Did America warn Japan before the first nuke was dropped, or the second?

Answer 1

~Yes, actually, they did.

Leaflets were dropped over several cities (so as to not give away the actual target and to insure that the cities that actually got nuked were included - Nagasaki was not the primary target for Fat Man, Kokura was; bad weather on August 9 saved Kokura.) Warnings were broadcast on the radio as well. The American and British POWs being held outside Hiroshima could not evacuate, and the 2000 US citizens (mostly students who had been stranded in Hiroshima after Pearl) stayed there and got fried. Washington was aware of the presence of both the US civilians and the POWs.

Had Washington followed up on the Japanese overtures of surrender in May, June and July, neither bomb would have been necessary. Nimitz, MacArthur, Eisenhower and others in similar positions all recommended against the bombs (each acknowledging that the weapons were unnecessary, would not save American lives, would not expedite the end of the war, but would cast America as an evil and dishonorable nation in the eyes of the would - and that they may actually extend the war by renewing the Japanese will to fight). Most historians, both then and now, acknowledge that the bombs did not save American lives (or Japanese) and had little or nothing to do with ending the war. Even Hirohito and Tojo denied that the surrender was brought about by the bombs. Since they had sent offers of peace before the bombs were used (and MacArthur, for one, suggested negotiating - possibly while a cease fire was put in place) one can assume they weren't lying. The US Bombing Survey, in its report of July 1, 1946, concluded that the war would have been over with by November 1, or December 31, 1945, at the latest - even if the Soviets had not honored their commitment to declare war on Japan after Berlin fell, which they made in 1943 in Tehran, even if the planned invasion of Japan, Operation Downfall, never was planned or implemented and even if the bombs were not used. Admiral Takagi of the Navy General Staff was recommending surrender as early as February, 1944, and in May and June of 1945, the Japanese were discussing surrender with the Soviets - who conveyed the messages to the other Allies. The Cabinet had agreed that the war must be ended soon, "at any cost" (including unconditional surrender) in May, but the Japanese political structure necessarily delayed the process. Washington was aware of all this before August 6 and Little Boy.

As to the fallacy of saving American and Japanese lives, Operation Olympic, the first phase of the invasion, was scheduled for November 1 (the significance of the Bombing Survey's dates should be apparent) and it was planned to occur on Kyushu, the southernmost Japanese island. If the bombs were intended to assist the invasion, why not drop it somewhere near the intended beachhead? Or on the troops and defensive installations there? The second phase, scheduled for March 1, 1946, was to occur on Honshu, the main Japanese Island, and the landings were to be on the Tokyo Plain. Look at a map. Are Hiroshima, Nagasaki or Kokura remotely close to the invasion site? Of the three, Kokura may have had some military significance due to its proximity to the Straits of Shimonoseki), but the invasion was to take place on the southern end of Kyushu, not the north. In any case, the few remaining warships Japan had left had been decommissioned because there was no oil to fuel them and they were sitting ducks for allied aircraft and submarines. By June, 1945, the Japanese Navy had ceased to exist.

The warnings did not mention atomic weapons. They did refer to the massive destructive force that was to be unleashed. By the beginning of August, more than 60 cities in Japan had been destroyed by fire bombs and conventional TNT bombs. Allied planes flew over Japan at will with little or no resistance and nominal losses for months. More people died in the fire bombing of Tokyo than in either Nagasaki or Hiroshima. Thus, not only were the nukes unnecessary, they were less effective than conventional weapons.

As to the suicidal Japanese civilians who were going to fight to the death with pitchforks and butter knives to stop the American invasion, that myth was debunked eons ago. Japan was under martial law before the surrender because the cabinet and general staff feared a revolt. The people were sick to death of the war, especially as they watched allied planes fly over their homes with no resistance. About 40% of the population was on the move, knowing they could be bombed at will at any time. As the Bombing Survey reported, "... sixty-four percent of the population stated that they had reached a point prior to surrender where they felt personally unable to go on with the war. Of these, less than one-tenth attributed the cause to military defeats, one-quarter attributed the cause to shortages of food and civilian supplies, the largest part to air attack." The Japanese civilians wanted the war done with, sooner not later.

If you are suggesting that the leaflets and warnings somehow make the barbaric attacks of August 6 and August 9 less criminal, it doesn't wash.

Answer 2

On 4 August 1945, American plane dropped leaflets on Hiroshima warning the citizens to assume terrible destruction to be visited upon their city for the reason that Japan had refused to resign. The bomb was dropped on the 6th. After the Hiroshima bombing, President Truman introduced, "in the event that they do no longer no longer settle for our words, they could assume a rain of wreck from the air the likes of which has never been seen in this earth." On August 8, 1945, leaflets have been dropped and warnings have been given to Japan by way of Radio Saipan.

Answer 3

On 4 August 1945, American aircraft dropped leaflets on Hiroshima warning the citizens to expect terrible destruction to be visited upon their city because Japan had refused to surrender. The bomb was dropped on the 6th.
After the Hiroshima bombing, President Truman announced, "If they do not not accept our terms, they may expect a rain of ruin from the air the likes of which has never been seen on this earth." On August 8, 1945, leaflets were dropped and warnings were given to Japan by Radio Saipan.

Answer 4

Dr. Arthur Holly Compton, suggested dropping the bomb on an isolated part of Japan to demonstrate its power while minimizing civilian deaths. But this was soon dismissed, since if Japan was to be notified in advance of an attack, the bomber might be shot down; alternately, the first bomb might fail to detonate

On July 26, Truman and other allied leaders issued The Potsdam Declaration outlining terms of surrender for Japan:

"...The might that now converges on Japan is immeasurably greater than that which, when applied to the resisting Nazis, necessarily laid waste to the lands, the industry and the method of life of the whole German people. The full application of our military power, backed by our resolve, will mean the inevitable and complete destruction of the Japanese armed forces and just as inevitably the utter devastation of the Japanese homeland..."
"...We call upon the government of Japan to proclaim now the unconditional surrender of all Japanese armed forces, and to provide proper and adequate assurances of their good faith in such action. The alternative for Japan is prompt and utter destruction."
The atomic bomb was still a highly guarded secret and was not mentioned in the declaration. On July 28, Japanese papers reported that the declaration had been rejected by the Japanese government. That afternoon, Prime Minister Kantaro Suzuki declared at a press conference that the Potsdam Declaration was no more than a rehash of the Cairo Declaration and that the government intended to ignore it. The statement was taken by both Japanese and foreign papers as a clear rejection of the declaration. Emperor Hirohito, who was waiting for a Soviet reply to noncommittal Japanese peace feelers, made no move to change the government position. On July 31, he made clear to Kido that the Imperial Regalia of Japan had to be defended at all costs.

As for the 2nd bombing,, wasn't the first one warning enough that we had the bomb and were more than willing to use it?

Was their a direct warning, "hey Japan we have an Atomic bomb and are going to bomb you with it" no. We did give them the option to surrender before the bombing saying "The full application of our military power, backed by our resolve, will mean the inevitable and complete destruction of the Japanese armed forces and just as inevitably the utter devastation of the Japanese homeland..."

Answer 5

The formal response is "No" there was no warning for either one, however, historians have mentioned in several books and articles that enough classified information was "leaked" on purpose to Japanese agents that we were developing a super weapons system and that it would be used during a specified month of 1945. Nothing was said outright about it being a nuclear bomb or what it would do specifically, but there was some kind of informal warning.

Answer 6

They didnt warn them verbally. