Was Hiroshima Bombing Justified

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“So, let us be alert in a twofold sense: Since Auschwitz we know what man is capable of. And since Hiroshima we know what is at stake.” The given quote was by Victor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor, who commented upon the other major tragedy of World War II. Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, exemplified the extent of the U.S. to preserve itself, and eliminate enemy lives. The decision to drop the bomb was agreed upon by most Americans, but some question the many lives taken in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I myself agree with dropping bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki for military necessity, and also definitely agree other reasons influenced justifying dropping of the atomic bombs. The basis of justifying the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki …show more content…

It was estimated by Churchill over a million Allied lives would be needed to defeat mainland Japan, (“The Christian Century Deplores the Bombing”). Although the numbers were highly speculated, Truman’s own advisors estimated 250,000 Americans live would have been lost taking mainland Japan with troops. The same number of Japanese soldiers, if not more, would have died defending their losing country, (John Green, Crash Course # 35) . Japanese culture of the time through Bushido, civilian soldiers, and attack tactics meant they likely would not have surrendered very easily. The decision to drop bombs on the two unsuspecting Japanese cities, ultimately saved more lives for both …show more content…

At the end of the war America was the world strongest superpower, with no country to stand in its way. With such a powerful weapon the U.S. has leverage over any country, and threatened them all. While warring in Korea, General MacArthur wanted to drop nukes upon the Communist Chinese Rebellion. MacArthur and others became power hungry because they had the tool to defeat their enemies, but never thought about the repercussions of nuclear warfare, (“MacArthur Calls for Victory”). The ability of the United States to stop the influence of its enemies, such as Communism, with an atomic bomb was deeply considered. Nuclear bombs and their capabilities shown at Hiroshima and Nagasaki were motivators for American and other countries to grow their nuclear arsenal in the following