In a time when war seems like it will have no end, where people in every home are shouting and praying for their loved ones, where all eyes are shifted to the face of one man, a choice, a decision, will change the world forever. The most devastating weapon of mass destruction was officially declared on July 16, 1945, the first appearance of the atomic bomb.1 Code named “Trinity”, this explosive’s resonating mushroom expanded up to 40,000 feet across and through the clouds.2 It’s power is equivalent to 21,000 tons of TNT, completely extinguishing everything in its path.3 Professor David Kennedy from Stanford University describes the test, “It was understood this was a qualitatively different kind of weapon that would not just be another weapon but would be a war winning weapon in and of itself”.4 After President Truman witnesses this power, he is immediately presented an undeniable option to ending the war. The use of a weapon of this capacity on anyone or anything requires intensive thought and discussion. A few days afterwards however, two atomic bombs are dropped onto Japan. By the order of President Truman, on August 6, 1945, an atomic bomb named “Little Boy” is dropped onto Hiroshima, killing over 80,000 people instantly and tens of thousands more later.5 August 9, 1945, three days later, “Fat Man” hits Nagasaki, killing over 40,000.6 It is hard to imagine how so many lives could be taken away in only a fraction of a second. But more importantly, what convinced the United States to make such a decision? The exact causes of the atomic bombs are complex and somewhat abstract. However, there are many facts and hints that shed light on the use of this weapon. The atomic bombs were originally created out of fear of Nazi Germans controlling it first and were used to gain a powerful political position, to end the world war quickly, and to prevent loss of more American and Japanese lives.
War was never more important to scientists than the year of 1939. It was during this year when scientists all over the world discovered that German physicists have learned to utilize uranium atoms.7 Some of those who were able to flee from the hands of Nazi Germany have ended up living in the states. One of which was the famous scientist Albert Einstein. After Einstein and Enrico Fermi, a scientist who fled from Fascist Italy, discovered Germany’s ability to utilize uranium atoms, they feared a destructive ambition from the Nazis. They believed their scientists would use the new source of incredible energy as a tool and weapon for war and potentially mass destruction. With this conclusion in mind, Einstein and Fermi decided to inform the President of the United States about Germany’s plans and a means to counter it if they were to create a potential weapon.8 President Roosevelt recognizes that there is potential threat, not knowing how big, and gives support for their studies on nuclear energy. In late 1941, the American Federal Government begin the Manhattan Project, a designated scientific project in hopes of creating the very first atomic bomb.9 With the United States government on the side of the scientists, they would have more resources and therefore more speed in completing this project before the Germans. This was the initial purpose of creating and potentially using the devastating power of the atomic bomb. It was out of fear of having the opponent carry this weapon before the ally.
War continued with the ally and axis powers in Europe. However on December 8, 1941 the United States declares war onto Japan in the Pacific after Japan’s bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. After a few days, the rest of the axis powers declared war on the United States as well. Time progresses and the war effort started to favor the allies after the involvement of America. One year later, progress was finally made in the making of the first nuclear bomb. The Manhattan Project, directed by Enrico Fermi, has achieved the world’s first controllable nuclear chain reaction on December 2, 1942.10 This was one of the biggest and most necessary steps made in creating the first nuclear weapon. However, the Manhattan project isn’t heard of again long after. War is starting to close in on Europe against Germany. The allies are on the verge of victory. But suddenly, President Franklin Roosevelt suffered a stroke and died on April 12, 1945. His vice president, Harry Truman, was immediately sworn into office as the next President of the United States the same day. President Truman never knew of the existence of the Manhattan project until April 25th, 1945.11 This shows how high of a confidential level this project is so that it isn’t exposed to the public, as it could cause an unwanted level of panic in a time of war. Soon afterwards, the Nazis fall and surrender to the ally powers on May 7, 1945. However, this wasn’t the official end of the world war. War continued for America in the Pacific with Japan. Even after the defeat of Germany, the original inspiration in creating the atomic bomb, President Truman allows the Manhattan project to continue. America is beginning to see that Japan is an opponent that will continue to fight until the very end.
War is still raging in the Pacific, and America is winning key battles. Regardless of the battles Japan continues to lose, their persistence to fight is praiseworthy. On February 19, 1945, the US Marines invade Iwo Jima, a strategic air base between the Mariana Islands and Japan.12 This battle was described to be an absolute bloodbath of close quarters combat. 6,821 marines were killed and 19,217 wounded. The Japanese refused to surrender, not only until a few hundred remained alive and were taken away as prisoners.13 America wins this key battle, but at a deadly cost. However, this wasn’t nearly as deadly as the other battles to come. Regardless of America’s clear display of superior force, Japan stood its ground and fought without looking back. On April 1, 1945, more than 60,000 US soldiers and marines invade a Japanese island, Okinawa. This battle was harshly fought through air, ground, and sea level. Again, most of the Japanese fought until they were or killed or committed suicide.14 Japan launched a wave of more than 300 suicide attacks onto the invasion when it first begun. This battle continued to go on for a long and horrifying three months. The ending result was more than 49,000 American casualties, 90,000 Japanese combatants dead, and almost 150,000 Japanese civilian deaths.15 This battle is considered one of the most lethal battles in the world. Japan’s defenses proved to America that they have a strong and sheer dedication to win and fight to the end. In another battle on Japan, it was reported “To the horror of American troops advancing on Saipan, they saw mothers clutching their babies hurling themselves over the cliffs rather than be taken prisoner. Not only were there virtually no survivors of the 30,000 strong Japanese garrison on Saipan, two out of every three civilians – some 22,000 in all – also died”.16 Although Japanese troops and even civilians were given the choice to live and surrender to the United States, many would rather choose death by suicide.
