SHOULD+THE+U.S+HAVE+DROPPED+THE

By Stephen Melniszyn

On August 6 and 9, 1945, the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were destroyed by the first atomic bombs used in warfare The world will note that the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, a military base. That was because we wished in this first attack to avoid, insofar as possible, the killing of civilians. But that attack is only a warning of things to come. If Japan does not surrender, bombs will have to be dropped on her war industries and, unfortunately, thousands of civilian lives will be lost. I urge Japanese civilians to leave industrial cities immediately, and save themselves from destruction.
 * Source:** //Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Harry S. Truman, Containing the Public Messages, Speeches and Statements of the President April 12 to December 31, 1945// (Washington D.C.: United States Government Printing Office, 1961) page 212. The full text also was published in the //New York Times,// August 10, 1945, page 12.

With the end of the European war, the Allies focused their efforts on Japan. Japan still fought fanatically, despite being badly hurt by bombing and blockade

Damage The horrors caused by the destructive atomic bomb were immediate and still remain today: reminders of the deadly and unnecessary mistake. Immediately after the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, 70,000 Japanese were instantly killed, the same numbers instantly injured. More slaughter was committed when the A-bomb was dropped on Nagasaki three days later. Death tolls were massive, yet less than Hiroshima. 40,000 Japanese were instantly killed and 60,000 injured. The destruction of the A-bomb reached far beyond the 2 fateful days in August. Several thousand more deaths were caused by the radiation from the ill stricken mushroom cloud. Radiation related diseases plagued families for generations. Even children who didn't exist during the bombing were affected with cancerous diereses such as leukemia. Proof of the damage from radiation can be found in the death tolls for 1950: 340,000 in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Every, political, economical and social institution was effected by the A-bomb. Politically, Japanese lost control of their government to the American military, who's goals of occupation were to destroy Japanese militarism and create a strong democratic state. Once defeated by this deadly bomb, Japan lost its emperor and traditional warrior values. Socially, the grief from the destruction of the atomic bomb was immeasurable- it expanded outside the borders of Japan to the hearts of the entire world. Not only did grief exist, but the atomic bomb also laid guilt on the citizens of the United States for the destruction of so many lives. Economically, an aggressive rebuilding program was necessary to recover the damage of the bombing, four square miles in Hiroshima and three square miles in Nagasaki. Within the four square miles destroyed by the bomb in Hiroshima, 48,0000 buildings out of a total of 76,000 were completely demolished. Much more was destroyed by the raging fires, lasting several days after the bombing. After the atomic bomb, it took a long time for the Japanese to regain a powerful world stature, and become a major power in the economy. The destruction caused by the atomic bombs dropped over Hiroshima and Nagasaki is immeasurable. The atomic bombs destroyed thousands of lives and properties within a few minutes of when they were dropped, but continued destruction far beyond those few fateful minutes.

"I realize the tragic significance of the atomic bomb...having found the bomb, we have used it. We have used it against those who attacked us without warning at Pearl Harbor, **against those who have starved and beaten and executed American prisoners of war, against those who have abandoned all pretense of obeying international laws of warfare. We have used it in order to shorten the agony of young Americans.** We shall continue to use it until we completely destroy Japan's power to make war. Only a Japanese surrender will stop us.” **President Truman**. On July 26, 1945, the Allies issued the Potsdam Declaration. Its purpose was to hasten Japan's surrender without the need for a difficult and very costly amphibious assault. It warned Japan that it faced "prompt and utter destruction" unless the Japanese swiftly agreed to an unconditional surrender. On July 28, Prime Minister Suzuki announced that Japan intended to "ignore" the Potsdam Declaration. Faced with this knowledge of Japan's extraordinary plan to defend its home islands to the death, and the fanatical character of Japanese soldiers, and extrapolating the fanatical defense of Iwo Jima and Okinawa to an amphibious assault on Japan's four home islands, American military leaders were deeply concerned. They advised President Truman that an attempt to invade and subdue the Japanese on their home islands was likely to cost at least 1,000,000 American battle casualties. The first target was Hiroshima, a city on Japan's Inland Sea. At this time it was the headquarters of the 2nd General Army. On 4 August 1945, American aircraft dropped leaflets on Hiroshima warning the citizens to expect terrible destruction to be visited upon their city because Japan had refused to surrender. Although many civilians had already been evacuated to the country, this warning was largely ignored. On August 6, the first atomic bomb was dropped on this city. At Hiroshima, 60,000 Japanese died and a similar number were injured. WEBSITES to be investigated. http://www.gensikin.org/english/ohoto.html http://www.danned.com/decision/index.html http://www.users.bigpond.com/pacificwar/atomicbomb_japan.html [|http://lclark.edu/~history/hirohsima/index.html] http://www.galenfrysinger.com/atomib_bomb.htm http://www.benoa.net/japan/hiroshima/pages/img_3178.html http://www.cia.gov/csi/monograph/4253605299/csi9810001.html#rtoc5
 * The Potsdam Declaration gives Japan a last opportunity to surrender**
 * President Truman's military advisers warn him of the very high cost of an invasion of Japan**