Many critics of the atomic bombing believe that the bombings were a barbaric tactic and a crime to target civilians. Over 95 percent of the people in the bombings were civilians. 75 percent of the people died immediately from "flash burns" which were caused from heat from the blast, burns from fires or radiation diseases and cancer. Many believe the US could have dropped the bombs on less populated cities and have achieved the same result. Some people argue that if another country would have dropped the bombs, the U.S government would have called it a war crime. Many critics also say that Japan was already going to surrender. The Japanese military was already weak and there was a naval blockade which prevented anything to be shipped in or out, starving Japan into submission. Many people did not agree with the bombings including Dwight Eisenhower, the president after Truman. Eisenhower stated "The Japanese were ready to surrender and it wasn't necessary to hit them with that awful thing." Decoded messages that as early as April and May 1945, Japan was trying to make peace overtures. Japan was also trying to get the Soviet Union to participate in peace negotiations before they entered the war against Japan. Critics also say the emperor of Japan supported peace.
The Japanese suffered heavy losses on the battlefield. About 378,000 Japanese soldiers died in combat during the defense of the Japanese home islands. This was another reason why Japan was ready to surrender. Critics also suggest that the US military should have continued the naval blockade so that the people in Japan would starve and the emperor would be forced to surrender. The air raids were another possible option to subdue Japan into surrendering. Constant air raids would have caused mass destruction and severe casualties in Japan that would have forced Japan to surrender. Some argue that with the support of the Soviet Union, the outnumbered Japanese military would have been crushed and Japan would have quickly agreed to an unconditional surrender. Many people in the United States were concerned about the effects of the use of atomic weapons. Leo Szilard, one of the men who worked on the atomic bomb, was worried that dropping the bomb would start an arms race against the Soviet Union. Leo Szilard was right and the U.S did start an arms race called the Cold War and it didn't end until the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. This was 46 years after Japan surrendered.
Below is the Soviet Union's declaration of war on Japan and some records of Russia's actions against Japan.
The Russian Government declares war on Japan, effective tomorrow. The Moscow announcement says:
"After the defeat and capitulation of Hitlerite Germany, Japan became the only great power that still stood for the continuation of the war.
"The demand of the three powers, the United States, Great Britain and China, on July 26 for the unconditional surrender of the Japanese armed forces was rejected by Japan and thus the proposal of the Japanese Government to the Soviet Union on mediation in the war in the Far East loses all basis.
"Taking into consideration the refusal of Japan to capitulate, the Allies submitted to the Soviet Government a proposal to join the war against Japanese aggression and thus shorten the duration of the war, reduce the number of victims and facilitate the speedy restoration of universal peace.
"Loyal to its Allied duty, the Soviet Government has accepted the proposal of the Allies and has joined in the declaration of the Allied Powers of July 26.
"The Soviet Government considers that this policy is the only means able to bring peace nearer, free the people from further sacrifice and suffering and give the Japanese people the possibility of avoiding the dangers and destruction suffered by Germany after her refusal to capitulate unconditionally.
"In view of the above, the Soviet Government declares that from tomorrow, that is from August 9, the Soviet Government will consider itself to be at war with Japan."
Japanese broadcasts say Russian troops began offensive operations against Manchukuo (Manchuria) at 12:10 a.m. August 9 (Russian time).
President Truman reveals the Russian action at 3 p.m. (EWT). London says Moscow broadcasts said the Japanese approached Russia for mediation in mid-July. Forty-nine countries are now at war with Japan.
This primary source supports the argument against the atomic bombings of Japan. After defeating Nazi Germany in Europe, the Soviet Union proposed to declare war on Japan. Taking into consideration Japan's refusal to surrender unconditionally, the Allies accepted the Soviet Union's offer. However, as the Soviet Union began offensive operations against Japan, the US dropped two atomic bombs on Japan and as a result, the war ended. This primary source supports the argument against the use of atomic weapons because this news account shows that the US had the military support of the Soviet Union, which would have made the invasion of Japan much easier. A joint invasion of Japan would have resulted in a quicker surrender.
The Russian Government declares war on Japan, effective tomorrow. The Moscow announcement says:
"After the defeat and capitulation of Hitlerite Germany, Japan became the only great power that still stood for the continuation of the war.
"The demand of the three powers, the United States, Great Britain and China, on July 26 for the unconditional surrender of the Japanese armed forces was rejected by Japan and thus the proposal of the Japanese Government to the Soviet Union on mediation in the war in the Far East loses all basis.
"Taking into consideration the refusal of Japan to capitulate, the Allies submitted to the Soviet Government a proposal to join the war against Japanese aggression and thus shorten the duration of the war, reduce the number of victims and facilitate the speedy restoration of universal peace.
"Loyal to its Allied duty, the Soviet Government has accepted the proposal of the Allies and has joined in the declaration of the Allied Powers of July 26.
"The Soviet Government considers that this policy is the only means able to bring peace nearer, free the people from further sacrifice and suffering and give the Japanese people the possibility of avoiding the dangers and destruction suffered by Germany after her refusal to capitulate unconditionally.
"In view of the above, the Soviet Government declares that from tomorrow, that is from August 9, the Soviet Government will consider itself to be at war with Japan."
Japanese broadcasts say Russian troops began offensive operations against Manchukuo (Manchuria) at 12:10 a.m. August 9 (Russian time).
President Truman reveals the Russian action at 3 p.m. (EWT). London says Moscow broadcasts said the Japanese approached Russia for mediation in mid-July. Forty-nine countries are now at war with Japan.
This primary source supports the argument against the atomic bombings of Japan. After defeating Nazi Germany in Europe, the Soviet Union proposed to declare war on Japan. Taking into consideration Japan's refusal to surrender unconditionally, the Allies accepted the Soviet Union's offer. However, as the Soviet Union began offensive operations against Japan, the US dropped two atomic bombs on Japan and as a result, the war ended. This primary source supports the argument against the use of atomic weapons because this news account shows that the US had the military support of the Soviet Union, which would have made the invasion of Japan much easier. A joint invasion of Japan would have resulted in a quicker surrender.