Hiroshima Bombing Effects

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“Even if the Japs were savages, ruthless, merciless and fanatic, we as the leader of the world for the common welfare cannot drop that terrible bomb on the old capital or the new… It seems to be the most terrible thing ever discovered, but it can be made the most useful.” (Harry S. Truman) (Diary, July 25, 1945) The bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki killed between 150,000-200,000 people. Many died instantly but many died later because of the most gruesome and terrible effects. But the alternate, an invasion of Japan, was estimated a million American casualties were anticipated and the Japanese casualties would certainly be in the millions. The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were the most logical course of action to bring less …show more content…

After Germany surrendered to the Allies, the only Axis Power still in the war was Japan. Even though the Japanese would definitely lose the war, they would refuse to surrender. “By the spring of 1945 the Japanese Empire was clearly sagging, blockaded from vital supplies, harassed daily by air, living precariously off a fast-decreasing cache of fuel and food. But the Japanese refusal to surrender, and invasion seemed the only possible next step. A million American casualties were anticipated including a half-million dead. Japanese casualties would certainly be in the millions” (TIME) The U.S government would not risk an American invasion on Japanese soil after the fierce fighting at Iwo Jima and Okinawa which left thousands dead on both sides. The Japanese would rather be annihilated than surrender. Their soldiers developed a strategy called “no Japanese survivors”. This strategy was that they did not plan on surviving and to kill 10 American soldiers before they could die …show more content…

The atomic bombs were used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to bring a swift end to WWII and also to test the effects of their $2 billion dollar experiment. The atomic bomb would also eliminate the necessity of an Allied invasion of Japan. The Japanese knew they had lost the war and would rather die than surrender. Millions dead and wounded in an Allied invasion of Japan in one hand and a single Bomb in the other. All in all, the U.S government’s hands were tied and the only logical option left was to use the atomic bombs to bring an end to WWII without more American

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