EVIDENCE ONE
"...in [July] 1945... Secretary of War Stimson, visiting my headquarters in Germany, informed me that our government was preparing to drop an atomic bomb on Japan. I was one of those who felt that there were a number of cogent reasons to question the wisdom of such an act. ...the Secretary, upon giving me the news of the successful bomb test in New Mexico, and of the plan for using it, asked for my reaction, apparently expecting a vigorous assent.
"During his recitation of the relevant facts, I had been conscious of a feeling of depression and so I voiced to him my grave misgivings, first on the basis of my belief that Japan was already defeated and that dropping the bomb was completely unnecessary, and secondly because I thought that our country should avoid shocking world opinion by the use of a weapon whose employment was, I thought, no longer mandatory as a measure to save American lives. It was my belief that Japan was, at that very moment, seeking some way to surrender with a minimum loss of 'face'. The Secretary was deeply perturbed by my attitude...
...the Japanese were ready to surrender and it wasn't necessary to hit them with that awful thing."
"During his recitation of the relevant facts, I had been conscious of a feeling of depression and so I voiced to him my grave misgivings, first on the basis of my belief that Japan was already defeated and that dropping the bomb was completely unnecessary, and secondly because I thought that our country should avoid shocking world opinion by the use of a weapon whose employment was, I thought, no longer mandatory as a measure to save American lives. It was my belief that Japan was, at that very moment, seeking some way to surrender with a minimum loss of 'face'. The Secretary was deeply perturbed by my attitude...
...the Japanese were ready to surrender and it wasn't necessary to hit them with that awful thing."
This is an excerpt from Eisenhower talking about the Atomic bomb. He beleived that with the United States advancements and advantages they have in the Pacific Theater, he thought that Japan had already lost the war. It would be a mere wait before Japan would surrender. He thought that the atomic bombs are not necessary. Eisenhower then mentions that the country should avoid "shocking the world opinion by the use of a weapon...". He is, of course, referring to the extreme technological advancement of the atomic bombs that the world has yet to see. It would not result in a positive future in terms of competition for more advanced weapons in the world.
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Evidence two
"Physicists Leo Szilard and James Franck, a Nobel Prize winner, were on the staff of the “Metallurgical Laboratory” at the University of Chicago, a cover for the Manhattan Project program to produce fuel for the bomb. The outspoken Szilard was not involved in operational work on the bomb and General Groves kept him under surveillance, but Met Lab director found Szilard useful to have around. Concerned with the long-run implications of the bomb, Franck chaired a committee, in which Szilard and Eugene Rabinowitch were major contributors, that produced a report rejecting a surprise attack on Japan and recommended instead a demonstration of the bomb on the “desert or a barren island.” Arguing that a nuclear arms race “will be on in earnest not later than the morning after our first demonstration of the existence of nuclear weapons,” the committee saw international control as the alternative. That possibility would be difficult if the United States made first military use of the weapon. Arthur Compton, the “Met Lab’s” director, raised doubts about the recommendations but urged Stimson to study the report. Martin Sherwin has argued that the Franck committee shared an important assumption with Truman et al.--that an “atomic attack against Japan would 'shock' the Russians”--but drew entirely different conclusions about the import of such a shock."
This is an excerpt from Arthur B. Compton's memorandum, in which some scientists were outspoken about different alternatives instead of dropping the atomic bomb. Two scientists by the names of Leo Szilard and James Franck, were on staff to produce fuel for the bomb. They were both concerned with the long run implications of the bomb such as effects on the nature and the civilians. They put out a recommendation to demonstrate the bomb on a "desert or barren land" so they could see what kind of damage would happen. They were rejected and practically ignored and outspoken. This shows how there were many different outcomes and ways to have gone instead of dropping the bomb, but generals and leaders of this project rejected them.
This is an excerpt from Arthur B. Compton's memorandum, in which some scientists were outspoken about different alternatives instead of dropping the atomic bomb. Two scientists by the names of Leo Szilard and James Franck, were on staff to produce fuel for the bomb. They were both concerned with the long run implications of the bomb such as effects on the nature and the civilians. They put out a recommendation to demonstrate the bomb on a "desert or barren land" so they could see what kind of damage would happen. They were rejected and practically ignored and outspoken. This shows how there were many different outcomes and ways to have gone instead of dropping the bomb, but generals and leaders of this project rejected them.
Evidence three
This is a map that showed most of the activity in the Pacific Theater over the course of the entire war. Before the U.S. had made any advancements in the particular region, Japan had a fairly large amount of territories under their control; which was a part of a plan to try to expand throughout Asia and hoped to conquer as much land as possible. However, the allies soon declared war on Japan and began to implement their "leapfrogging" strategy where they planned to attack from one island to another with the intention of taking back the islands under Japanese control and gaining more land towards the main target: Japan. Little by little, the U.S. and other allies were becoming increasingly more successful and have won many battles in the Pacific. By the time 1945 came, the island-like country of Japan was basically surrounded by allied forces. Especially when the U.S.S.R., who declared war on Japan in August of that year, was also closing in quickly and subtracting the area of which Japan controlled. One can see how much the allies have eliminated the conquest of Japan and permanently prevented any further expansion attempts from that point on. It was only a matter of time before the Allies could potentially launch a massive invasion. With this position, there could have been a great amount of alternative plans to force the surrender of Japan. At this point, Allied victory was within their grasp. In addition to this, Japan would have no more support from other countries while the Allies can still give aid to one another, along with the territories they freed from the Japanese. Therefore, since Japan's weak and trapped position will cause a much simpler attack from the Allies to try and take over the country, the two atomic bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki would not have been necessary.
