The Justification of the Use of Atomic Weapons in World...

The Justification of the Use of Atomic Weapons in World War II Oppenheimer and Einstein-The names even today invoke awe and heated debate in the same breath. Beginning in 1939, Albert Einstein wrote a letter to President Roosevelt about the possibilities of developing and the establishment of a nuclear bomb for the United States. This letter stated, â€Å"This new phenomenon would also lead to the construction of bombs, and it is conceivable—though much less certain—that extremely powerful bombs of this type may be constructed.† (www.ajsoftware.firsthand.com) Einstein stated that the United States needed to secure a supply of uranium ore, either from Canada or Czechoslovakia. Secondly, the United States had to speed up the experimental†¦show more content†¦Along with the German lightning war came the ghettos and the concentration camps used to develop the master race through the extermination of all the undesirables. This Aryan race consisted mainly of fair skinned individuals, preferably with blond hair and blue eyes. All individuals who did not meet these criteria were thrown in the ghettos. These ghettos consisted of many families cramped into a small house and given limited quantities of food. In these ghettos disease and death were rampant. The next stage of the Nazi war machine was headed by the SS, the concentration camps. These camps had the sole purpose of provide a temporary work forcetill the next group of able bodied Jews, and other social misfits, came in by the trainload. By the time Nazi Germany was defeated in 1945, six million European Jews had lost their lives at the hands of the Nazis. (Shirr 112-116) Across the world, on the Pacific Front, Japan was waging a war that followed the samurai code of â€Å"bushed.† This way of life basically called for â€Å"taking of no prisoners.† Japan fought from island to island, using every last man. The Japanese government instructed their soldiers to kill themselves rather than be taken by the Americans. Such a cts as the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the Death March showed America what kind of foe they wereShow MoreRelatedThe Benefits of Dropping an Atomic Bomb on Japan Essay1279 Words   |  6 Pagesthe atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, a small city whose death toll rises to 90,000-166,000. On August 9th, a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, 60,000–80,000 . In total, 15 million people lost their lives during the duration of the Second World War. In John Herseys book, Hiroshima, he provides a detailed account of six people and how the bombing of Hiroshima affected their lives. John Heresy felt it was important to focus his story on six individuals to create a remembrance that war affectsRead MoreAround Seventy Eight Years Ago, World War Two Was Inevitable997 Words   |  4 Pagesseventy eight years ago, World War Two was inevitable and would last for six years, while becoming one of the world’s greatest conflicts. With the catastrophic effects of The Great War, the fu rther advancement of current technology and the advent of newer warfare, World War Two was set to be the turning point of the twentieth century. The war caused the Berlin wall to separate Germany, it indirectly caused the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. World War Two’s legacy includes TheRead MoreThe Soviet Declaration Of War1352 Words   |  6 PagesThe Soviet declaration of war on Japan exerted even more pressure on Japan, triggering even the emperor to urge the government to just accept the Potsdam Declaration and surrender. Its involvement meant that Japan might be fighting a two-front war as the Soviets had already settled in Japanese-held Manchuria, and had orders to attack Japan s northern and southern isles. This influenced Japan s unconditional surrender as no strategy remained and it may not hope for the Union of Soviet SocialistRead MoreThe War Policy Of Bombing Cities Essay1647 Words   |  7 PagesArguments against the statement: 1) The Japanese were Warned Supports of the atomic bombs point out that Japan had been warned and given time to surrender. On July 26, the Potsdam Declaration was sent to Japan as a final ultimatum to accept unconditional surrender. The Allies would accept nothing but unconditional surrender with the document being concluded with â€Å"We call upon the Government of Japan to proclaim now the unconditional surrender of all the Japanese armed forces †¦ the alternative forRead MoreThe Hiroshima Attack On September 6th Failed1458 Words   |  6 Pagescommit itself to a lengthy war. Truman estimated a potential loss of 500,000 lives; he saw the bombs will completely destroy Japan s power to create war...† (Harry S. Truman, 1945) The Hiroshima attack on August 6th failed to be decisive: Japan did not surrender, nor did it seemed pressured by the nuclear attack, according to the U.S. (Harry S. Truman, 1945) Nagasaki was considered vital, because it was a major harbour, a densely populated area and residential to a lucrative trade industry,Read MoreThe War Of Hiroshima And Nagasaki1550 Words   |  7 PagesNagasaki. These instances today still remain the only use of nuclear weapons ever used in the history of the world. Two bombs, two cities, three-hundred thousand casualties, only three days apart. While tragic, this historical event prevented the loss of hundreds of thousands of allied forces and supplies. This still under the presumption the move to overtake Japan with the traditional methods of warfare would work. The bombs carried the allied war machine past the fears of losing the lives of men forRead MorePersuasive Essay On The Atomic Bomb1602 Words   |  7 Pagesan atomic weapon. This project was codenamed â€Å"The Manhattan Project.† The original motivation to create an atomic bomb was out of fear that Nazi Germany was pursuing their own atomic project. When the Unite d States successfully tested their nuclear weapon in July 1945, Germany had already surrendered, and the focus of the Allied powers was on the defeat of Imperial Japan. Ultimately, two atomic bombs were dropped on Japanese cities in early August 1945, leading to the end of the Second World WarRead MoreThe Atomic Bombs On Hiroshima And Nagasaki982 Words   |  4 PagesHiroshima, it only makes me wonder what was going through the mind of President Harry Truman when he gave the â€Å"green light† to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It has been more than 70 years since that happened and the conclusion of World War II, and yet the legacy remains in our modern day history books and class lectures. But was deploying the atomic bombs on Japan really necessary? What was Truman thinking? And did the end really justify the means? Truly, upon reading Takaki’s HiroshimaRead MorePresident Truman and the First Atomic Bomb Essay1193 Words   |  5 PagesAtomic Bomb E ssay In 1945, World War Two was coming to an end. Following Adolf Hitler’s suicide, and Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender on May 7, 1945, the war in Europe was finally over. The allies began began postwar planning for future, as well as establishment of post-war order and peace treaties issues. America’s war wasn’t done yet as they were still fighting Japan, eventually pushing them back to their main islandRead MoreNuclear Proliferation : The United States1628 Words   |  7 Pagesrapid increase in numbers, of nuclear weapons among states, has become an incredibly trying and pressing issue in our world today. Tensions between states that have nuclear capabilities are reaching all time highs and fingers are being pointed in every direction. However, the entire issue regarding nuclear proliferation begins with the United States. In 1945, World War II came to an abrupt halt when, on A ugust 6th and August 9th, the U.S. dropped the first atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima