I have been watching a lot of documentaries about WWII, now that they are readily available on subscription network services. As a student of history, I have read countless books about the same subject. Just this week, I watched a documentary on The Battle of Okinawa and the Japanese intention to fight until the last man. I have read the Rape of Nanking and about the Bataan Death March, and, of course, let us not forget The Bridge Over the River Kwai. Then, again, as they say, that is now history.
Today I clicked on a story about a man who had survived the two atomic bombs dropped on Japan. I heard the narrator state: And America caused two of the greatest disasters in human history.
I felt like throwing the remote at the television. America did not cause the disasters. And this is not just history; this is the truth.
After all, there had been the Potsdam Proclamation calling upon Japan to surrender;
The final section demanded that the government of Japan “proclaim now the unconditional surrender of all Japanese armed forces.” The alternative for Japan was “prompt and utter destruction.
Then there were the LeMay Leaflets:
LeMay leaflets
Read this carefully as it may save your life or the life of a relative or friend. In the next few days, some or all of the cities named on the reverse side will be destroyed by American bombs. These cities contain military installations and workshops or factories which produce military goods. We are determined to destroy all of the tools of the military clique which they are using to prolong this useless war. But, unfortunately, bombs have no eyes. So, in accordance with America’s humanitarian policies, the American Air Force, which does not wish to injure innocent people, now gives you warning to evacuate the cities named and save your lives. America is not fighting the Japanese people but is fighting the military clique which has enslaved the Japanese people. The peace which America will bring will free the people from the oppression of the military clique and mean the emergence of a new and better Japan. You can restore peace by demanding new and good leaders who will end the war. We cannot promise that only these cities will be among those attacked but some or all of them will be, so heed this warning and evacuate these cities immediately.
With the rejection of the Potsdam Proclamation, Hiroshima was bombed on August 6, 1945. In light of no Japanese surrender, the Army Air Corps dropped more leaflets:
Hiroshima leaflets (main text)
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.
In Japan;
August 7:
A message to Vice Chief of the Imperial Army General Staff Torashiro Kawabe reports: “The whole city of Hiroshima was destroyed instantly by a single bomb.” Kawabe writes in his diary that he was “shocked tremendously,” but that the Imperial Army must continue to resist.
Because one was not enough to convince the Japanese to surrender, another was dropped on Nagasaki.