Discussion for article #225720
Another significant factor ending the war: the Soviet Union invaded Manchuria and northern Korea.
Hardly. That was a land grab and looting mission. Whatever else you think about it, the bomb resulted in the war ending when it id, and not dragging on for another six months to a year.
My take on the morality of using the atomic is rather clouded by the fact that my Dad was in the Fifth Marine Division, slated for Operation Olympic, the invasion of Kyushu. The Japanese knew full well we were going to have to invade Kyushu as a prelude to the invasion of Honshu (to set up airbases) and had massed moor troops there than we had slated for the entire invasion force, much less the beach assault force.
I doubt very much I’d be here if that had gone forward. And the Bomb was a critical factor in Hirohito’s decision to override the generals who ran the country (who were, apparently, not too impressed by it) and insist on a surrender.
The attack came at 8 am in the morning, so the city was not sleeping below the plane.