The United States have finally reached Japan’s mainland shores and patiently await their next moves. Before President Truman would call for any further advancement, he was presented by the physicists of the Manhattan project that the world’s first atomic bomb has been made. And so on July 16, 1945, the first atomic bomb was dropped in New Mexico.17 Shortly afterwards he attends the Potsdam Conference, a conference between the 3 major leaders of the world: America, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union. President Truman had a firm stance when negotiating with Stalin believing that the U.S. having nuclear capabilities would tilt the negotiations in his favor.18 It was Truman’s attempt to having a political edge and power that wasn’t possible without the bomb. However, Stalin stood his ground when negotiating with Truman. And when Truman mentioned to Stalin that he had tested the world’s first atomic bomb, it didn’t faze him at all. Apparently Stalin already knew all about his nuclear projects thanks to the Soviet intelligent network.19 This left Truman with far less agreements than he had expected to gain in the conference. President Truman continued the discussion with his advisers on the next plan of attack to end the war with Japan. Some of his advisers warned him of the dangers of fighting through tactical invasion with Japan. It is already vividly known to America that Japan will continue to fight no matter what. There is no telling on when and if they will stop or surrender. With the Japanese war culture in mind, it was believed that invading the mainland would cause far more casualties on both sides of the war than all the previous battles combined.20 Truman had the world’s fate and future in his hands. And it all came down to one decision: to use the atomic bombs, or to continue tactical warfare. President Harry Truman surprisingly came down to a conclusion in a short amount of time. Truman decided to use the atomic bombs onto Japan. His decision was made to prevent further American and Japanese casualties and to finally bring the prolonged world war to a swift end.21 But before any attacks were initiated, America presented to Japan the Potsdam Declaration on July 26, 1945. This declaration is essentially an opportunity for Japan and the United States to finally end the war. It is a call for their surrender and agreement to their policies or they will face an unavoidable doom. The United States “call upon the government of Japan to proclaim now the unconditional surrender of all Japanese armed forces, and to provide proper and adequate assurances of their good faith in such action. The alternative for Japan is prompt and utter destruction”.22 Japan rejects this request to end the war on July 29, 3 days after it was received. And soon afterwards, America didn’t hesitate to attack.
Hiroshima was the first city of attack. It contained the main military resources of the Japanese force and contained no American civilians. The energy of an atom bomb is equal to the energy located in the center of the sun.23 Dropping on August 6, 1945, “Little Boy” explodes and destroys 90 percent of the city of Hiroshima. Over 80,000 people died instantly. However, this did not cause Japan to surrender, at least not immediately.24 This proves that Japan was still hesitant to admitting defeat and choosing to surrender. It shows that their will to fight will go beyond catastrophic measures. This also proves that if there were to be a regular military battle on the mainland there would be no end to it, causing quite possibly millions of lives to suffer. 3 days after the drop of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, August 9, 1945, “Fat Man” is dropped onto Nagasaki, killing a total of 40,000 people instantly. Forensic Medical Investigator Shiya Ribowsky mentions “The people who were on the fringes of this blast were actually the ones who suffered the most”.25 Apart from the people who died instantly, those who were around the blast were put in extreme conditions of radiation cancers. Those who saw the blast with their own eyes were blinded from its sight. Immediately afterwards, those in range of the blast were exposed to elevated levels of radiation. Ribowsky comments that after excess radiation consumes the body:
The very cells you need to heal are dying from the radiation poisoning… If you were fortunate enough to get a lower dose of radiation, then you might not have died immediately. But that doesn’t mean that you aren’t susceptible of getting almost any type of cancer known to man 20 even 30 years later. Because you will develop perhaps even multiple cancers at the same time.26
This was a weapon that no human has ever seen before. Over 100,000 lives were taken away almost immediately in the span of 3 days. This is what Truman believed to be necessary in order to prevent far more casualties of American and Japanese lives. It was what he believed was necessary to bring the world war to stop. In the end, it worked, and on August 15, 1945, Emperor Hirohito of Japan surrenders to America.27
This day is known as “V-J Day”, or “Victory in Japan Day”. Celebrations broke out all around the United States in relief of the end of the most devastating war in history. On September 2, 1945, the allied powers gathered at Tokyo bay to declare a new era of peace. As Supreme Commander Douglas MacArthur signed the new treaty, he declared “It is my earnest hope and indeed the hope of all mankind that from this solemn occasion a better world shall emerge out of the blood and carnage of the past”.28
Truman had also hoped that the atomic bombs would pose as a demonstration of America’s power towards the Soviet Union. That way it would serve as a form of intimidation so that the United States can gain a diplomatic advantage for postwar negotiations and bigger issues to come. Although this would be ideal, it was never the case. The atomic bombs rather served as the “first shot” of the Cold War. Years later, in 1949, the Soviets developed their own nuclear bomb.29And from that point on, the nuclear arms race begins.
The atomic bomb was and still is the most destructive weapon known to man. The United States creating this weaponry was originally out of fear of the Nazi Germans using it first for themselves. Nazi Germany eventually falls to the ally powers before they were able to complete the bomb in time. If the bomb was created in the United States before their fall, it would have most likely been used against them. But since that wasn’t the case, Japan just happened to fall into the line of fire of the world’s first atomic bomb to be ever used on another country. Its purpose was to prevent further American and Japanese casualties, provide a quicker end to the world war, and to gain a higher position in the political aspect of the world. It is not a doubt that the atomic bomb has had a huge global impact for future generations to come. However, it is best for this weapon to never be used again. With the technological advances of the atom bomb that almost all countries have now, a nuclear war would indeed risk the extinction of the human race.