I think Japan still would have invaded the Soviet Union though, if the Second Sino-Japanese War continued (the oil embargo only really happened once they invaded Indochina).
Other than that I agree with you. That would be curious alternate reality.
April 6, 1945, is the 80th anniversary of the beginning of Operation Grapeshot. The last major Allied offensive of the Italian campaign, it lasted until the end of the war on Europe. The battle was a follow-up to breaking of the Gothic Line several months before.
Overall, the Italian campaign lasted almost 2 years and cost tens of thousands of Allied lives.
80 Years Ago Today;
Japanese Battleship Yamato is sunk by US Navy carrier aircraft North of Okinawa - April 7, 1945
Yamato was hit by multiple bombs & torpedos from US Navy aircraft during Operation Kikusui I / Operation Ten-Go.
As Yamato capsized one of the two bow magazines detonated in a tremendous explosion, an estimated 3,055 of her 3,332 crew perished.
Operation Kikusui I was the last major Japanese naval operation in the Pacific during WW2.
(Kikusui I refers to the naval aspect of Operation Ten-Go, which was the overall name for all Japanese kamikaze operations during the Okinawa campaign)
The Naval Operation consisted of sending Yamato, the largest battleship in the world, and nine other Japanese warships for a suicide attack on Allied forces engaged in the Battle of Okinawa.
Photographed from an aircraft from USS Yorktown CV-10
US Navy photos
Mushroom cloud from the Japanese Battleship Yamato after she exploded - April 7, 1945
An escorting destroyer is on the left.
Photographed from an aircraft from USS Yorktown CV-10
US Navy photo NH 62582
Beat me to it.
April 16, 2025, marks the 80th anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of Berlin. The final nail in the coffin for Nazi Germany, this was probably the final major battle of the war in Europe.
April 22, 2025 is the 80th anniversary of the famous bunker scene:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7PmzdINGZk
In reality, when Hitler being informed that Felix Steiner wouldn’t be able to relieve the Soviet encirclement around Berlin, he simply declared that the war was lost. There was no rant.
Oh, and I forgot from a few days ago:
April 20, 2025 was the 80th anniversary of the last public appearance of Adolf Hitler, to award a few Hitler Youth. After this he would spend the rest of his life in a bunker.
April 23, 2025 is the 80th anniversary of the Goring Telegram.
Herman Goring, the commander of the German Luftwaffe throughout the war and Hitler’s likely successor, sent a telegram to Hitler following the Soviet encirclement of Berlin. In it, he asked for Hitler to transfer his power to him as Berlin and the Fuherbunker were cut off from the rest of Germany and thus Hitler could appear to be incapacitated. It was previously agreed upon that should the Fuher lost his freedom of action, his successor should take up the reins.
One of Hitler’s major assistants, Martin Bormann, convinced him that Goring was actually attempting a coup. In response, Hitler forced Goring to resign and would later designate commander of the Kriegsmarine, Karl Donitz, as his heir.
April 25, 2025 is the 80th anniversary of Elbe Day, when American and Soviet troops met at the Elbe River in Germany, splitting what remained of Nazi Germany in 2. It was the first time that the Eastern and Western fronts connected on the ground.
The day is also the 80th anniversary of the end of the East Prussian and Samland Offensives, where Soviets troops cleared their northern flank and captured East Prussia.
April 29, 2025, is the 80th anniversary of the death of Hitler’s German Shepherd, Blondi.
Several cyanide pills were given to her to verify that they were potent enough for Hitler’s planned suicide. They were, and Blondi passed away.
The day is also the 80th anniversary of Hitler naming his successor, head of the Kriegsmarine Karl Donitz, in his final will and testament.
April 30, 2025, is the 80th anniversary of Adolf Hitler’s suicide.
The Fuher of Germany likely shot himself in his Berlin bunker while his recently married wife, Eva Braun, took poison and killed herself at the same time. Their bodies were burned by their allies, though some jaw fragments were found that may belong to them.
He would be succeeded as Reich President by Admiral Karl Donitz, the commander of the Kriegsmarine.
May 1st, 2025 is the 80th anniversary of Joseph Goebbels’ suicide.
Joseph Goebbels was one of the most fanatical and powerful members of the Nazi Party, serving as the Reich’s propaganda minister and named as succeeding Hitler as Chancellor of Germany (Admiral Karl Donitz would succeed as President, with both positions previously held by Hitler).
When the Soviets rejected his ceasefire offer, Goebbels and his wife killed their children, likely with cyanide, then committed suicide themselves.