They declared war against Japan a few days later on August 8.
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. . and Japan surrendered August 10. The Soviet Union had done a number on German soldiers, if I remember correctly. The two, devastating human loss and the Soviet Union's declaration of war would appear to be too much for Japan. Today the thought of Iran and/or North Korea having access to this power is frightening. The Taliban has been nipping at us and other countries little by little through the use of terrorist tactics. I haven't thought about the wisdom of the strategy of dropping the bomb - since I took it for granted that it was the 'right' thing to do. What else could have stopped this war?

There are several thoughts on this. They could have accepted the Potsdam Accord. We could have isolated them with our forces to the point that they could have straved. We could have contined with the conventional bombing. Finally, we could invade which was the plan.
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Do you remember in your studies why the plan to invade was 'dropped'?
I remember the pride in our American soldiers - and the sadness we felt whenever a neighbor had a star flag in the window. Each block had an air raid warden - with a triangle 'thingy' that the warden would sound in case of an air attack. I vividly remember 'blackouts' - no lights - and once watching what we were told were Japanese planes near our coast in the darkened sky. Until 9/11 - I've never felt that fear again - of being attacked on home soil by an enemy. (Of course the cold war - and drop drills were fearful, but felt more like fire drills - and not something that would actually happen.

I always thought that the west coast invasion scare was rather interesting. Yes, a Japanese submarine lobbed a few shells into an oil field in Goleta, California and up here in Washington State. But, the Japanese military lack the wherewithal to commit troops anywhere but the western pacific, Indo China, and China. They simply lack the ability to do this.

Another factor to think about; on December 7, 1941, the US economy was some 17 times larger than that of its Japanese foe. It took a couple of years to regroup after Pearl Harbor but, by June '44 at Battle of the Philippine Sea, Japan faced the full capacity of our economic might. As I said earlier, their fate was sealed when they attacked Pearl Harbor. They thought the “Bushido” code would prevail over might. They were terribly wrong.

Now if we can only stamp-out this little terrorism problem.

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Thank heavens they were wrong! It's been a nice - relatively peaceful existence here in the states during my lifetime. Really nervous about this terrorism problem. We've lost a lot of men and women in the wars - and too many citizens here at home. Scary.

I believe they were calling for a million US casualties if we invaded the islands, I believe we took the correct route. Better them then us.

I yam what I yam....Popeye

I see your point but if the first one we dropped didn't make them capitulate, why would dropping one on an unpopulated area do it?

I yam what I yam....Popeye

One followed the other by three days. Not a lot of time to contemplate such a staggering occurrence. Perhaps the Fates were heavily involved and it was destined that mankind be introduced to his concept of hell made manifest.

It's not easy being the carbonunit

The fire bombing of the wooden structures in Japanese cities caused more devastation. Most writings that I have seen from the Japanese side had the emporer gaining authority over the Generals after the second bomb. Before that, it was a die in place thought process for the Japanese.

Moreover, the enemy now possesses a new and terrible weapon with the power to destroy many innocent lives and do incalculable damage. Should we continue to fight, not only would it result in an ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese nation, but also it would lead to the total extinction of human civilization.
Such being the case, how are We to save the millions of Our subjects, or to atone Ourselves before the hallowed spirits of Our Imperial Ancestors? This is the reason why We have ordered the acceptance of the provisions of the Joint Declaration of the Powers.

If only they conceded earlier perhaps accepted the Potsdam terms.

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skies and the seas and they knew it yet their military still refused to surrender. They knew their fate.
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