Were The Hiroshima And Nagasaki Atomic Bombings Necessary?

Atomic bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Wikipedia

Brian McGlinchey: Hiroshima, Nagasaki Bombings Were Needless, Said World War II's Top US Military Leaders 

The anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki present an opportunity to demolish a cornerstone myth of American history — that those twin acts of mass civilian slaughter were necessary to bring about Japan’s surrender, and spare a half-million US soldiers who’d have otherwise died in a military conquest of the empire’s home islands. 

Those who attack this mythology are often reflexively dismissed as unpatriotic, ill-informed or both. However, the most compelling witnesses against the conventional wisdom were patriots with a unique grasp on the state of affairs in August 1945 — America’s senior military leaders of World War II.  

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WNU Editor: Over the years I have changed my opinion on this subject. Growing up my father, who was in the Red Army at this time, told me that that a month before the bombings he was told that he was going to be deployed to the Far East to join in the war effort against Japan. He told me that he was filled with dread with the coming battle. The fanaticism of the Japanese soldier was known by everyone, and he felt that there was a very good chance that he was going to be killed in this deployment. So when the bombings happened he told me he was completely relieved and thankful for what the Americans did. 

 So were the bombings necessary? 

Because of my father I believed that it was necessary. After-all, the war did quickly end after Nagasaki. But with time more details have emerged, and we now know that many US Generals did not feel the bombing was necessary. They felt that the war was coming to an end, and there was no need to unleash such a weapon. 

So was the death of 200,000 Japanese necessary to push the Japanese to capitulate sooner rather than later? 

I now have some doubts and a hunger for more information. Maybe it was rushed. Maybe a delay of a week or two before unleashing the bombs should have been the decision. But I do know that if there was no surrender, the invasion of the Japanese islands would have been a bloodbath.

Nagasaki Marks The 74th Anniversary Of Atomic Bombing

A ceremony marking the 74th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of Nagasaki is held in front of the Peace Statue on Friday morning. Photo: KYODO

Japan Today: Nagasaki observes 74th anniversary of A-bombing

Nagasaki marked the 74th anniversary Friday of the U.S. atomic bombing of the city in World War II, with Mayor Tomihisa Taue calling at the annual memorial ceremony on the Japanese government to immediately sign a U.N. treaty banning nuclear weapons.

"As the only country in the world to have experienced the devastation caused by nuclear weapons, Japan must sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons as soon as possible," Taue said in the annual declaration.

The mayor had urged the central government to sign the international treaty at the two previous annual ceremonies, but this year he used a stronger and more direct expression.

The treaty was adopted in July 2017 by 122 U.N. members but is not yet in force as it has not been ratified by the required 50 states. Japan has refused to sign the treaty along with other countries under the U.S. nuclear umbrella, as have the world's nuclear weapons states.

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WNU Editor: Here is an interesting story .... A cross taken from a Nagasaki cathedral after the atomic bombing gets returned 74 years later (Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists)

Remembering The Atomic Bombing Of Nagasaki 72 Years Ago

VOA: Nagasaki Marks Anniversary of US Atomic Bombing

The increasing threat of nuclear conflict between the United States and North Korea cast a shadow over Wednesday's observance of the 72nd anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Japan in the final days of World War II.

"A strong sense of anxiety is spreading across the globe that in the not too distant future these weapons could actually be used again," Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa Taue told the crowd at the city's Peace Park. The ceremony was held a day after U.S. President Donald Trump vowed to respond to North Korea's continuing threats with "fire and fury like the world has never seen."

Mayor Taue also lashed out at Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for refusing to enter negotiations for the U.N. Nuclear Prohibition Treaty, calling his stance "incomprehensible to those of us living in the cities that suffered atomic bombings." Japan routinely abhors nuclear weapons, but has aligned its defense posture firmly under the so-called U.S. "nuclear umbrella."

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More News On Remembering The Atomic Bombing Of Nagasaki 72 Years Ago

A-bomb anniversary in Nagasaki amid US-North Korea tension -- AP
Nagasaki mayor pleads for end to nuclear threat on bomb anniversary -- AFP
On this day in 1945: The US detonated an atomic bomb over the Japanese city of Nagasaki -- The Telegraph
Nagasaki marks 72nd anniversary of A-bombing with call to join nuclear ban treaty -- Japan Today
Nagasaki Bombing Anniversary: Facts, Photos On Atomic Bombing Of Japanese City -- International Business Times

The Story On The Nagasaki Bombing Mission

The atomic bombing of Nagasaki

Ellen Bradbury and Sandra Blakeslee, Bulletin of Atomic Scientists: The harrowing story of the Nagasaki bombing mission

Seventy years ago, on August 9, at approximately 3:47 a.m. local time on the island of Tinian, a massive B-29 Superfortress aircraft roared down a tropical airport runway, carrying 13 men and what was then the world’s most destructive weapon—an atomic bomb called Fat Man. It was the second atomic bomb in existence (not counting the test in the Nevada desert about 3 weeks earlier). And it was far more powerful than the first atomic bomb to be used in warfare, which was called "Little Boy" and had been dropped on Hiroshima just three days earlier.

For nearly eight hours, the crew of the plane carrying Fat Man sped toward mainland Japan, each man hunkered in a cramped workspace with no access to external radio communication. Outside, monsoon winds, rain, and lightning lashed at them. Inside, they experienced moments of terror, such as when the bomb began to arm itself—a red light blinking with increasing rapidity—midway to their destination. One of them, bearing the newly minted title “weaponeer,” grabbed the Bomb’s blueprints and raced to figure out what was wrong.

WNU Editor: A fascinating and captivating account on the Nagasaki atomic bomb mission.

Japan Commemorates The 70th Anniversary Of The Nagasaki Atomic Bombing

Daily Mail: Nagasaki remembers its dead: Thousands gather to light lanterns in memory of 74,000 killed when U.S. planes dropped atom bomb on Japanese city in 1945

* 74,000 died when U.S. dropped an atom bomb known as 'Fat Man' on Japanese city of Nagasaki on August 9, 1945
* Thousands of lanterns lit at Nagasaki Peace Park on the eve of 70th anniversary of the attack, which killed 74,000
* An image of the blast's mushroom cloud was beamed onto Urakami Cathedral which was destroyed in the attack
* Three days ago, tens of thousands gathered in Hiroshima to remember the 140,000 who died in another bombing

Japan has united to remember the 74,000 killed and 75,000 wounded when an atom bomb was dropped on Nagasaki on the eve of the 70th anniversary of the attack.

Thousands of paper lanterns were lit at a poignant vigil at the Nagasaki Peace Park to remember the lives lost when United States planes attacked the city on August 9, 1945.

An image of the mushroom cloud created by the blast was projected onto the Urakami Cathedral which was destroyed in the bombing and rebuilt in 1949.

The U.S. also bombed the Japanese city of Hiroshima just three days before, killing 140,000. The twin attacks were the first and only time atomic bombs have been used on a civilian population.

Japan's surrender on August 15, 1945, brought an end to the Second World War.

Japan Commemorates The 70th Anniversary Of The Nagasaki Atomic Bombing

Nagasaki bombing remembered with calls for Japan to stay off path of war -- The Guardian/AP
Japan Commemorates 70th Anniversary of Nagasaki Atomic Bombing -- WSJ
Japan remembers Nagasaki atomic bomb, 70 years on -- BBC
On 70th Anniversary of Nagasaki Bombing, Atomic Debate Yields Little Consensus -- New York Times
What Nagasaki looked like before and after the bomb -- Washington Post
BY THE NUMBERS: The Atomic Bombing of Nagasaki -- AP

Remembering Nagasaki

Nagasaki atomic bombing. Wikipedia

Japan Marks Nagasaki Atomic Bombing Anniversary -- Voice of America

Japanese officials are calling for a move away from nuclear power as the nation marks the 67th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the city of Nagasaki.

Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa Taue urged the Japanese government Thursday to set new policy to achieve a society free of radiation fears.

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More News On the 67th Anniversary Of The Nagasaki Atomic Bombing

Nagasaki marks anniversary of atomic bomb attack -- Deutsche Welle
Nagasaki atomic bomb anniversary remembered -- Euronews
Nagasaki marks bomb with nuclear-free Japan call -- AFP
Nagasaki marks anniversary of Nagasaki bomb attack -- Newsday/AP
A Week of Ghosts: Japan’s Annual Grieving -- IHT Rendezvous

Nagasaki Remembers The Atomic Bombing

A photograph of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 1945, taken from one of the B-29 Superfortresses used in the attack. National Archives

Aug. 9, 1945: U.S. Drops Atomic Bomb On Nagasaki, Japan -- New York Times

On Aug. 9, 1945, three days after the bombing of Hiroshima, the United States dropped a second atomic bomb on the city of Nagasaki.

The New York Times article reported that the dropping of the bomb occurred at noon, Japanese time. It described Nagasaki as “an important industrial and shipping area with a population of about 258,000” and “a port for transshipment of military supplies and the embarkation of troops in support of Japan’s operations in China, Formosa, Southeast Asia, and the Southwest Pacific.”

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My Comment: Some more news on the Nagasaki bombing can be read here.

Remembering The Atomic Bombing At Nagasaki 65 Years Ago

Japan Marks Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Attack Of 1945 -- The BBC

apan has marked the 65th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki in 1945.

The attack killed more than 70,000 people and led to Japan's surrender less than a week later.

The United States sent its ambassador for the first time to the memorial ceremony in Hiroshima last week, but not to Nagasaki.

A choir of survivors of the nuclear attack performed a song as the ceremony began, called Never Again.

At two minutes past eleven a bell tolled, to mark the moment the bomb fell on Nagasaki 65 years ago.

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More News On The Anniversary Of The Atomic Bombing Of Nagasaki 65 Years Ago

Nagasaki remembers atomic victims -- Al Jazeera
Nagasaki marks 65th anniversary of US atomic bomb -- AP
Nagasaki remembers A-bomb after 65 years -- AFP
Korean forced labourers remember Nagasaki attack -- AFP
Nagasaki remembered -- Euronews
Full text of Nagasaki Peace Declaration -- Newsy Stocks
Nagasaki issues plea to mark fateful day in '45 -- Japan Times
Non-Nuclear Pillars Could be Made Law, Japanese PM Says -- Global Security Newswire

Japan Marks 64th Anniversary Of Nagasaki Atomic Bombing

Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso carries a wreath during a memorial ceremony at Nagasaki Peace Park in Nagasaki, southern Japan, on Sunday August 9, 2009. Nagasaki marks the 64th anniversary of the world's second atomic bomb attack on Sunday. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

Ceremony For Atomic Bomb Victims -- BBC

Victims killed by the atomic bombs which exploded in Japan more than 60 years ago have been remembered at a ceremony in Leeds.

More than 200,000 people died in the US attacks, which took place in Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 and 9 August, 1945.

A wreath was laid at the city's Park Square followed a by a two-minute silence to commemorate the 64th anniversary of the bombings.

The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Judith Elliott, is leading the service.

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More News On The Anniversary Of The Aomic Bombing Of Nagasaki

Nagasaki calls on leaders to visit atomic bomb site -- AFP
Japan marks 64th anniversary of Nagasaki atomic bombing -- China View
Japan Marks Atomic Bombing Anniversary -- Voice of America
Sixty-four years after Hiroshima, opinion of the bombings is mixed -- L.A. Times