Prompt And Utter Destruction Summary

In “Prompt and Utter Destruction: Truman and the Use of Atomic Bombs against Japan” by J. Samuel Walker, the author analysis the issues from both sides of the debate of weather the atomic bombs were a justifiable means of military force to end World War II. On August 6th, 1945, Japan received a devastating blow unseen by anyone in history. Hiroshima received complete annihilation of an area of about 4.4 square miles (74). Three days later on August 9th, a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, destroying everything in roughly a 3000-foot radius from ground zero (77). The debate continues still about the use of atomic bombs in ending World War II and forcing an unconditional surrender by Japan. Were the Atomic bombs necessary, and were both Atomic bombs necessary to get the ultimate unconditional surrender by japan? Truman’s main concern through out the entire war was to minimize American losses and ensure an unconditional surrender by Japan (10). The war in Europe was over and America had suffered great losses on the European front. Now, on the Pacific …show more content…
The research and development cost incurred from the Manhattan Project were high, and in need of justification. The American people were still enraged from the attack at Pearl Harbor (20) and the loss of “loved ones in the last few days and weeks of the war” (94). Up to this point, the barbarities of the Japanese people were well known more than that of the Germans, as the terrors of the Holocaust was only made known to the public after the surrender of the Nazi’s (20). The U.S. Government was also “fueling hatred” (20) among Americans by releasing information about the abuse of American prisoners by the Japanese (20. Government fueled hate, retaliation, and justification of money spent were major reasons for dropping the