On August 6, 1945, the Commander in Chief, Harry Truman, directed the U.S. military to use a new devastating weapon against Japan. While all sitting Presidents of the United States hold this title and bear the responsibilities, Truman had military experience that included commanding ground troops during World War I and had direct experience protecting the lives of U.S. troops and fulfilling a mission to kill enemies. In this essay, I will discuss President Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bombs, the main reasons for the decision, and demonstrate why it was the right choice.
Truman made the decision to use the atomic bomb to end the war. The Japanese were not going to surrender and each day of World War II cost more American lives. The war had ended in Europe in May 1945, but the Japanese fought on. Pfc. E.B. Sledge noted in his memoirs that the planned invasion “would be a ghastly bloodletting . . .it would shock the American public and the world. [Every Japanese] soldier, civilian, woman, and child would fight to the death with whatever weapons they had, rifle grenade, or bamboo spear” (Fussell 17). The Japanese even had a pre-invasion patriotic song, “One Hundred Million Souls for the Emperor” and the Japanese were ready to sacrifice their lives for the cause. One Kamikaze pilot saw the situation was becoming bleak and he did not mention surrender, instead, he boldly stated that “all Japanese must become soldiers and die for the Emperor” (Fussell 17). Between April and June 1945, American and Japanese casualties in the battle of Okinawa totaled over 123,000 lives (Fussell 27). Without the use of the atomic bomb, a land invasion would have been necessary. Government documents from 6/18/45 regarding a planned invasion stated that the blockade alone would not be enough and felt that it would take a lot for a possible Japanese surrender. The memo states, “It seems that if the Japanese are ever willing to capitulate short of complete military defeat in the field they will do it when faced with the completely hopeless prospect occasioned by (1) destruction already wrought by air and sea blockade, coupled with (2) a landing on Japan indicating the firmness of our resolution, and also perhaps coupled with (3) the entry of Russia into the war.” Admiral King estimated a realistic casualty number for the first part of the operation would be about the number experienced by General MacArthur in Okinawa and Luson – 41,700 army and navy killed, wounded or missing. At times, this casualty loss was estimated to be as low as 20,000 or as high as one million, but it was certain that the invasion would cost many more American lives. The Japanese were not going to surrender despite being weakened by blockades and air strikes. In-fighting in Japan over surrendering always ended with the decision not to surrender. Each day was costing more American lives and when the atomic bomb was ready for use in July of 1945, the Postdam Proclamation was issued on July 26, 1945 by the government heads of the U.S., UK, and China. It did not mince words and warned of “utter devastation of the Japanese homeland” unless Japan surrendered unconditionally.” When Japan did not react to the Postdam Proclamation at all - no counter offer, just silence, Truman gave the order for the atomic bomb to be used on August 6, 1945. Over 80,000 people were killed in Hiroshima and Russia declared war on Japan, but no surrender came from the Japanese. Even after Hiroshima, the Japanese “army was so unready for surrender that most looked forward to the forthcoming invasion as an indispensable opportunity to show their mettle” (Fussell 22). Only after the bombing of Nagasaki, another 40,000 deaths, a stronger stance from the Emperor, and an all- night cabinet session, did the Japanese finally decide to surrender. Hours later, General Anami disemboweled himself using a sword as an honor suicide rather than accept this defeat. The diary of another Japanese leader, Hideki Tojo, revealed that he was prepared to continue fighting, too. When one infantry battalion heard the Emperor’s surrender broadcast, twenty-six officers were so “shocked” and “disappointed” that they all killed themselves (Fussell 23). The Emperor usually stayed out of political affairs, but intervened when the bomb of supernatural force and devastation was used. The impact of the atomic bomb on the decision to surrender is evident in his address to the Japanese: “Moreover, the enemy has begun to employ a new and most cruel bomb, the power of which to do damage is, indeed incalculable, taking the toll of many innocent lives. Should we continue to fight, not only would it result in an ultimate obliteration of the Japanese nation, but it also would lead to the total extinction of human civilization” (Correll 30). Surrender was not part of the Japanese culture. The use of the atomic bombs ended a war that would have lasted longer and cost many more lives – American and Japanese.
Although World War II began in 1939 when Nazi Germany attacked Poland, the United States entry to the war was December 7, 1941 when the Japanese bombed the American fleet in Pearl Harbor, HI. In addition to ending the war, President Truman’s use of the atomic bomb restored America’s confidence in its military operations. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, military enlistment reached an all-time high and the nation united as one. In August 1945 700,000 infantrymen were in the Pacific ready for the land invasion and another thirteen divisions were scheduled to land before the invasion’s target date of November 1945 (Fussell 15, 28). Administrative Assistant to the President, George M. Elsey noted that if Truman or any other President had the atomic bomb and chose not to use it, the American public would have impeached him. Journalist, Robert J. Donovan, echoed this sentiment and stated that the choice to risk the lives of the American military for an invasion when the atomic bomb was available, would not have been well received by the American public. Furthermore it could have been the end of the Democratic Party as well as Truman. These statements make it clear that the America of 1945 did not have widespread objections to using a weapon of mass destruction against Japan. Truman became President in April 1945 and U.S. casualties were averaging more than 900 per day and the war was “consuming the nation’s energies and resources to an extent never experienced before or since” (Correll 30). Americans saw World War II as a war against evil – Germans, Japanese, and Fascism, as observed by American biographer, Robert Lifton. He further notes that the huge loss of Japanese lives would be “justified” because “this greatest weapon ever developed has a place in overcoming or combating evil.” Truman’s radio address to the nation on August 9, 1945 shows that he wanted to ease the fears of the American public and demonstrate power and toughness. President Truman said that the United States has used the atomic bomb “against those who attacked us without warning at Pearl Harbor, against those who have starved and beaten and executed American prisoners of war, against those who have abandoned all pretense of obeying international laws of warfare. We have used it to shorten the agony of the war, in order to save the lives of thousands and thousands of young Americans. We shall continue to use it until we completely destroy Japan’s power to make war. Only a Japanese surrender will stop us” (Correll 30). When the atomic bomb ended the war, the young men waiting for the land invasion were spared death and the country’s confidence was restored.
Truman’s military experience empowered him to make a difficult decision that was moral, right, and served the purposes that he intended. The Japanese were not going to surrender and the longer he waited, the more U.S. lives would be lost. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the confidence and sense of security of the American public was dimmed. Truman predicted in his memoirs that the atomic bomb would “stop the war immediately and be a weapon that the other superpowers would be in awe of.” In aweing the superpowers it also established the U.S. as a country to be feared. This renewed confidence in U.S military operations has prompted steady enlistment and lead to the development of the U.S. as a major military power. The sense of security was overshadowed by the fear that others would obtain nuclear weapons, but the strong confidence in the U.S. military remains today. Without a strong military the U.S. would not have been able to take a lead role in establishing the United Nations and developing foreign policy that protects global human rights.