Name: Course Instructor: Class: Date: Critical Book Review: Prompt and Utter Destruction Introduction Within weeks, word on the US dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki began to spread that the main reason behind the bombs was to save the lives of Americans (Bernard). It was put that hundreds of thousands of American military causalities were saved through the bombings.
In the novel, Hiroshima in America: Fifty Years of Denial, Robert Jay Lifton and Greg Mitchell wrote a novel analysing the second thoughts of the American people and government’s handling of the Hiroshima’s bombing. The novel also contained the perspective of President Harry S. Truman and his thought processes as America comes to the end of war. Lifton and Mitchell also focused on the half century that followed. The novel showed how the decisions such as the one to drop the atomic bomb can disrupt a nation 's narrative, and how secrecy, concealment, and falsification can be employed to smooth over such disruptions in an effort to reaffirm the logical thinking.
The United States and Japan fought in World War II during 1941 to 1945. Japan planned to expand their land and gain resources- which led them to invade China whom was an ally of the U.S. In result, the United States cut off the supply of oil to Japan. On December 7th 1941, Japan’s air force did a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor because that is where their military base is located.
Therefore knowing how the Japanese soldiers think about surrendering, the millions of lives saved by ending the war quickly and shortly, and the countless warnings given to the Japanese, I think dropping the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was warranted and
However, American lives were still being lost with the air attacks and it was taking a long time because the Japanese still had a sizable military force protecting the main island, though their navy was weakened by the Americans effort. Last, the Japanese were sending for help from Russia in hopes that they would aid them with fighting the Americans (Document J). If the Japanese received that help they could have created a stronger military stretching out WW II by many more years. Ties with Russia would cause many problems not only for America but for other allied countries and would destroy the trust the Allies had with Russia perhaps starting another
Japan was weakening, “The food situation gradually becoming worse and worse…” Stated in source H. America had many industrial resources to use against Japan and so Japan had essentially been defeated. Japan pushed only for the sake of their countries honour as the shame of unconditional surrender goes against their code of honour. Furthermore a warning was given to Japan with America promising to drop the atomic bomb, however there was no evidence and so it could have easily been deemed a bluff. An American nuclear scientist stated, “A demonstration of the bomb best be made… Japan could then be asked to surrender.” This source seems somewhat reliable as it is from one of the American scientists and they would know the strength of the bomb.
Taking Japan’s impending surrender into consideration, the usage of the atomic bombs was militarily unnecessary and immoral. Further, it lead to the extensive loss of civilian life, therefore making these bombings justifiable only to a lesser extent. However, supporters of the bombings generally are of the opinion that they were instrumental in the Japanese surrender. These supporters also believe
government also concluded that the dropping of the atomic bombs would in turn save millions of future lives, but at the cost of innocent civilian lives. The U.S. knew that the Japanese were almost completely against the idea of an unconditional surrender and would fight at literally any cost. If they had decided to invade mainland Japan millions of lives would have been lost over a span of many years. They knew this because in earlier battles even for small islands hundreds of miles of the cost they fought hard and until the very last man, even going as far as to give official orders not to surrender or be punished, they could only imagine what it would be like on mainland Japan. They would likely also be fighting against civilians as they would take over cities because of how dedicated as a whole country they were to win the war.
On August 6, 1945, the course of world history was permanently altered when the first ever atomic bomb to be used in warfare was dropped. Over five years into World War II, the United States made the decision to use atomic bombs in their fight against Japan in an attempt to get them to surrender. The first atomic bomb, made of uranium 235 and nicknamed “Little Boy”, was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, on August 6, 1945. This attack seemed to have no effect on Japan’s willingness to surrender. So, three days later, the United States dropped another atomic bomb, this one made of plutonium 239 and titled “Fat Man”, on Nagasaki, Japan.
Japan had to accept unconditional surrender; if they disagreed with that request, America would drop the bomb. What made the Japanese surrender was the retention of their emperor; anything else couldn’t have forced a Japanese surrender, including the attack of the atomic bomb. As Japan's Prime Minister Suzuki spelled out on June 9, 1945. “Should the Emperor system be abolished, they [the Japanese people] would lose all reason for existence…. [and have] no choice but to go on fighting to the last man” (Butow).
World War II introduced the most dangerous weapon in the world, the atomic bomb. When the US used it on Japan we went to far and caused unnecessary damage to the people. Many people believe this to the only truth but, the real truth is that dropping the atomic bomb was a necessary evil we had to use in order to win the war in World War II and future wars to come. It save many american soldiers lives, stopped the Soviets from joining, and helped us win against Japan. First and foremost, World War II caused many casualties for both sides of the war.
Was America Justified in dropping the atom bomb on Hiroshima in August 1945? On August 6th, 1945 at 8:16 AM, a great yet horrific event in history occurred. This event is known as the dropping of the atom bomb on the city of Hiroshima, Japan, the event that would begin and end the pain and suffering of millions. The atom bomb was dropped by an American B-29 Superfortress bomber named Enola Gay and
Hiroshima is the story of six survivors succeeding the bombing on Hiroshima, Japan. The book follows a variety of people including doctors, priests, and even a tailor. The first four chapters of the books re-create the events directly after the Hiroshima bombing, and the 5th chapter, or “The Aftermath,” goes into the lives the six survivors lead after the bombing (90). Throughout the book, Hersey explores the different viewpoints of the survivors, there immediate and short term reactions to the bombing, along with the u¬¬ltimate effects and weight the memories of the bombing carried on them. The direct reactions from the Hiroshima bombing allows readers to glimpse into what it was like to be there directly after the bombing.
President Truman and his associates believed that if they dropped the bomb they would receive surrender from Japan. Thus, saving millions of American lives, and ending the war. Nevertheless, by saving American lives they would sacrifice thousands of Japanese civilians. They had other idea to have Japan to surrender, but were willing to take the one that would have the most consequences. They were thinking too much about the US instead of creating actually peace within the nations.
The dropping of the atomic bombs on World War II on the city of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was a very important part of World War II. The atomic bomb ended the war between America and Japan. This was just one of the important events during the battle in World War II. The Battle at Pearl Harbor, where the Japanese attacked U.S. soil was also why the americans bombed Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Some believe that the United States was correct in dropping these bombs on Japan because of the attack on Pearl Harbor while others believe that it was very wrong to dropped the bomb.
