Why Translators are important?

At the fag end of WW2, when Japan was literally on its last legs and USA was contemplating whether to drop the bomb or not.

One side wanted to drop the bomb and get it over with. Other side thought Japan was so battered that, she would surrender

Meanwhile, most of the Japanese Cabinet wanted to surrender, provided the Emperor could continue but were confused as Allies had said, "Unconditional Surrender"

At this point informal negotiations for giving up, had started.

Post the surrender of Germany, all the Allies met in Potsdam and issued a declaration, that said, "Unless Japan surrenders immediately, they will face prompt and utter destruction", a clear indication for the Bomb.

The Japanese PM, Kantaro Suzuki, wanted to give up

But to keep the ultras off his back, he decided to offer no comments to the Potsdam Proclamation

He used the Japanese word, "Mokusatsu", which meant silence.

But some translator dude in USA, used the other meaning of the word, "Kill it with Contempt" to describe Suzuki's stance

The USA thought Japanese have no interest in Surrender and will fight to death because of that response.

They thought Japan was too aggressive to surrender.

So eight days later, they dropped the Bomb on Hiroshima.

One small mistranslation, one cataclysmic event..