US didn't need to drop the atomic bomb on Japan

[The Annoyed Man]

The Japanese had moved 990,000 troops to Kyushu to repel the initial landings of Operation Downfall.

990,000. In Kyushu.



In total, the Japanese had 4,335,500 total military personnel in the Japanese homeland to resist the invasion, plus 31,550,000 civilian conscripts. Balanced against that, the Allies had about 5,000,000 American and 1,000,000 British Commonwealth troops to commit to the invasion.....far short of the 3:1 advantage usually regarded as necessary to amphibiously assault an entrenched enemy.

The atomic bombs killed 129,000–226,000 Japanese within a few days of their having been dropped, either quickly from blast and burns, or more slowly over the next few weeks from radiation. Add to this number those who died years later of radiation-caused cancers, and it’s still a small number compared to how many would have died on both sides had the invasion proceeded.

In fact, a THIRD atomic bombing had been planned for August 19, 1945 had the attempted coup against the emperor by the militarists succeeded, in order to force the militarists to capitulate. The Japanese had already been given unconditional surrender terms BEFORE the first bomb was dropped. They flat out refused to surrender. A second bomb was dropped. Initially they refused again, and when it appeared that the emperor was wavering and was considering a surrender, the generals attempted to overthrow and assassinate him.

The Japanese were lucky that the coup failed, or another Fatman would have been dropped—probably on Kokura which was Bockscar's primary target before Nagasaki was bombed.

My dad was dying of cancer when we had our final conversation about the war. We were watching the news on TV in his room, and the story being covered was about some Japanese students protesting the visit of a nuclear-armed American ship to Yokohama harbor. I remarked that I kind of understood their point, Japan having still been the only nation ever nuked in anger. He replied that he didn’t give a darn what they thought, he said that Japan wrote a check they couldn’t cash, and started a war that claimed 6.5-7 million military deaths and 27 million civilian deaths. He wasn’t going to spend one minute agonizing over the deaths of a couple hundred thousand Japanese in the atomic bombings. That’s when he reminded me that he’d have likely been killed and I would be alive today, if he’d had to assault the western facing beaches of southern Kyushu as had been planned.

[SQLGeek]

I did enough research into the Japanese atrocities committed against the Chinese alone to know that this was the right move. I'd posit that they didn't really get the justice they deserved.

[crazy2medic]

I Fear All We Have Done Is Awakened A Sleeping Giant And Filled Him With A Terrible Resolve- Isoroku Yamamoto

[philip964]

I Fear All We Have Done Is Awakened A Sleeping Giant And Filled Him With A Terrible Resolve- Isoroku Yamamoto

I have always thought this was a great quote.

Most people do not realize that the Japanese did not return for a second strike and left the oil storage tanks and dry docks unharmed. I believe every ship except for the Arizona was repaired and saw action in the war.

Many times victors have not pressed their advantage. Here for one. Sadam Hussain after he took Kuwait, and Hitler for not taking England. We can always be greatfull that evil people make mistakes.

Today the Boston Globe had a story about the end of World War II. They have a pay wall so I could not read it but the headline was something like the End of World War II was Bittersweet.

Really Bittersweet? I thought it was something like the best day the world has ever seen. Oh yeah, I forgot, America is evil in their eyes.

[crazy2medic]

I Fear All We Have Done Is Awakened A Sleeping Giant And Filled Him With A Terrible Resolve- Isoroku Yamamoto

I have always thought this was a great quote.

Most people do not realize that the Japanese did not return for a second strike and left the oil storage tanks and dry docks unharmed. I believe every ship except for the Arizona was repaired and saw action in the war.

Many times victors have not pressed their advantage. Here for one. Sadam Hussain after he took Kuwait, and Hitler for not taking England. We can always be greatfull that evil people make mistakes.

Today the Boston Globe had a story about the end of World War II. They have a pay wall so I could not read it but the headline was something like the End of World War II was Bittersweet.

Really Bittersweet? I thought it was something like the best day the world has ever seen. Oh yeah, I forgot, America is evil in their eyes.

When Yamamoto found out from the returning pilots that none of our Carriers were in port he knew he'd lost the advantage!

[philip964]

The Japanese had moved 990,000 troops to Kyushu to repel the initial landings of Operation Downfall.

990,000. In Kyushu.



In total, the Japanese had 4,335,500 total military personnel in the Japanese homeland to resist the invasion, plus 31,550,000 civilian conscripts. Balanced against that, the Allies had about 5,000,000 American and 1,000,000 British Commonwealth troops to commit to the invasion.....far short of the 3:1 advantage usually regarded as necessary to amphibiously assault an entrenched enemy.

The atomic bombs killed 129,000–226,000 Japanese within a few days of their having been dropped, either quickly from blast and burns, or more slowly over the next few weeks from radiation. Add to this number those who died years later of radiation-caused cancers, and it’s still a small number compared to how many would have died on both sides had the invasion proceeded.

In fact, a THIRD atomic bombing had been planned for August 19, 1945 had the attempted coup against the emperor by the militarists succeeded, in order to force the militarists to capitulate. The Japanese had already been given unconditional surrender terms BEFORE the first bomb was dropped. They flat out refused to surrender. A second bomb was dropped. Initially they refused again, and when it appeared that the emperor was wavering and was considering a surrender, the generals attempted to overthrow and assassinate him.

The Japanese were lucky that the coup failed, or another Fatman would have been dropped—probably on Kokura which was Bockscar's primary target before Nagasaki was bombed.

My dad was dying of cancer when we had our final conversation about the war. We were watching the news on TV in his room, and the story being covered was about some Japanese students protesting the visit of a nuclear-armed American ship to Yokohama harbor. I remarked that I kind of understood their point, Japan having still been the only nation ever nuked in anger. He replied that he didn’t give a darn what they thought, he said that Japan wrote a check they couldn’t cash, and started a war that claimed 6.5-7 million military deaths and 27 million civilian deaths. He wasn’t going to spend one minute agonizing over the deaths of a couple hundred thousand Japanese in the atomic bombings. That’s when he reminded me that he’d have likely been killed and I would be alive today, if he’d had to assault the western facing beaches of southern Kyushu as had been planned.

Thank you for your post and history.

[MaduroBU]

I didn't know about Hirohito defying the military supreme command to surrender. That's a truly crazy story.