So, a couple of things, comment has been reported, likely for your final sentence which is about as removal worthy as anything else I’ve seen… but addressing your first point…
The argument at the time was that dropping the bomb WOULD save lives, military and civilian, compared to a full scale invasion of Japan.
Would the psychological impact of a full scale D-day style invasion be better or worse than the obliteration of 130,000+ people in Hiroshima and another 80,000+ in Nagasaki?
Well, smarter people than me have been arguing that since it happened. I’m certainly in no position to say one way or the other.
What can’t be debated, for the people who say “Japan was beaten, we didn’t need to drop the bomb…” Following Hiroshima on August 6th, there followed THREE DAYS requesting a surrender. The Japanese military refused. Even AFTER they knew the devastation of Hiroshima, the common thought was “hey, how many more bombs could they possibly have?”
So given they stubbornly refused to surrender following Hiroshima, that kind of gives you the idea of what devastation would be required from a full scale invasion. No, they weren’t ready to surrender, and didn’t even surrender after Hiroshima.
Three days isn’t that huge amount of time for this kind of thing, and of course, even after two bombs some still didn’t want to surrender. … but the emperor did, and that’s what matters. Maybe he would’ve surrendered after the first one, or maybe even with no bombs, given enough time to think… or maybe not, but the US didn’t try to go that route really. It really seems like they went for maximum civilian casualty. That’s the part I cannot agree with.
As for the comment, well, I’m always kind and respectful to those who are kind and respectful to me, despite disagreement, but if you just tell me to f off, all bets are off… so, feel free to remove if you want, but if you do, then please also remove the comment I was responding to. Thanks.
Yeah, partially because of the face saving culture. I do tend to agree with the assessment that an invasion of Japan would have been a bloodbath for both the invaders and the Japanese.
Removed by mod
So, a couple of things, comment has been reported, likely for your final sentence which is about as removal worthy as anything else I’ve seen… but addressing your first point…
The argument at the time was that dropping the bomb WOULD save lives, military and civilian, compared to a full scale invasion of Japan.
Would the psychological impact of a full scale D-day style invasion be better or worse than the obliteration of 130,000+ people in Hiroshima and another 80,000+ in Nagasaki?
Well, smarter people than me have been arguing that since it happened. I’m certainly in no position to say one way or the other.
What can’t be debated, for the people who say “Japan was beaten, we didn’t need to drop the bomb…” Following Hiroshima on August 6th, there followed THREE DAYS requesting a surrender. The Japanese military refused. Even AFTER they knew the devastation of Hiroshima, the common thought was “hey, how many more bombs could they possibly have?”
So given they stubbornly refused to surrender following Hiroshima, that kind of gives you the idea of what devastation would be required from a full scale invasion. No, they weren’t ready to surrender, and didn’t even surrender after Hiroshima.
Three days isn’t that huge amount of time for this kind of thing, and of course, even after two bombs some still didn’t want to surrender. … but the emperor did, and that’s what matters. Maybe he would’ve surrendered after the first one, or maybe even with no bombs, given enough time to think… or maybe not, but the US didn’t try to go that route really. It really seems like they went for maximum civilian casualty. That’s the part I cannot agree with.
As for the comment, well, I’m always kind and respectful to those who are kind and respectful to me, despite disagreement, but if you just tell me to f off, all bets are off… so, feel free to remove if you want, but if you do, then please also remove the comment I was responding to. Thanks.
Yeah, partially because of the face saving culture. I do tend to agree with the assessment that an invasion of Japan would have been a bloodbath for both the invaders and the Japanese.