  15. Nichols, Charles Sidney, and Henry I. Shaw. Okinawa: Victory in the Pacific. Historical Branch, G-3 Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, 1955.
  16. Rottman, Gordon L. U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of battle: Ground and air units in the Pacific War, 1939-1945. Greenwood Press, 2002.
  17. Shaw, Henry I. The United States Marines in the occupation of Japan. Historical Branch, G-3 Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, 1962.
  18. Sherrod, Robert Lee. History of Marine Corps aviation in World War II. Combat Forces Press, 1952.
  19. Smith, Charles R. Securing the surrender: Marines in the occupation of Japan. United States Government Printing Office, 1997.

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