The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are widely regarded as the decisive events that ended World War II in the Pacific. However, few people know that the US almost failed to achieve its goal of forcing Japan to surrender, even after unleashing the most terrible weapons in history.
On August 6, 1945, the US dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, killing an estimated 140,000 people and destroying 90 percent of the city. Three days later, the US dropped the second atomic bomb on Nagasaki, killing an estimated 74,000 people and destroying 40 percent of the city. The official justification for the bombings was to end the war quickly and save American lives by avoiding a costly invasion of Japan.
However, some historians argue that the atomic bombings were not only acts of war, but also acts of memory that shaped how World War II has been remembered ever since. They suggest that the US also wanted to demonstrate its nuclear superiority to the Soviet Union, which had declared war on Japan and invaded Manchuria on August 8, 1945. In fact, some military leaders, such as Admiral William D. Leahy and Major General Curtis LeMay, believed that the atomic bombs were unnecessary and ineffective, as Japan was already defeated and ready to surrender.
The Japanese government was indeed divided over whether to accept the terms of the Potsdam Declaration, which demanded unconditional surrender or face “prompt and utter destruction”. Some wanted to end the war and spare their people from further suffering, while others wanted to continue the war and defend their honor and sovereignty. The decision ultimately rested with Emperor Hirohito, who was revered as a living god by his subjects.
However, even after witnessing the devastating effects of the atomic bombs, some hardline military officers were determined to prevent Hirohito from surrendering. They launched a coup attempt on August 14, 1945, hoping to seize control of the palace and destroy the recordings of Hirohito’s speech announcing his acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration. The coup failed after a bloody battle with loyalist forces, and Hirohito’s speech was broadcasted to the nation on August 15, 1945.
“I cannot bear to see my innocent people suffer any longer. … I swallow my tears and give my sanction to the proposal to accept the Allied proclamation,” Hirohito said in his historic address, which was the first time most Japanese heard his voice. His words marked the end of Japan’s war effort and the beginning of a new era of peace and reconstruction.
The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were undoubtedly among the most tragic and controversial events in human history. They raised ethical, moral and political questions that still haunt us today. They also revealed how close the world came to a different outcome, one that could have prolonged the war and changed history forever.
Relevant articles:
– Hiroshima, Then Nagasaki: Why the US Deployed the Second A-Bomb, by Sarah Pruitt, published on July 20, 2023 by HISTORY
– The Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: A Turning Point in History, by John W. Dower, published on August 6, 2023 by The New York Times
– How Japan’s Surrender Was Almost Derailed by a Coup Attempt, by Erin Blakemore, published on August 7, 2023 by National Geographic
– The Legacy of the Atomic Bombing of Nagasaki, by Susan Southard, published on August 9, 2023 by The Atlantic