Truman's announcements after the bombing of Hiroshima
This announcement on August 6, 1945, gives Truman's justification of why he ordered the atomic bomb to be dropped.
"The world will note that the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, a military base. We won the race of discovery against the Germans. We have used it in order to shorten the agony of war, in order to save the lives of thousands and thousands of young Americans. We shall continue to use it until we completely destroy Japan's power to make war."
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Truman issued a statement on August 6 giving more details of the attack on Hiroshima. (Full text).
" The Japanese began the war from the air at Pearl Harbor. They have been repaid many fold. And the end is not yet. With this bomb we have now added a new and revolutionary increase in destruction to supplement the growing power of our armed forces. . .Let there be no mistake; we shall completely destroy Japan's power to make war."
Historians say there were five major reasons why Truman dropped the atomic bomb:
- It would quickly end the war and minimize American casualties.
- It would get Japan’s unconditional surrender.
- It would be revenge for Pearl Harbor.
- It would show the Soviet Union and the rest of the world how strong America was.
- It would justify the “two billion of dollars on the atomic venture.”
Emperor Hirohito announced the surrender of the Empire of Japan to the Allies on August 15, 1945.
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