Were the Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 the Right Response to the Japanese refusal of unconditional surrender or was there a more peaceful alternative? August 6th and August 9th 1945, two dates that will live in infamy, as the only time in our history, that nuclear weapons have been detonated during a war. As the only examples of nuclear fallout and destruction in large populated areas, it is no surprise that even now, over 70 years later, it is still a highly debated topic. Following these atomic bombings, Japan surrendered. But were the atomic bombings necessary to save Allied lives and end Japan's threat to world peace while avoiding the scheduled invasion of the southern Japanese islands. On 26 July 1945, United States …show more content…
70,000 of 76,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed, and 48,000 of those were entirely destroyed. Survivors recalled the indescribable and incredible experience of seeing that the city had ceased to exist Since communications between the Hiroshima and higher military and naval headquarters had been severed, initial news that something had occurred at Hiroshima came into Tokyo from nearby towns. American president Henry S. Truman's public announcement in Washington, D.C., 16 hours after the attack, was Tokyo's first knowledge of what had really happened to Hiroshima: "Sixteen hours ago an American airplane dropped one bomb on Hiroshima. It is an atomic bomb. We are now prepared to obliterate more rapidly and completely every productive enterprise the Japanese have above ground in any city. If they do not now accept our terms they may expect a rain of ruin from the air the like of which has never been seen on this …show more content…
Japan's Supreme War Direction Council was deadlocked on a decision. Debate continued throughout that day and night. Finally, on August 10, 1945, the Japanese Prime Minister respectfully begged Emperor Hirohito to make a decision. Hirohito did not hesitate, "...I do not desire any further destruction of cultures, nor any additional misfortune for the peoples of the world. On this occasion, we have to bear the unbearable." Hirohito was determined. Against all precedent, the emperor himself convened an Imperial Conference and at noon on August 15, 1945, announced Japan's surrender. The war was over. Few historical events have been simultaneously second-guessed and vigorously defended as the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, many believe that there were alternative ways to end the war, without the use of such destructive weapons and with less loss of