On Aug. 6, 1945, the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima — becoming the only country to ever use nuclear weapons in warfare. The decision to unleash this devastating force was made by President Harry S. Truman, who had assumed office just a few months earlier following the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. While Truman assured J. Robert Oppenheimer he should not carry the burden of the bombs, the president was privately infuriated by the devastation caused by the bombings.
“I was against it on two counts,” Dwight Eisenhower, supreme allied commander, five-star general, and president of the United States, expressed his reservations about the use of atomic bombs. Despite this, Truman ultimately made the decision to drop a second bomb on Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 1945, leading to Japan's surrender and the end of World War II.
During his few weeks as Vice President, Harry Truman scarcely saw President Franklin Roosevelt, and received no briefing on the development of the atomic bomb project. This lack of information may have contributed to Truman's decision-making process when he became president.
Based on a detailed investigation of all the facts and supported by the testimony of the surviving Japanese leaders involved, it is the Survey's opinion that Japan would have surrendered even if the atomic bombs had not been dropped. This raises questions about the necessity of using such devastating weapons.
Albert Einstein wrote to President Franklin D. Roosevelt warning that Nazi Germany might be creating 'extremely powerful bombs of a new type.' This letter ultimately led to the creation of the Manhattan Project, which resulted in the development of the atomic bomb.
Christopher Nolan's new film 'Oppenheimer' chronicles the life and legacy of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the first director of Los Alamos, where the atomic bomb was developed. Oppenheimer played a crucial role in the creation of the bomb, but later expressed regret over its use in Japan.
I recently visited Kyoto and Hiroshima, Japan. In the past, I have traveled to Pearl Harbor. On my way into Kyoto, I read about the city on the significance of the atomic bombings and the lasting impact they had on the people and the world.
This controversial chapter in history continues to spark debate and reflection on the use of nuclear weapons. Truman's decision to drop the atomic bombs remains a contentious issue, with some arguing it was necessary to end the war quickly and save lives, while others condemn the immense human suffering caused by the bombings.
