Swaq 243 Posted April 13, 2015 As most of you know, the United States decided to drop the Atomic Bomb on Japan during World War II. The atomic bomb was planned in a project that was known as the Manhattan Project, a group of the best physicists and chemists (Hitler drove out all the top-scientists in Germany and ironically, some of the top ones worked on this). A test of the atomic bomb was successful in New Mexico. The reason President Harry Truman decided to use the bomb (unhesistantly) was because military planners estimated atleast 250,000 Allied casualties and even more Japanese losses, if they invaded instead. As many of you might know, the Japanese were known to be fearless, ruthless, and willing to "give it all" in a fight. Moreover, the U.S was afraid that the 100,000+ allied prisoners in Japan would be massacred if Japan got news of an invasion. What there is to know is that firebombing of cities and widespread killing of civilians was an accepted military practice in the war. The biggest fault of dropping the atomic bomb was that the scientists (makers) of the bomb had greatly underestimated the destruction caused by the bomb; they estimated that only 20,000 people would be killed. It turns out, however, that the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima instantly evaporated 78,000 people (mostly civilians, some japanese soldiers, and thousands of prisoners of war). By the end of the year, the death toll had reached 148,000 because of radiation burns and infection. Knowing this in mind, do you think the U.S should have dropped the Atomic Bomb? or should they have just invaded Japan? My opinion, I think the invasion was more sensible because if the atomic bomb was never used, maybe there would be no nuclear weapons in the world today, or even ever. But then again, you could theoretically say that the Japanese would have surrendered without the bomb.
Shankfish 0 Posted April 13, 2015 The whole idea of dropping the bomb was to end the war as quickly as possible to save as many "American" lives as possible. Invading mainland Japan would have been a huge invasion costing the allies tens of thousands of lives. In the eyes of the leaders it was the best option for the situation.
Shankfish 0 Posted April 14, 2015 Also the allies only expected to have to use 1 bomb, I'm not condoning the act but Japan should have instantly surrendered after the first one was dropped. Their leadership had crumbled by that point in the war (history major in college)
Harold 11 Posted April 14, 2015 you do realize that it is utterly pointless to discuss this it happened ain't no changing that the world would be different but there's no way you can predict in which way :|
Ericthecmh 184 Posted April 14, 2015 you do realize that it is utterly pointless to discuss this it happened ain't no changing that the world would be different but there's no way you can predict in which way :| Yeah this lol... Also Swaq you're wrong, the atomic bomb would only have been delayed at most. Remember that the reason America was so eager to figure out and test the bomb was because they believed Germany was on it's way to developing one as well.
yoyo0 22 Posted April 15, 2015 yes, if the U.S invaded Japan the estimated total of U.S soldiers deaths would of been in the millions and since the japanese didnt want to surrender their death count would of been a lot higher than those who died in the bombing. Plus America already made 3 atomic bombs which costed a lot and would of been a waste of a ton of $ if they werent used.
Swaq 243 Author Posted April 15, 2015 Remember that the reason America was so eager to figure out and test the bomb was because they believed Germany was on it's way to developing one as well. We were having this discussion in class Funny thing is, people claimed that Germany was on it's way to making one but Hitler was actually driving out the top scientists lol
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