Hiroshima

Ken D.

The decision to use the bomb was the right one. The goal was to have Japan surrender and end the war as quickly as possible. The reasons were varied, including to avoid a long and super-bloody invasion that would have cost millions of lives, including those of civilians. Another driving reason was the fact that the Soviets has declared war on Japan and invaded Japanese- held Manchuria as well as the northern islands. The Soviets had almost a million troops massed on the coast closest to Japan and would have attacked shortly. A Soviet -occupied and controlled Japan was not acceptable to many people, including Truman. The Emperor was looking to save his own hide when he surrendered when he did. Not only could the A Bomb kill him in his hideouts, but another fact was on his mind. The Soviets annihilated the civilian Japanese "Pioneers" when the Soviets invaded Parts of China and Manchuria. The Japanese civilians that were not killed outright were taken to gulags- never to return. There is no evidence to suggest they would have done anything different during an invasion of the home island. The Emperor got a better deal with the Americans. The Japanese did suffer and may not agree, but we probably did them a favor. Their Emperor was protected and their culture survived. More than would have happened if the Soviets took over. Japan has prospered and become a world -class nation. With American help. A very good book on the matter is the recent "Flyboys" by James Bradley.