Comes with a hand-signed Certificate of Authenticity

Size: 19.5 x 27 inches

*THESE COMBINED CHIEF OF STAFF 1945 OPERATION DOWNFALL (JAPAN) INTELLIGENCE INVASION MAPS ARE OF THE SAME RARITY AS THE BIGOT OPERATION OVERLORD D-DAY PLANNING MAPS.

This extremely rare and museum-grade World War II artifact is an original “CONFIDENTIAL” marked Operation Downfall FIRST PROOF planning map used by the Combined Chiefs of Staff (CCS) during the top secret planning of mainland Japan. The Combined Chiefs of Staff (CCS) was the supreme military staff for the United States and Britain during World War II. It set all the major policy decisions for the two nations, subject to the approvals of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Operation Olympic was a planned Allied (American and British) invasion during World War II, intended as the first major phase of Operation Downfall, which was the overall Allied plan for the invasion of the Japanese home islands. Set to begin in November 1945, Operation Olympic aimed to capture the southern Japanese island of Kyushu as a staging area for the subsequent invasion of the main island, Honshu, under Operation Coronet. The preparation for Olympic involved intricate planning, massive troop mobilizations, and considerable logistical challenges. It was expected to be the largest amphibious operation in the history of warfare, overshadowing even the D-Day landings in Normandy.

This Operation Downfall double-sided Combined Chiefs of Staff (CCS) intelligence planning map is one of only a handful that still exist as these intelligence maps were closely guarded due to the invasion information they contained.

SIDE ONE is titled “OITA REGION”

SIDE TWO is titled “SAGANOSEKI”

The Oita region and the area around Saganoseki in Japan were significant in the Allied planning for Operation Downfall, the comprehensive campaign designed for the invasion of the Japanese Home Islands during World War II. Each of these areas was considered crucial for both their strategic location and the roles they were to play in facilitating the successful execution of Operation Olympic, the first phase of Downfall aimed at securing the southern island of Kyushu.

Oita Region

1. Strategic Location:

Oita is located on the eastern coast of Kyushu and possesses a significant geographic advantage due to its proximity to the Bungo Strait. This location made it a strategic target for the Allies, who planned to control the strait and cut off Japanese naval operations, particularly the movement of reinforcements and supplies from other parts of Japan.

2. Target for Air Operations:

The Oita region housed several Japanese military installations, including airfields and naval bases. These facilities were targets for Allied bombing campaigns designed to degrade Japanese air and sea capabilities ahead of the landings. Reducing the operational effectiveness of these bases was critical to ensuring air superiority and minimizing the risk of Japanese attacks on Allied landing forces.

3. Amphibious Landing Sites:

Oita offered potential landing sites for Allied forces. The beaches here were considered for landings due to their strategic location and the ability to support subsequent operations towards key Japanese infrastructure and urban centers. Securing a foothold in Oita would facilitate a pincer movement towards the central part of Kyushu, supporting simultaneous landings in other parts of the island.

4. Logistics and Supply:

Capturing the Oita region was also essential for establishing logistical bases to support the invasion. The area's ports and transportation infrastructure would enable the continuous flow of Allied troops, supplies, and equipment necessary for sustaining a prolonged campaign on Kyushu.

Saganoseki Area

1. Overlooking Important Waterways:

Saganoseki, located near Oita and along the coast overlooking important maritime routes including the Bungo Strait, was crucial for controlling these strategic waterways. Dominance over this area would help the Allies monitor and potentially block Japanese naval movements, including the deployment of kamikaze attacks from nearby bases.

2. Industrial and Fuel Production Sites:

Saganoseki was known for its industrial facilities, including oil refineries and chemical plants. Neutralizing these facilities was part of the broader Allied strategy to cripple Japan's war-making capacity, reducing the availability of essential resources needed by Japan to continue the war.

3. Defensive Preparations:

Like many other potential landing sites, the Saganoseki area was expected to be heavily fortified by the Japanese. Allied planners had to consider the strong defensive measures likely in place, including coastal artillery, anti-aircraft guns, and entrenched infantry positions. The area's rough terrain and industrial installations would also pose additional challenges for invading forces.

The planning for Operation Downfall, and specifically Operation Olympic, involved meticulous consideration of various strategic locations across Kyushu, including the Oita region and Saganoseki. These areas were integral to the overall invasion strategy, which aimed to secure a decisive foothold on Kyushu before proceeding to the main island of Honshu in a subsequent phase (Operation Coronet). The detailed planning reflected the complexity of the operation, highlighting the Allies' intent to dismantle Japanese military capabilities systematically and ensure the successful culmination of the Pacific campaign. The ultimate cancellation of Operation Downfall following the atomic bombings and Japan's surrender left these plans untested, yet they remain a significant example of comprehensive military strategy in World War II.

The Role of the Combined Chiefs of Staff in Planning Operation Downfall during World War II:

During World War II, the Combined Chiefs of Staff (CCS) played a crucial role in the planning of Operation Downfall, which was the codename for the proposed Allied plan for the invasion of Japan. The CCS was an amalgamation of the British Chiefs of Staff Committee and the American Joint Chiefs of Staff. This unique Anglo-American body was established to oversee the strategic direction of the Allied war effort and to facilitate cooperation between the British and American military services.

Formation and Function of the Combined Chiefs of Staff

The Combined Chiefs of Staff was formed following the Arcadia Conference in Washington, D.C., in late 1941 and early 1942. This body allowed the highest-ranking military leaders from both nations to coordinate their strategies efficiently and to plan major operations in a unified manner. The CCS was critical in deliberating and shaping strategic decisions across the various theaters of the war, ensuring that resources were allocated in line with overall Allied priorities.

Planning for Operation Downfall

As the war in the Pacific progressed towards Japan, it became clear that an invasion might be necessary to compel Japanese surrender. Operation Downfall consisted of two major parts: Operation Olympic and Operation Coronet.

1. Operation Olympic: Scheduled for November 1945, this was planned as the initial invasion of the southern island of Kyushu. It aimed to secure airfields and a staging area to support the larger subsequent invasion.

2. Operation Coronet: Slated for the spring of 1946, this operation involved the invasion of the main Japanese island of Honshu, and the capture of Tokyo.

The Role of the CCS in Planning

Strategic Planning: The CCS's role in planning Operation Downfall was multifaceted, involving strategic, operational, and logistical dimensions. They assessed intelligence reports, evaluated the strength and disposition of Japanese forces, and deliberated on the estimated casualties and the requirements for air, naval, and land forces.

Coordination of Resources: One of the critical challenges was the allocation of resources between theaters of war. Even as plans for Operation Downfall were being refined, the CCS had to balance resources between the Pacific and European theaters. This included decisions on the production and deployment of new weapons, like the allocation and potential use of atomic bombs.

International Collaboration: The CCS facilitated discussions and planning between British and American forces regarding the Pacific, despite the primary American responsibility for this theater. British forces were expected to contribute significantly, especially in naval and air support roles.

Contingency Planning: The CCS also had to consider alternatives to an invasion, including blockade and bombing strategies aimed at inducing a Japanese surrender without a costly land invasion.

Impact of the Atomic Bomb on Planning

The development of the atomic bomb and its eventual use in August 1945 dramatically altered the strategic landscape. The CCS had been informed of the Manhattan Project and its progress, and by mid-1945, the possibility of using the atomic bomb became a critical factor in their deliberations. The successful test of the atomic bomb in July 1945 (Trinity test) and its subsequent use on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August led to Japan's surrender and rendered Operation Downfall unnecessary.

