Nuclear Bombing of Japan

Few issues in American history are as controversial as the nuclear bombing of the Japanese empire during WW2. Though the deed was done the issue itself remains one of heated debate and in!uiry to this very day. "uch of the argument is centered on the necessity of using the nuclear weapon on Japan whether reparations should be paid out and finally whether nuclear weapons should be used in the future. Furthermore many Japanese sympathi#ers wonder if there were other motives behind the bombing. As WW2 drew to a close the American island hopping strategy proved e$tremely effective against the entrenched Japanese forces. As island after island was overta%en by the American military the once threatening Japanese empire retreated to its homeland. Though the island hopping strategy proved effective versus the isolated Japanese forces the issue of a mainland offensive halted the American tidal wave. Numerous options were considered however at the time a full frontal land invasion was at the top. &undreds of thousands of troops were prepared to deploy onto the Japanese mainland. 'pon receiving intelligence of this possible land invasion the empire began to arm the entirety of its population. (hildren were handed sharpened broomstic%s and instructed to )%ill at least one American soldier before dying*. (asualty estimates ranged from +,, ,,, to million so much so that the American government printed enough .urple &earts in preparation that it has not needed to ma%e any more to this very day. The development and eventual deployment of the nuclear weapons though devastating saved the lives of millions of Americans and Japanese. "any argue that the Japanese empire was already defeated and there was no need to further destroy it however the Japanese empire had

never offered any indication of surrender. After the To%yo fire bombing which in fact claimed more property and Japanese lives than both of the nuclear weapons the empire did not surrender. /ven after the first nuclear deployment it had not surrendered it too% a second nuclear weapon and a 0ussian declaration of war to end the conflict. Furthermore the bombing itself was as merciful as possible. First the American government selected military based cities rather then densely populated civilian centers to limit the casualties. 1n addition before each of the nuclear deployments Japanese pamphlets were deployed in both of the cities warning residents of the incoming bombing. &owever the Japanese government ignored these warnings and instructed civilians to ignore the pamphlets under the threat of imprisonment. &owever it is important to understand the bombing from a different perspective. The !uestion of military necessity can be !uic%ly put to rest. 2Japan was already defeated and dropping the bomb was completely unnecessary.2 This !uote is not of a anti American rather they are the words of 3wight 3. /isenhower 4upreme (ommander of the Allied Forces in /urope and future president of the 'nited 4tates. /isenhower himself %new that the Japanese empire was defeated and there was no reason to deploy nuclear weapons. After the Japanese islands were overta%en the '4 forces could carry out routine bombings of the mainland without fear of reprisal. The To%yo and 5sa%a firebombing were incredibly effective and there was no need to deploy the devastating force of nuclear weapons on Japan. Finally the Japanese had already approached the 0ussians attempted to negotiate peace the 'nited 4tates 6ust wanted to %eep communist influence out Japan and thus bombed it hoping to end any 0ussian involvement.

1t is my personal opinion that the deployment of nuclear weapons on the Japanese empire was an entirely 6ustifiable action. The bombing was conducted in the most humane manner possibly with the residents of both cities having ade!uate warning. The bombings only occurred due to the actions of the oppressive Japanese government. Their refusal to surrender in the face of defeat ris%ed the lives of millions of American and Japanese civilians and soldiers. Furthermore though the bombing itself was a tragic event it prevented the use of nuclear weapons in any future conflict. With the (old War around the corner the Japanese bombing revealed the devastating force of nuclear weapons and prevented their use. Freeman 0obert. 2Was the Atomic Bombing of Japan Necessary72 Was the Atomic Bombing of Japan Necessary? N.p. n.d. Web. 8, "ay 2,98. 23ebating the American 3ecision to 3rop the Atomic Bomb.2 Debating the American Decision to Drop the Atomic Bomb. N.p. n.d. Web. 8, "ay 2,98.