At 2:45 a.m. on Monday, August 6th, 1945 the Enola Gay lifted off the runway headed for Japan, their mission, cripple a nation through the use of an atomic warhead. President Truman, torn between moral conflict and the preservation of American lives was obligated to make the toughest decision of his life, drop the bombs and save American lives, or send them in. Since the cost and expected casualties from an invasion, Truman’s issues with accepting Soviet help during the Potsdam Conference, and the need to secure a quick surrender is what helped push Truman to his decision to use the atomic bombs. It was July 1945, and after what had been some of the toughest and bloodiest battles Americans had ever seen, the outcome of the war was still foggy.
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Author, Herbert Mason stated that, "the bomb cost two billion dollars to develop. How was the administration going to explain to Congress that they developed a weapon that cost two billion dollars and they decided not to use it?"1 How could Truman possibly justify that the greatest mega-weapon ever built wouldn 't be used in this time of need because of morality issues. Instead Americans would have to send thousands of their sons and daughters to an almost inevitable death. However, not only would the cost and casualties from this invasion be a major deciding factor for Truman, but the role that the Soviets would play in the surrender would be …show more content…
Truman knew the consequences of involving Stalin and the Soviets in a two front war against Japan could mean the growth of Stalin and communism. July 1945, the three super powers convened in Potsdam, Germany to discuss the future of the war. During the Potsdam Conference, Stalin, Truman, and Churchill and then later, Attlee discussed the post-war topics including the surrender of Japan. During the conference Truman delayed the process of the conference for the testing of his “powerful new weapon.” During the conclusion of the conference, once the weapon had tested successfully, Truman had become more unwilling towards the involvement of the Soviets. Now with a super weapon in the arsenal Truman gave Japan an ultimatum, give an unconditional surrender or face prompt and utter destruction. Prime minister Kantarō Suzuki did not have a response to Truman’s ultimatum, this was the final straw. Furthermore, the events that unfolded only days after would spark the world’s greatest controversial use of force in its
Author, Herbert Mason stated that, "the bomb cost two billion dollars to develop. How was the administration going to explain to Congress that they developed a weapon that cost two billion dollars and they decided not to use it?"1 How could Truman possibly justify that the greatest mega-weapon ever built wouldn 't be used in this time of need because of morality issues. Instead Americans would have to send thousands of their sons and daughters to an almost inevitable death. However, not only would the cost and casualties from this invasion be a major deciding factor for Truman, but the role that the Soviets would play in the surrender would be …show more content…
Truman knew the consequences of involving Stalin and the Soviets in a two front war against Japan could mean the growth of Stalin and communism. July 1945, the three super powers convened in Potsdam, Germany to discuss the future of the war. During the Potsdam Conference, Stalin, Truman, and Churchill and then later, Attlee discussed the post-war topics including the surrender of Japan. During the conference Truman delayed the process of the conference for the testing of his “powerful new weapon.” During the conclusion of the conference, once the weapon had tested successfully, Truman had become more unwilling towards the involvement of the Soviets. Now with a super weapon in the arsenal Truman gave Japan an ultimatum, give an unconditional surrender or face prompt and utter destruction. Prime minister Kantarō Suzuki did not have a response to Truman’s ultimatum, this was the final straw. Furthermore, the events that unfolded only days after would spark the world’s greatest controversial use of force in its