August 6, 1945

[Webb]

Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

During the final stages of World War II in 1945, the United States conducted two atomic bombings against the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan. These two events are the only use of nuclear weapons in war to date.

Following a firebombing campaign that destroyed many Japanese cities, the Allies prepared for a costly invasion of Japan. The war in Europe ended when Nazi Germany signed its instrument of surrender on 8 May, but the Pacific War continued. Together with the United Kingdom and the Republic of China, the United States called for a surrender of Japan in the Potsdam Declaration on 26 July 1945, threatening Japan with "prompt and utter destruction". The Japanese government ignored this ultimatum, and the United States deployed two nuclear weapons developed by the Manhattan Project. American soldiers dropped Little Boy on the city of Hiroshima on 6 August 1945, followed by Fat Man over Nagasaki on 9 August ...

Even more frightening

[Major General Leslie] Groves, of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, expected to have another atomic bomb ready for use on 19 August, with three more in September and a further three in October. On 10 August, he sent a memorandum to [General of the Army George] Marshall in which he wrote that "the next bomb . . should be ready for delivery on the first suitable weather after 17 or 18 August." On the same day, Marshall endorsed the memo with the comment, "It is not to be released over Japan without express authority from the President." ...

Two more Fat Man assemblies were readied. The third core was scheduled to leave Kirtland Field for Tinian on 12 August, and Tibbets was ordered by Major General Curtis LeMay to return to Utah to collect it. Robert Bacher was packaging it in Los Alamos when he received word from Groves that the shipment was suspended.

Japan surrendered on August 15.

(The Instrument of Surrender was signed on September 2, now known as V-J Day)

[wifesaysno]

The nuclear bombing anniversary is very very close to my birthday...so naturally every birthday (being a history buff) that is what goes through my head all day.

As horrible as those 2 bombings were, the fire bombings were even more vicious. If you want to read a very enlightening book about the horrible acts (like the nukes and fire bombing) read "Flyboys" by James Bradley....No it has nothing to do with the movie 'Flyboys'. The central theme of the book focuses on 8 or 9 USN and USMC aviators shot down over Chichi Jima during the Iwo campaign. BE WARNED: the book will disturb you but it is eye opening and very well written/researched. I highly suggest not reading it before bed or while eating. My dad and I made those mistakes!

[Webb]

By the middle of 1945 Japan had no effective military offense or defense.

Firebombing had destroyed most major cities and Japan's ability to wage war.

The Japanese government refused to surrender.

The United States had 3 alternatives:

- Continue conventional warfare and starve the island into submission

- Normandy type invasion, estimated to result in 1,000,000 US casualties

- The new terror weapon

The atomic bomb brought immediate surrender, arguably resulting in the lesser loss of life (although I doubt the inhabitants of Hiroshima and Nagasaki share that belief).

Subsequent reports indicate that Japan would have surrendered after the first attack but its communications network was disrupted.

But geez, we were ready to drop as many of those suckers as necessary, until we ran out of plutonium.

[Strategic Retreat]

- Continue conventional warfare and starve the island into submission

Not a viable option. The Russian were about to come from west, and they had the... habit, shall we say, of remaining where they arrived as conquering forces.

It would have become a complete, TOTAL mess. Especially for the Japanese people.

Subsequent reports indicate that Japan would have surrendered after the first attack but its communications network was disrupted.

There was an attempt at a coup made by the military, which failed, to keep the emperor from declaring the surrender, this I know, but it happened AFTER Nagasaki.

The war in Japan was completely in the hand of the military, with no political control possible... even since the 20ies I believe Japan went on a extended and extreme militarization of the nation (even worse than Italy AND Germany put together)... and history teaches that when you put A NATION completely in the hands of the military, THAT'LL BE THE TIME they'll begin to take the steps to make a COMPLETE HASH of it. In fact, the Japanese military were CONVINCED to fight a war to complete destruction and the death of the last man, woman and child.

Even more than the Germans, this was insanity in its purest form.

But geez, we were ready to drop as many of those suckers as necessary, until we ran out of plutonium.

This doesn't make you particular honor. Even if you (they) were forced into it. Even if it was the lesser evil, since the Japanese military were reasoning with they OTHER heads. ALL considered, you should remember that those "suckers", as you call them, did not discriminate between those who deserved to be vaporized and those who didn't.

After Nagasaki already half a million of innocent civilians dead as a end result, and some of them dieing in such a horrible way that I would only wish to some politicians I know (and the firebombing of Tokyo only a month before had already taken ALMOST AS MUCH victims). Being cheerful about readiness of making the tally much higher is NO talk to make among polite company.

[Apex]

An excellent book on this subject is the 'Fall of Japan', by William Craig.