7.05 Dropping the Atomic Bomb

What Does It Mean to Be in an Atomic Age?

The U.S. is the only country to have ever used a nuclear weapon against another country. The United States dropped two atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, bringing about the surrender of Japan and the end of World War II in the Pacific. Hundreds of thousands of Japanese people died when these bombs were dropped. The bombing took place after the United States had issued the Potsdam Declaration, an ultimatum to Japan on July 26th that threatened prompt and utter destruction if the Japanese did not surrender. Emperor Hirohito of Japan ignored the ultimatum, which led to the decision to drop the atomic bombs. These weapons had been developed as part of a secret government project called the Manhattan Project—a program established by President Franklin Roosevelt in June of 1942 specifically to develop an atomic bomb.

nuclear:

relating to the energy released by the process of nuclear fission, which is splitting an atom and releasing energy

radioactive:

something that gives off radiation, usually in harmful amounts

Enola Gay:

the name of the aircraft that dropped the first atomic bomb used in warfare on the city of Hiroshima in Japan

Manhattan Project:

the top-secret research and development in the United States of the first atomic bombs

What Were the First Effects of Dropping the Atomic Bomb?

On August 6, 1945, a B-29 bomber named the Enola Gay took off from an airbase on the Pacific island of Tinian. Tucked into its bomb bay was an 8,900-pound atomic bomb nicknamed Little Boy. At 8:15 am Japanese time, the bomber dropped Little Boy over the city of Hiroshima, a city in western Japan. Three days later, a second atomic bomb, called Fat Man, was dropped over the city of Nagasaki. Hiroshima had been chosen because it was a military command center as well as a communications, troop assembly, and supply point for the Japanese army. It had not suffered previous bomb damage, and it was also located in a level area where resulting damage could be easily assessed. The city had a few buildings made of reinforced concrete, but most of the structures were made of wood. They were weaker, and much of the city was highly vulnerable to fire. Nagasaki was a military port city and shipbuilding center. It was not as effective a target as Hiroshima to the U.S. military because it had suffered previous bomb damage, and it would be difficult to tell (from a scientific standpoint) how much damage the atomic bomb would cause. The original target had been the city of Kokura, but bad weather forced the bomber plane to choose the second potential target, Nagasaki, instead. The immediate effects of the nuclear bombs were devastating. Approximately 70,000 people died in Hiroshima, most of them from burns or falling debris, and 40,000 died in Nagasaki. The shock wave and the winds created by the nuclear explosion leveled the cities, leaving only a few concrete buildings and walls still standing. Four square miles, or approximately sixty percent, of Hiroshima was destroyed. However, the initial damage of the bombing—burns, injuries and deaths from debris, and the structural damage—would only be the beginning. There was more invisible damage which would be even more devastating, and which would last much longer.

Hiroshima:

a city in southwestern Japan, on island of Honshu; the target of the first atom bomb, dropped by the U.S. on August 6, 1945

Nagasaki:

a city in southwestern Japan, on western Kyushu island; on August 9, 1945; it became the target of the second atom bomb

Potsdam Declaration:

a proclamation that defined the terms of surrender of Japan in World War II

Three Non-Nuclear Principles:

a statement issued in 1967, in which Japan stated that it would neither possess nor manufacture nuclear weapons, nor permit them to be introduced into Japanese territory

Hirohito:

emperor of Japan during World War II

radiation:

energy given off by a nuclear reaction

non-proliferation:

preventing something from increasing or spreading

V-J Day:

the day of August 15, 1945 that marks the surrender of Japan, thereby ending World War II; "V-J" represents "Victory Over Japan"

Reasons Not to Have Dropped the Bomb

1) A column of smoke rises 60,000 feet into the air from the bombed city of Nagasaki. It was a sign of both the devastation taking place below and a new and incredibly destructive force. 2) Some believed that the bombing wasn't militarily necessary. They cited that the Japanese were far more willing to surrender than the U.S. military was willing to believe. 3) The above image is a section of a British military report on the casualties resulting from the atomic bombing. In clinical, unemotional language, it lists the number of people who died from the bombing and how most of the deaths took place. 4) The use of nuclear weapons on Japan began a nuclear arms race between the United States and Soviet Union that would take the world to the brink of total destruction numerous times over the course of the 20th century.

Support for Dropping the Bomb

1) President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the declaration of war against Japan on December 8, 1941, the day after the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. This was the point at which most Americans began to think of the Japanese as a clear enemy of their country. To most Americans, Pearl Harbor also demonstrated the power and ruthlessness of the Japanese army. 2) The USS Bunker Hill burns after being hit by two suicide Japanese bombers in May of 1945. Three hundred seventy-two sailors died, and 264 were wounded. Japanese attacks like these on U.S. troops reinforced the opinion in the United States that even when the odds were against them, the Japanese would continue to fight and inflict casualties. 3) The Japanese had waged total war on civilians in the areas they occupied. This convinced many in the United States that launching an attack against Japanese civilians was justified. 4) The battle of Okinawa convinced the U.S. military that any invasion of Japan would result in an incredible loss of life. Estimates done by the joint Chiefs of Staff in 1945 concluded that the invasion would cost 1.6 million U.S. casualties and nearly 400,000 lives.

Should the United States Have Dropped the Atomic Bomb?

