Truman stated that his decision to drop the bomb was purely military. A Normandy-type amphibious landing would have cost an estimated million casualties. Truman believed that the bombs saved Japanese lives as well. Prolonging the war was not an option for the President.

Why was the dropping of the atomic bomb necessary?

A bloody invasion and round-the-clock conventional bombing would have led to a far higher death toll and so the atomic weapons actually saved thousands of American and millions of Japanese lives. The bombs were the best means to bring about unconditional surrender, which is what the US leaders wanted.
 

Was it necessary to drop the atomic bomb on Japan?

Combined with the Soviet entry into the conflict, the atom bombs brought about Japan’s surrender within a few days. The bomb was necessary to accomplish Truman’s primary objectives of forcing a prompt Japanese surrender and saving American lives, perhaps thousands of them.

What are 3 reasons why the US used the atomic bomb on Japan?

Summary of Possible Reasons:



Simply using the bomb because it existed and to test its effects. Impressing the Soviet Union. A response to Pearl Harbor. Forcing Japan to surrender.

Why did they choose Hiroshima to drop the bomb?

Hiroshima was supposed to be targeted because, the city’s size and layout made it a suitable test site for the bomb’s destructive power, and the concentration of military and munitions facilities was another factor in the decision, while most of Japan’s other major cities had already been destroyed by air attack at the

Is Hiroshima a war crime?

Hiroshima: Atomic Blast That Changed The World Turns 75 The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were said at the time to be justified as the only way to end World War II. Seventy-five years later, legal experts say they would now be war crimes.
 

Did we have to drop the atomic bomb?

Historians now largely agree that the United States did not need to drop the bombs to avoid an invasion of Japan and bring an end to World War II.

Would Japan still have surrendered without the atomic bombings?

However, the overwhelming historical evidence from American and Japanese archives indicates that Japan would have surrendered that August, even if atomic bombs had not been used — and documents prove that President Truman and his closest advisors knew it.
 

What were the main arguments for dropping the atomic bomb on Japan?

Supporters of the bombings generally believe that they prevented an invasion of the Japanese mainland, saving more lives than they took by doing so. Opponents contend, among other arguments, that the bombings were unnecessary to win the war or that they constituted a war crime or genocide.

Why did the US bomb Hiroshima and Nagasaki but not Tokyo?

It is possible that U.S. President Harry Truman ordered the atomic bomb to be dropped on Nagasaki not only to further force Japan to surrender but also to keep the Soviets out of Japan by displaying American military power.

Was Japan trying to surrender before Hiroshima?

Prior to the atomic attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, elements existed within the Japanese government that were trying to find a way to end the war. In June and July 1945, Japan attempted to enlist the help of the Soviet Union to serve as an intermediary in negotiations.

Why should the atomic bomb not have been dropped on Japan?

Japan had a very strong military and many were concerned there would be many U.S. casualties. But there were many people who believed that the atomic bomb should not have been used. One reason why was that thousands of innocent Japanese lives would be tragically lost due to the dropping of the atomic bomb.

Was the bomb on Nagasaki necessary?

Official A-Bomb Justification: Save US Lives



According to Truman and others in his administration, the use of the atomic bomb was intended to cut the war in the Pacific short, avoiding a U.S. invasion of Japan and saving hundreds of thousands of American lives.
 

What if the US never used an atomic bomb against Japan?

The result would lead to many more casualties for both the Allies and Japan, possibly even surpassing the over 200,000 civilians who perished from the bombs. Eventually, after more years of fighting, the war, in all likelihood, would have still ended in the Allies’ favor, but not without further losses.
 

Why didn’t we drop atomic bomb Tokyo?

Tokyo, as well as many of Japan’s other major cities, had already been heavily damaged by previous bombings. It would not have been as effective to bomb a city that was already mostly destroyed, so these “lesser” cities that were still in tact were selected instead.

Did Japan want to surrender before Hiroshima?

Prior to the atomic attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, elements existed within the Japanese government that were trying to find a way to end the war. In June and July 1945, Japan attempted to enlist the help of the Soviet Union to serve as an intermediary in negotiations.

Did the US warn Hiroshima?

President Harry S. Truman, warned by some of his advisers that any attempt to invade Japan would result in horrific American casualties, ordered that the new weapon be used to bring the war to a speedy end. On August 6, 1945, the American bomber Enola Gay dropped a five-ton bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima.