Why did the United states decide to drop the bomb on Hiroshima?

1 Answer
May 14, 2016

Because of fanatical Japanese resistance.

Explanation:

The militaristic culture dominating Japan before and during World War 2 refused to countenance any form of surrender. As the Americans advanced from island to island they met with suicidal resistance by the Japanese.

Although Japanese losses were catastrophic American losses were very high and seen as unsustainable. The Japanese treatment of prisoners of war and of occupied populations also reflected this brutal militarism.

Kamikaze pilots flying planes packed with explosives into American ships was a further example. Indeed the word kamikaze means heavenly wind and comes from the destruction of a Mongol fleet by a typhoon, on its way to invading Japan.

Truman therefore took the decision to drop the two bombs to force Japan to surrender.