Evidence four
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One major alternative to the use of the atomic bombs was the invasion of Japan code named: Operation Downfall. The government had already been greatly preparing for it and were also deep into the planning of the invasion. In fact, the military expected to launch the invasion in November in 1945. However this, of course, did not happen because Japanese already surrendered in August a few days after the bombs were dropped. Operation Downfall actually consisted of two primary strategies whose code names were Operation Olympic and Operation coronet. Although no one knows how the result would be, it is evidence of a deeply thought-out strategy as opposed to using the bomb. What is true however, is because the Japanese were already suffering from many losses and other disadvantages, the chance for Allied victory would be greater. While some may argue that civilians would have been killed either way, no long term effects would be seen if atomic bombs were not used.
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Evidence Five
Above is a comparison of the maps showing the final positions of allied forces advancing in hostile territory before the surrender of Germany and Japan. Many similarities can be seen in both maps. What is most noticeable is that the Axis power is in a surrounded and trapped position, which gives them a major disadvantage. For one thing, both of the Axis' efforts of expansion has already lone gone. They would basically become "sitting ducks" at that point. This was true for the country of Germany which is why they were left with no other choice but to surrender. As for Japan, if the U.S. put into action their alternatives involving the invasion of Japan and abandoned the idea of the atomic bombs, it would also end in a similar result as Germany. Since they are also coincidentally trapped by Soviet and U.S. forces, it would not take long for the Japanese to perish. Allies would then witness victory.
Evidence Six
To further support the idea of abandoning the bombs and retreating to alternatives, this is a document that mentioned Japan's state. Japan was weak at the time and are surrounded by Allied forces. These forces have also been successful in creating a blockade and preventing any shipment sent to aid the Japanese. This means that Japan would not have any more support from its already minimal allies. Therefore, an attack like an invasion on Japan instead of terrible bombs would again have high chance of being successful.
Evidence seven
Junko Morimoto, one of the survivors from the atomic bomb, shares her story. "I was a 13 year old schoolgirl. I lived 1.7 kilometers away from where the bomb fell. It was just before 8:15 am, and my sister and I were in my bedroom talking. My father had gone out to get a haircut and he still wasn’t back. My mother had trouble with her lungs, so she’d gone away to an island to convalesce.... That’s when we heard the loud aircraft noise. At that time, we were very aware of the noises different aircraft made. I stood up and said it could be a B-29. We heard the noise fade. Suddenly there was a moment of blinding light with intense heat. I couldn’t see anything. There was a strange reverberation, a noise that’s impossible to describe, followed by a bang. Then the house, the ceiling, everything collapsed. We were buried and in complete darkness.
When I came to again, I was covered by debris. All I could see was a broken ceiling and through it, the grey sky. I assumed a bomb had fallen directly on our house. In my mind, I heard tens of thousands of people in Hiroshima screaming. I don’t know if that’s true, but it’s what I remember. My sister and I were clinging to each other. We tried to crawl out...
I found my eldest sister in what was left of the dining room. She was covered in blood.
I wondered why there was all that blood over her. She was hurt, and one of her teeth was missing.
The shock had sent one of the chopsticks she was holding through her cheek, poking out the tooth.
Our brother was in another room. The window behind him had shattered. When the window broke with a bang, his back was pierced by splinters of shattered glass."
The horror she and her family endured must have been terrible. Everything she had valuable was lost, and her life was completely ruined. Her home and city completely obliterated. She hadn't done anything wrong. She hasn't gone and attacked Americans herself, likewise the majority of the civilians. They were caught in a casualty that was preventable and unnecessary. No human being should have to endure the torture of that, and have to live for the rest of their life with effects.
When I came to again, I was covered by debris. All I could see was a broken ceiling and through it, the grey sky. I assumed a bomb had fallen directly on our house. In my mind, I heard tens of thousands of people in Hiroshima screaming. I don’t know if that’s true, but it’s what I remember. My sister and I were clinging to each other. We tried to crawl out...
I found my eldest sister in what was left of the dining room. She was covered in blood.
I wondered why there was all that blood over her. She was hurt, and one of her teeth was missing.
The shock had sent one of the chopsticks she was holding through her cheek, poking out the tooth.
Our brother was in another room. The window behind him had shattered. When the window broke with a bang, his back was pierced by splinters of shattered glass."
The horror she and her family endured must have been terrible. Everything she had valuable was lost, and her life was completely ruined. Her home and city completely obliterated. She hadn't done anything wrong. She hasn't gone and attacked Americans herself, likewise the majority of the civilians. They were caught in a casualty that was preventable and unnecessary. No human being should have to endure the torture of that, and have to live for the rest of their life with effects.
Evidence eight
Sumitery Taniguchi recalls the horrors he experienced and still experiences to this day. He was about over a mile away from the epicenter of Nagasaki. He was thrown off his bike and left unconscious. He woke up and wandered confused for three days. He was only 16 when the attack occurred. He eventually received medical aide, and realized the extent of his injuries. His skin on his back was completely torn off, and his left arm almost completely blown off. He laid immobile on a bed for so long, his arm bones blocked his joints, disabling his arm for life. Three of his ribs became rotten, and stuck to his lung causing dents and difficulty breathing. He still shares his story today to make sure an event like this never happens again, and no one experiences the horror he experienced.
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Evidence nine
These are graphs showing the cancer rates of Japanese people years after they were exposed to the radiation of the atomic bomb. It can be seen that the atomic bombs had a serious long term effect on the Japanese. It was not only those who were initially survivors of the bomb that had a great chance of being diagnosed with cancer, but future relatives would also have a high risk. All of this was caused by the radiation that the bombs gave off. Now it is heavily affecting the many descendants of the survivors because the cancer risks probably became genetic. This could have been avoided if the bombs were not used.