Dropping the Atomic Bomb: Road To Hiroshima

World War II in the Pacific effectively ended with dropping the atomic bomb on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This lecture will focus on the justification for using these weapons based on the information available at the time.

[michaellazzeri]

My Father fought on Guadalcanal ; he contacted Dengue Fever, & Combat Fatigue, spent 27 months in New Zealand, recovering from both. He was awarded The Navy Cross, & The Purple Heart. was adamant that Truman was absolutely correct, to TRY anything to avoid Invading Japan . No one really knew of the bombs would work ; but he, Truman, decided it had to be attempted, as doing anything almost using gas might avoid Operation Downfall : invading Japan . My Father admired Truman . He believed strongly that dropping the 2 atomic bombs was justified.

[jackbell]

As an island nation Japan's supply line was based entirely on it's navy. The navy was finished after Midway, ergo Japan was finished. The Japanese knew this but held off surrendering, for terms. They wanted to keep what they took and the emperor. The fact is, that after Midway, if the Japanese had surrendered, got out of Southeast Asia and Chins, gone home, and, stopped making war, not one bomb needed fall on Japanese soil. Instead, they led their people to slaughter in the name of emperor. Remember, the whole thing was their idea.

[terribleTed-lncm]

"the god awful cruelty of war demonstrates the worst of mankind"~ Gen.Robert E. Lee 1867

[johnferry]

If Japan had the weapon first, would they have used it? You can bet your sushi.

[kevintate]

This is a very well done lecture. I am a veteran and I know what it is like to serve. I was lucky enough to be in the service in a window in which nothing reall happened 1992-2000. While it was a horrible weapon it indeed saved the lives of millions of soldiers, and millions of Japanese civilians.

[Marc]

According To Gen. Douglas MacArthur, an invasion of the Japanese home Islands would have resulted in at least 1, 000, 000 US casualties and possibly up to 20 years to surpress all resistance. The Little Boy and the Fat Man prevented all that. And the use of those 2 bombs had a direct effect on me & my familiy! I might never have known my father or any of my uncles if it weren't for the use of nuclear weapons back then! - Marc Smith, born August 16, 1943.

[joanhzamojcin]

A revealing commentary by an excellent lecturer.

[terencethomas]

It's a fundamental truth that jf u have wars, u need peoe like Curtis Lemay

[a.leemorrisjr.]

As terrible a decision as it was, I'd say it was the right one. It possibly saved many more lives among all involved as an invasion of Japan would've been horrific! Japan's war machine was determined to fight to the bitter end, casualties be damned!

[ICBMCatcher]

Criticize the U.S. for dropping an atomic bomb(s) on Japan? Just recall Pearl Harbor, Guadalcanal, Guam, Saipan, Peleliu, Okinawa, Iwo Jima and a dozen other savage battles against the Japanese Empire.

[R.G.]

Let’s not forget over 30 million people were killed during the Pacific War. The Japanese Imperial Army committed numerous unforgivable atrocities in countries they invaded, especially in China. Japan was the victimizer, not victim. It took two atomic bombs to end the war, a small price to pay if you ask me.

[crawford]

Thank you. Personally I have been very sensitive to America and Americans being so vilified. I was aged 50, 68 now, when I went to sea as a research assistant. I spent all of my years in Texas with relatively no exposure to other countries other than what TV books and the movies brought me. I was shocked and I still am shocked that those countries who should have been our allies and friends ie Australia, Britain and Canada were the ones who criticized the U S the most. The Japanese scientist were most respectful. I was at sea when Trump was elected. There was great gnashing of teeth among our European friends who thought Obama and Hillary were Gods. The Cancel Culture was incredibly efficient and I was lucky to make it to retirement. Hatred of America even by Americans still affects me to this day. Japan will stand with us even to the protection of Taiwan. If you think Europe will lift a finger to protect Ukraine, forgot it. All they will be willing to do is shake their fist. We are on the verge of great global conflict. China has thought their children that America is the great Hegemony. Hatred fills their hearts towards us and they have successfully taught our children this as well. We are hoodwinked.

[harrybaulz]

Discombobulated lecture saved millions of lives and the economic resurgence of japan nuff said

[Thxsober]

36:19 I suddenly realize that the lecturer is a cousin from the MI side of my family.

[tjanders]

I am pleased this professor did not engage in any revisionist drivel that we often hear these days. He stuck to the facts and the horrors of fighting the Japanese. I believe that 10, 000, 000 lives were spared by the use of the bombs. It is astounding but the US manufactured 500, 000 Purple Hearts for expected casualties in the proposed invasion. Great lecture.

[oddshot]

As good and accurate as the lecture above was, it discussed the fire bombing of Tokyo in which we burned 16 square MILES of Tokyo to the ground, as a somewhat singular event. This is not true. Using "firestorms" as a weapon, the US burned over 1/7 of the Japanese home islands, incinerating 67 Japanese cities, killing, by some estimates, as many as 900, 000 Japanese. BTW ... Tokyo was bombed a number of times. Having been bombed so heavily and frequently, eventually, Tokyo was taken off the target list because there just wasn't much left to burn. Nonetheless, by comparison to the firebombings, the atomic bombs were a somewhat minor event. The force of the A bombs that were dropped is roughly the equivalent of 200 B-29's filled with bombs. The US routinely put over 400 B-29s over a target on a given night.

Although this is rarely discussed, 2 more A-bombs would be ready for use 30 days after we dropped the first of them, with an additional 11 available the following month. What's more, there is no doubt that General Curtis LeMay would have continued firebombing as much of Japan as possible before any invasion took place.

[benknowles]

I can tell that you never fought an enemy combatant. You need to leave 'Neverland ' behind, and understand what sacrifice is!

[jmctigret]

Even after the bombs there was a coup attempt to stop the surrender of Japan. It’s called the Kyūjō incident.

[haroldmclean]

A pragmatic walk through, that made sense and not Nonsense 👍

[gleeart]

Alot of ears will always remain closed to reasoned argument like this.
"Your oponants are in front of you, your real enemies are behind you"