Nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki - Essay Example

The paper would be looking at the various perspectives that could have motivated the Americans to use this weapon of mass destruction. During the WWII1, Japan joined forces with the Germany and Italy, the enemies of the Allied Forces and fought against them vigorously. It accessed several small nations like Vietnam, coastal China and in its efforts to increase its oil reserves, after the boycott of oil supply by America, its attacks and subsequent accession to Indonesia, considerably expanded its territorial rights over a large area in Pacific Ocean.

This aggressive behaviour further escalated the tension between Japan and the Allied forces specially America and Britain. The war between the two intensified, leading to bloodiest attacks of Pearl Harbour by Japanese forces and invasion of Okinawa by US forces. Even though, the allied forces regained territories and reduced the Japanese influence in the Pacific, they were unable to overpower the might of Japanese forces. Hence, after the fall of Mussolini of Italy and Hitler of Germany, Japan became the sole target of the allied forces.

HiroshimHiroshima was the headquarters of the Japanese army and one of the most advanced cities of Japan. It therefore became the first target of the nuclear attack by America. American President, Harry S. Truman, deliberately targeted Hiroshima because the devastation of the city and killing of a large part of the population, would, according to the American President, convincingly show the repercussions of the Japanese refusal for an amicable peace treaty (Hersey, 1989). The detonation of 'Little Man' (name of the nuclear bomb that was dropped) on Hiroshima on 6th August 1945, became a reality and created unprecedented holocaust, ever recorded in the history of mankind.

It killed more than 90,000 people, maimed and injured grievously more than 30,000 and genetically damaged the surviving population. The second attack on the city of Nagasaki became significant because it was an important off shore trading centre and an important port of Japan. Though, much of the population was shifted from the mainland, 'Fat Man', the atomic bomb that was dropped on 9th August 1945, was equally devastating in its effect. About 70,000 were killed instantly and more than 60,000 injured.

The total casualties in the two attacks defied the imaginations of the world. Japanese government called an immediate ceasefire and surrendered to the allied forces and signed the 'instrument of surrender' on 2nd September 1945, which officially ended the World War II. The Emperor Hirohito of Japan surrendered for the overall welfare of his people and his surrender was subject to keeping the sovereignty of the Crown intact. Japan surrendered and the WWII came to an end.Reasons cited for bombingsJapan was increasingly becoming powerful and the allied forces wanted to curb the growing influence of the Japanese.

Hiroshima and Nagasaki were major cities of Japan that were commercial hub. The decision to bomb the two cities had mainly two objectives. The foremost being, to establish the