It is easy to see the negative side of dropping the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The destruction and loss of life was beyond anything that the world had seen before. It resulted in damage that would last until the present day. The technology of the Manhattan Project and the development of nuclear weapons would lead to the Cold War. During this period, countries like the United States and the Soviet Union stockpiled nuclear weapons, and the threat of total world destruction was very real. Peter Kuznick, director of the Nuclear Studies Institute at American University in Washington, DC, said, "[Truman] knew he was beginning the process of annihilation of the species. It was not just a war crime; it was a crime against humanity." Many military leaders of the time insist that Japan was actually about to surrender and that the use of the bombs was unnecessary. One of the arguments for beginning the Manhattan Project and developing atomic bombs was that Nazi Germany was also developing atomic weapons. The Allied forces felt that they had to develop their own atomic bomb in order to protect themselves from possible nuclear bombing by the Germans. However, after the war, the Allies discovered that the limited efforts that the Germans had made toward developing these weapons ended as early as 1942. However, others argue that the use of the atomic bombs on Japan brought a quick end to a war. President Truman felt that the alternative would have been an invasion of Japan itself by Allied forces, which would have had a high cost both in money and lives. He said, after the first bombing, "The world will note that the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. We have won the race of discovery against the Germans. We have used it in order to shorten the agony of war in order to save the lives of thousands and thousands of young Americans. We shall continue to use it until we completely destroy Japan's power to make war." The argument is also made that the creation of nuclear weapons would serve as a deterrent for future wars. According to this viewpoint, governments of the world know that there is a power capable of destroying the entire earth. Because of this, they will strive harder to maintain peace. The development of the atomic bomb also paved the way for later non-military discoveries using nuclear energy, such as nuclear-powered ships and submarines, nuclear power plants, and the use of nuclear medicine. It is possible that these developments would have taken much longer if not for the work of the Manhattan Project. The staggering loss of life in Japan reminds us of the coming worldwide destruction as foretold in the book of Revelation. Christ, who maintains the existence of life on the earth today, will someday unleash massive energy (Revelation 8-9) that will consume large portions of the earth. Some believe this will be caused by some of the same forces Japan encountered in 1945.

What Were the Lasting Effects of the Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

Many of the initial victims of the atomic bombs were vaporized or severely burned, and died instantly. However, many people who survived the initial explosion would fall victim to another effect of an atomic bomb: radiation poisoning. People who received high doses of radiation became ill within days or weeks of the bombings. Radiation sickness, or radiation poisoning, happens when people are exposed to high doses of certain types of radiation. This type of radiation usually comes from nuclear weapons and nuclear fuel. How severe the symptoms are depends on the level of exposure. It begins with nausea and vomiting and then leads to hair loss and a drop in blood pressure. Eventually, even years after the exposure to radiation, the person may develop cancer. It is estimated that as many as 20% of the deaths caused by the bombings resulted from radiation sickness. Long-term effects included leukemia, cataracts, and cancers of thyroid, breast, and lungs. Radiation also caused birth defects and intellectual disabilities. Many of these effects are still apparent sixty years after the bombings. People who were young at the time of the blasts are experiencing the lasting health effects of radiation exposure. The initial atomic explosions also created a condition called "black rain," where radioactive particles in the atmosphere fell to the ground as radioactive rain. The sticky black rain coated clothing, buildings, and skin and contaminated water and ground. It was also breathed in by people. It resulted in a lasting contamination of food and water sources. The contamination in the soil affected agriculture for a very long time. Ultimately, the death tolls from Hiroshima ranged from 90,000 to 166,000 from both the initial blast and the long-term effects. Nagasaki lost between 60,000 and 80,000 people. There were also long-term effects that did not have to do with health. There were social effects as well. The bombings destroyed entire families and greatly increased the number of orphaned children. The initial blast and radiation exposure killed many medical professionals, firefighters, and other service workers. Also, medical facilities were destroyed. The bombings did lead to the surrender of Japan on August 15, 1945, ending World War II. This would become known as V-J Day, for Victory Over Japan. On this day, Emperor Hirohito formally accepted the terms of the Potsdam Declaration. Years later, in 1967, Japan adopted the Three Non-Nuclear Principals stating that Japan would neither possess nor manufacture nuclear weapons, nor permit them to be introduced into Japanese territory. Eventually the destruction caused by the bombings helped to advance the cause of nuclear non-proliferation treaties, bringing the Cold War to an end.

Timeline to the Atomic Bombings

October 1941 - President Franklin Roosevelt authorizes the Manhattan Project December 7, 1941 - The United States joins World War II after the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. May 1945 - The Manhattan Project and military leaders meet to decide on the best targets for the atomic bomb drop. June 1945 - B-29 bombers begin assembling at the Tinian airbase in the South Pacific. July 26, 1945 - Japanese Emperor Hirohito refuses to agree to the Potsdam Declaration. August 6, 1945 - The Enola Gay takes off from Tinian airbase and drops the Little Boy atomic bomb on Hiroshima. August 9, 1945 - Another B-29 bomber named Bockscar takes off with the atomic bomb Fat Man, dropping it on Nagasaki. August 15, 1945 - Emperor Hirohito agrees to the Potsdam Declaration and surrenders. It is V-J Day. 1967 - Japan's government creates the Three Non-Nuclear Principles to ban atomic weapons from the country.

Short and Long Term Effects...

Short-Term: -flash burns and injuries from debris -destruction of all but heavily concrete-reinforced structures -black rain -radiation sickness Long-Term: -contamination of soil and water -treaties limiting the use of nuclear weapons -acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration -the Three Non-Nuclear Principles -cancer -proliferation of nuclear weapons during the Cold War