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The truth about the atomic bomb: Why did the United States decide to drop the two bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
On August 6 and 9, 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb each on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This action caused the death of approximately 150,000 to 240,000 people, most of whom were civilians. It became the only incident in which nuclear weapons were used during the war. Just six days after the bombs were dropped, the Soviet Union declared war on Japan and occupied Manchuria, forcing Japan to unconditionally surrender on August 15. As the war ended, evaluations of this historical event took on completely different perspectives.
In 1945, with Germany surrendering on May 8, the Allies turned their attention to the Pacific War and planned a large-scale invasion of Japan.
Background
Progress of the Pacific War
In 1945, near the end of the war, the Pacific War entered its fourth year. Many Japanese troops still resisted fiercely, which resulted in an alarming increase in the number of Allied deaths and injuries. In the final year of the war, American combat losses reached 1.25 million, nearly 1 million of which were lost in combat between June 1944 and June 1945.
Faced with continuing losses, President Franklin D. Roosevelt had suggested the possibility of using the atomic bomb against Germany as soon as possible, however the most available weapons at the time were still months away from development.
Preparation for the invasion of Japan
Before Nazi Germany surrendered, it had already begun planning a large-scale invasion of Japan. This plan, called the "Step-by-Step Action Plan," consisted of two parts. The first part was called "Operation Olympia," which aimed to launch a landing operation on Kyushu in southern Japan in October 1945. The subsequent "Operation Champion" aimed to capture the Kanto Plain near Tokyo in March 1946.
The Japanese military was able to easily predict the Allied invasion plan and make corresponding adjustments, which allowed them to conduct a comprehensive defensive deployment.
Air raid on Japan
Before carrying out the strategic bombing of Japan, the United States had prepared an air attack plan against Japan, but it was not implemented until mid-1944. The initial high-altitude precision bombing strategy continued to suffer major setbacks until commander Carter Leme made a strategic adjustment and switched to low-altitude arson bombing of Japanese cities.
Leme's air raids included fire attacks on 64 Japanese cities, including Tokyo, which dealt a heavy blow to the Japanese people's spirit.
The development of the atomic bomb
Since the discovery of the nuclear fission theorem in 1938, the possibility of developing an atomic bomb has gradually emerged. The United States' "Manhattan Project" was officially launched in 1942. It was a program specifically designed to develop nuclear weapons. It eventually successfully developed two atomic bombs: one was the "Little Boy" uranium-235 bomb, and the other was It's "Fat Man's" plutonium-239 explosive bomb.
During this process, the efforts of scientists and the construction of large-scale equipment made the practical use of atomic bombs a reality.
Goal selection
In April 1945, the United States began considering specific bombing targets and ultimately selected Japanese cities, including Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as targets for nuclear attack. Not only were these cities large, they also housed important military installations.
In the end, the United States dropped "Little Boy" on Hiroshima on August 6, and "Fat Man" on Nagasaki three days later, causing heavy casualties.
Ethical controversies and debates
Although the use of the atomic bomb did contribute to the end of the war, it was followed by deeper ethical and legal controversies. Supporters believe that this approach is to reduce the huge losses that may be faced in a long-term invasion of Japan, while critics believe that this is an unnecessary act and a war crime. Many scholars have conducted in-depth research on this incident and put forward various opinions.
Can the use of the atomic bomb really be seen as a last resort for peace, or is it a major moral blunder?
Conclusion
As one of the most controversial events in history, the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki not only changed the global war pattern, but also raised profound reflections on the peace philosophy of later generations. Was the selection and use of these two bombs a strict strategic consideration, or was it simply a manifestation of war? Is it possible to pursue the possibility of peace after a massacre?