The Combined Chiefs of Staff played a pivotal role in the planning of Operation Downfall by ensuring a coordinated Allied approach to what would have been the largest amphibious invasion in history. Their efforts in planning, resource allocation, and strategic decision-making underscored the importance of joint command structures in modern military operations. The use of atomic weapons ultimately obviated the need for the invasion, but the detailed plans developed under the auspices of the CCS demonstrate the complexity and scale of the proposed operation. This planning effort was crucial in preparing for a potential invasion if the war had not ended following the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Full History of Operation Olympic:

Operation Olympic was a planned Allied invasion during World War II, intended as the first major phase of Operation Downfall, which was the overall Allied plan for the invasion of the Japanese home islands. Set to begin in November 1945, Operation Olympic aimed to capture the southern Japanese island of Kyushu as a staging area for the subsequent invasion of the main island, Honshu, under Operation Coronet. The preparation for Olympic involved intricate planning, massive troop mobilizations, and considerable logistical challenges. It was expected to be the largest amphibious operation in the history of warfare, overshadowing even the D-Day landings in Normandy.

Strategic Context

By mid-1945, Japan's situation was dire. The country had suffered extensive bombing raids, naval blockades, and the crippling defeat of its navy. However, the Japanese military and government were prepared to defend the homeland fiercely, adopting a strategy of causing maximum casualties to force a negotiated peace. This context set the stage for Operation Olympic, part of a larger strategy to bring about a swift end to the war without the projected heavy Allied casualties.

Planning and Preparations

1. Objectives of Operation Olympic

The primary objective of Operation Olympic was to establish a significant presence on Kyushu. This would facilitate the launching of further operations and enable tighter control of the seas around Japan, particularly the Korea Strait, thereby cutting off Japanese forces in Manchuria from retreat or reinforcement back to the homeland.

2. Forces and Equipment Involved

Operation Olympic called for a vast array of personnel and equipment. The plan involved more than 14 divisions from the U.S. Army and Marine Corps. The Sixth Army, under General Walter Krueger, was designated as the primary formation for the initial landings, supported by a vast naval fleet including British Royal Navy units, and a powerful array of aircraft from the U.S. Navy and Army Air Forces.

3. Tactical Planning

The invasion plan was detailed and complex, involving landings at multiple points on Kyushu’s western and southern shores. These landings were to be supported by pre-invasion aerial and naval bombardment intended to neutralize Japanese air and sea capabilities as much as possible. The Allies also planned to use airborne assaults to capture key positions inland.

Logistical Challenges

The logistics of mounting such a vast operation were daunting. Supplies, equipment, and hundreds of thousands of troops needed to be transported halfway around the world. The Allies had to build and enhance bases, ports, and airfields on captured Pacific islands and the Philippines. Additionally, ensuring supply lines remained open and capable of supporting the ongoing battle was a monumental task, involving thousands of ships, aircraft, and ground transport vehicles.

Japanese Defenses

Anticipating an Allied invasion, the Japanese prepared extensive defensive measures under the codename Operation Ketsu-Go. The strategy was to fortify beaches, improve infrastructure for troop movements, conserve scarce resources, and prepare the civilian population for home defense. On Kyushu, the Japanese deployed a substantial number of troops, including several well-equipped divisions and numerous kamikaze aircraft. The goal was not merely to repel an invasion but to inflict such severe losses that the Allies would reconsider their strategy.

Potential Casualties and Ethical Considerations

U.S. planners estimated very high casualties for Operation Olympic, with some estimates running into hundreds of thousands. The prospect of such high losses weighed heavily on military planners and political leaders. This grim outlook led to considerations of alternative means to end the war, including tightening the naval blockade and increasing aerial bombing, which were already having significant effects on Japan's ability to continue the war.

Operation Olympic was an unprecedented military endeavor that never came to fruition but highlighted the scale and complexity of Allied military planning during World War II. The operation’s preparation involved enormous effort and resources, which underscored the Allies' determination to end the war decisively. Although the atomic bombings and Japan’s subsequent surrender preempted the need for Olympic, the planning for the operation offers valuable insights into the logistical and tactical challenges of large-scale amphibious assaults, as well as the grave ethical and strategic considerations faced by wartime leaders.