My father was an army private on Luzon island in the pacific armed and ready for the invasion of Japan when the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. He later went to Tokyo as part of the occupation forces before coming home. I thank God for this every day of my life. For having a life and a family with my father. I have never doubted the correctness of Truman’s decision. My wife and I visited Hiroshima a few years ago and prayed for those who lost their lives. I place the blame on the greed and hubris of the so called leaders of all governments everywhere. None of them anywhere give a damn about us, the common men and women who suffer and sacrifice our children.
Interesting history but questionable. FDR knew in advance of the Japanese plan to bomb Pearl Harbor and let it happen. Made for a good excuse to invade Japan but it sacrifice so many Americans.
This country's foreign policy for over a century has been universal hegemony but hook or by crook. Every Party has continued this policy with minor personal touches for the most part. So much of what we are told about history of other countries we find to be untrue. But given the violence of this country universally, why wouldn't other nations develop the technology to protect themselves. In fact it is mainly the US that provokes wars and civil wars. And now it is not only military but economic terrorism. In some ways I feel much safer knowing Russia has nuclear weaponry as it helps curb the happy trigger finger of many in the military. The boys with their toys have no reserve about using them.
It's difficult to believe either Germany or Japan would be far enough along with their atomic projects. The Manhattan project was a massive industrial effort. Only US had that capacity at this time. The rumors of the Japanese tests of "small" nuclear devices aren't serious.
This was fascinating - its a particular aspect of WWII I admit I know very little about. I have read a bit about the Japanese biological weapons, but not about this. The race for advancements in technology and weapons in WWII is often overshadowed by the discussion of military action on the battlefield or the geopolitics. Unfortunate that Karlsch's book is only in German, it would be an interesting read.
One major missing point in your article: why bomb Nagasaki?
Assuming your thesis is correct and Americans should not feel guilty, the destruction of Hiroshima would have been sufficient to send the message to the Japanese, Russians, Chinese and everyone that the US had The Bomb.
Was there a need to follow up and attack Nagasaki with a bigger bomb?
There are many different assessments of the Nagasaki bombing. To begin with, it was less successful because it hit the wrong side of the river and did not knock out the industrial and other facilities intended. Adding to that is that it was a plutonium bomb, and the Los Alamos scientists did not know if it would actually work. They had only tested a prototype (the "Gadget") and the actual bomb was a reduced signature design. I would not, on balance, consider it a significant target compared to Japanese military targets of more importance. But, at the time the idea of destroying cities was on the top of the agenda as Washington sought to persuade Japan that resistance was futile. We do know that the two bombings coupled to Russia's decision to cancel their non-aggression pact with Japan and enter the war, spelled Japan's imminent defeat. Some scholars emphasize the Russian decision as critical in persuading Japan's war cabinet to surrender, since Japan no longer had the capacity to fight the US invading its territory and Russia swarming into Mongolia and Korea.
Fair enough. I have reservations but read personal testimonies of men involved, long disappeared onthe net, that didn't have the usual smell of psy op. They read as very p'd off whistle blowers. I appreciate your work with your own theories.
💯💥Russia's little known incredible blitz (from 3 diverse directions) & total annihilation of the 700,000 man Japanese Manchurian Army in a month & (re)capture by naval amphibious forces storming of Japan's northern islands (still unresolved to this date) in August 1945 was no small part of this equation. Granted, while CCCP had no where near the amphibious forces, equipment & experience as the US, it was still a credible threat to invade Japan before reluctant US would. Detonating the nukes was a win-win choice in the whole of the shifting global alliances. USA's allies (Churchill) had already prepared the planned Cold War strategy against the CCCP & this sent Stalin a message that they were next & any plans to invade the main islands would be a huge mistake. None of that was news to Stalin as he'd already mined Manhattan for more than is ever admitted. He was satisfied with a strategic presence in the Kirill chain for the time being.
A little known fact is that US was covertly supplying uranium to CCCP via Soviet pilots ferrying aircraft from Alaska. Concerned US liaisons were silenced & Uranium shipments continued unabated.
It's wise to remember that Russia shares a common border in the Alaskan western chokepoint separated only by about 40 miles of ocean.
I have seen the uranium story but I have doubts about it. Regarding the Russian operation in both Manchuria and Korea, it seems to me that Truman made a blunder inviting the Russians to enter the Asian conflict. The one part of it that was salutary was the Russian cancellation of their treaty with Japan, which came as a shock to the Japanese war cabinet as it foreclosed any help the Russians may have offered for a brokered peace. I won't comment on your other statements except to say I don't agree with them.
My father was an army private on Luzon island in the pacific armed and ready for the invasion of Japan when the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. He later went to Tokyo as part of the occupation forces before coming home. I thank God for this every day of my life. For having a life and a family with my father. I have never doubted the correctness of Truman’s decision. My wife and I visited Hiroshima a few years ago and prayed for those who lost their lives. I place the blame on the greed and hubris of the so called leaders of all governments everywhere. None of them anywhere give a damn about us, the common men and women who suffer and sacrifice our children.
the irony is the usa is the only one to use nukes and yet they are constantly worried about others using them.. that's how projection works..
Interesting history but questionable. FDR knew in advance of the Japanese plan to bomb Pearl Harbor and let it happen. Made for a good excuse to invade Japan but it sacrifice so many Americans.
This country's foreign policy for over a century has been universal hegemony but hook or by crook. Every Party has continued this policy with minor personal touches for the most part. So much of what we are told about history of other countries we find to be untrue. But given the violence of this country universally, why wouldn't other nations develop the technology to protect themselves. In fact it is mainly the US that provokes wars and civil wars. And now it is not only military but economic terrorism. In some ways I feel much safer knowing Russia has nuclear weaponry as it helps curb the happy trigger finger of many in the military. The boys with their toys have no reserve about using them.
Nothing questionable about it in my view. If you have a factual comment, let me know.
It's difficult to believe either Germany or Japan would be far enough along with their atomic projects. The Manhattan project was a massive industrial effort. Only US had that capacity at this time. The rumors of the Japanese tests of "small" nuclear devices aren't serious.
I beg to differ.
Fascinating. Most of this, I was totally unaware of. I can see I have a lot of reading to do. Excellent article.. as usual.
This was fascinating - its a particular aspect of WWII I admit I know very little about. I have read a bit about the Japanese biological weapons, but not about this. The race for advancements in technology and weapons in WWII is often overshadowed by the discussion of military action on the battlefield or the geopolitics. Unfortunate that Karlsch's book is only in German, it would be an interesting read.
Great read. Enlightening in many ways
Thanks
Fascinating read.
They didn’t surrender after Hiroshima, even given the chance. Invasion would have been a bloody mess, even though likely successful.
Thought-provoking.
One major missing point in your article: why bomb Nagasaki?
Assuming your thesis is correct and Americans should not feel guilty, the destruction of Hiroshima would have been sufficient to send the message to the Japanese, Russians, Chinese and everyone that the US had The Bomb.
Was there a need to follow up and attack Nagasaki with a bigger bomb?
There are many different assessments of the Nagasaki bombing. To begin with, it was less successful because it hit the wrong side of the river and did not knock out the industrial and other facilities intended. Adding to that is that it was a plutonium bomb, and the Los Alamos scientists did not know if it would actually work. They had only tested a prototype (the "Gadget") and the actual bomb was a reduced signature design. I would not, on balance, consider it a significant target compared to Japanese military targets of more importance. But, at the time the idea of destroying cities was on the top of the agenda as Washington sought to persuade Japan that resistance was futile. We do know that the two bombings coupled to Russia's decision to cancel their non-aggression pact with Japan and enter the war, spelled Japan's imminent defeat. Some scholars emphasize the Russian decision as critical in persuading Japan's war cabinet to surrender, since Japan no longer had the capacity to fight the US invading its territory and Russia swarming into Mongolia and Korea.
Fair enough. I have reservations but read personal testimonies of men involved, long disappeared onthe net, that didn't have the usual smell of psy op. They read as very p'd off whistle blowers. I appreciate your work with your own theories.
💯💥Russia's little known incredible blitz (from 3 diverse directions) & total annihilation of the 700,000 man Japanese Manchurian Army in a month & (re)capture by naval amphibious forces storming of Japan's northern islands (still unresolved to this date) in August 1945 was no small part of this equation. Granted, while CCCP had no where near the amphibious forces, equipment & experience as the US, it was still a credible threat to invade Japan before reluctant US would. Detonating the nukes was a win-win choice in the whole of the shifting global alliances. USA's allies (Churchill) had already prepared the planned Cold War strategy against the CCCP & this sent Stalin a message that they were next & any plans to invade the main islands would be a huge mistake. None of that was news to Stalin as he'd already mined Manhattan for more than is ever admitted. He was satisfied with a strategic presence in the Kirill chain for the time being.
A little known fact is that US was covertly supplying uranium to CCCP via Soviet pilots ferrying aircraft from Alaska. Concerned US liaisons were silenced & Uranium shipments continued unabated.
It's wise to remember that Russia shares a common border in the Alaskan western chokepoint separated only by about 40 miles of ocean.
I have seen the uranium story but I have doubts about it. Regarding the Russian operation in both Manchuria and Korea, it seems to me that Truman made a blunder inviting the Russians to enter the Asian conflict. The one part of it that was salutary was the Russian cancellation of their treaty with Japan, which came as a shock to the Japanese war cabinet as it foreclosed any help the Russians may have offered for a brokered peace. I won't comment on your other statements except to say I don't agree with them.