There were several reasons why the atomic bombing was a quick way to end the war. Supporters of the use of atomic weapons state that the atomic bombings shocked the Japanese government into a quicker surrender than they would have achieved through a full scale invasion. Some said that the dropping of an atomic bomb was necessary to end the war quickly with no or little loss of American lives, as opposed to a full scale invasion of the Japanese home islands that was being planned. Truman's military planners estimated that in 30 days, 50,000 American troops would be killed and 100,000 wounded if the invasion of Japan did occur. Also, the Japanese death toll would have been much higher if Truman decided to continue the conventional bombing and naval blockade. The atomic bombings also delivered quick liberation to the hundreds of thousands of POW's imprisoned in Japanese prison camps. Dropping the atomic bombs on Japan also prevented the Soviet Union from gaining a foothold in the region. If the Soviets would have helped invade Japan with American troops, there would have been a possibility that the Soviet Union could have expanded their sphere of influence to the region. Many believed Japan was not close to surrendering. Kantaro Suzuki, Prime Minister of Japan, stated that his country intended to "fight till the very end... even if it meant the deaths of one hundred million Japanese."
Some critics of the use of the atomic bombs claim that they have found evidence of peace overtures being made by civilian leaders. However, any peace agreement would have to be approved by the Japanese cabinet, militarists who stubbornly refused to accept unconditional surrender. Supporters of the atomic bombing also point out that the Japanese military was building up forces in Kyushu, where the planned invasion of Japan was staged to begin. This showed that Japan would fight until the very bitter end. This fierce resistance would have made the invasion costly in American lives, only to have the same result as the atomic bombing of Japan. Some of the Japanese have suggested that the atomic bombings provided a way for Japan to surrender without losing dignity. The Japanese government could announce to the people that they simply could not fight against an enemy that possessed atomic weapons. Some supporters state that compared to all the other damages dealt to Axis countries during the war, the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were not as devastating. Prior to Hiroshima, 600,000 Germans and 200,000 Japanese were killed by Allied bombardments. Contrary to claims made by critics, the United States did not target civilians. Hiroshima and Nagasaki were strategic targets because there were many military bases and factories located in both cities. Supporters also claim that Japan fought a "total war", meaning that everybody was involved in the war, whether they were fighting on the frontline or working in factories. Father John Siemes, a philosophy professor at Tokyo Catholic University, wrote, "It seems logical to me that he who supports total war in principle cannot complain of war against civilians." All supporters of the atomic bombing of Japan agree on one thing, that using the atomic bomb was the best option to end the war. In a interview in 2005, Theodore Van Kirk, the navigator of the Enola Gay, stated, "I'm not proud of all the deaths it caused, and nobody is, but how do you win a war without killing people?"
Below is a copy of the many leaflets that were dropped over Japan following the atomic bombing of Hiroshima
TO THE JAPANESE PEOPLE
America asks that you take immediate heed of what we say on this leaflet.
We are in possession of the most destructive explosive ever devised by man. A single one of our newly developed atomic bombs is actually the equivalent in explosive power to what 2000 of our giant B-29s can carry on a single mission. This awful fact is one for you to ponder and we solemnly assure you it is grimly accurate.
We have just begun to use this weapon against your homeland. If you still have any doubt, make inquiry as to what happened to Hiroshima when just one atomic bomb fell on that city.
Before using this bomb to destroy every resource of the military by which they are prolonging this useless war, we ask that you now petition the Emperor to end the war. Our president has outlined for you the thirteen consequences of an honorable surrender. We urge that you accept these consequences and begin the work of building a new, better and peace-loving Japan.
You should take steps now to cease military resistance. Otherwise, we shall resolutely employ this bomb and all our other superior weapons to promptly and forcefully end the war.
EVACUATE YOUR CITIES
This primary source supports the argument for the use of the atomic bomb in several ways. These leaflets were dropped over Japan after the bombing of Hiroshima. As the nation reeled back in confusion, these leaflets were dropped to inform the Japanese people of what had happened in Hiroshima and what was to come if Japan continued to stubbornly refuse to surrender unconditionally. However, the Japanese government took no heed of this warning and refused to surrender. As a result of this reaction, the US military was forced to bomb Japan with another atomic bomb. The leaflet supports the use of the atomic bomb because it shows that the Japanese would have fought until the end. Despite the fact that the Japanese government was made aware of the United States' possession of a weapon capable of mass destruction, they refused to surrender.
TO THE JAPANESE PEOPLE
America asks that you take immediate heed of what we say on this leaflet.
We are in possession of the most destructive explosive ever devised by man. A single one of our newly developed atomic bombs is actually the equivalent in explosive power to what 2000 of our giant B-29s can carry on a single mission. This awful fact is one for you to ponder and we solemnly assure you it is grimly accurate.
We have just begun to use this weapon against your homeland. If you still have any doubt, make inquiry as to what happened to Hiroshima when just one atomic bomb fell on that city.
Before using this bomb to destroy every resource of the military by which they are prolonging this useless war, we ask that you now petition the Emperor to end the war. Our president has outlined for you the thirteen consequences of an honorable surrender. We urge that you accept these consequences and begin the work of building a new, better and peace-loving Japan.
You should take steps now to cease military resistance. Otherwise, we shall resolutely employ this bomb and all our other superior weapons to promptly and forcefully end the war.
EVACUATE YOUR CITIES
This primary source supports the argument for the use of the atomic bomb in several ways. These leaflets were dropped over Japan after the bombing of Hiroshima. As the nation reeled back in confusion, these leaflets were dropped to inform the Japanese people of what had happened in Hiroshima and what was to come if Japan continued to stubbornly refuse to surrender unconditionally. However, the Japanese government took no heed of this warning and refused to surrender. As a result of this reaction, the US military was forced to bomb Japan with another atomic bomb. The leaflet supports the use of the atomic bomb because it shows that the Japanese would have fought until the end. Despite the fact that the Japanese government was made aware of the United States' possession of a weapon capable of mass destruction, they refused to surrender.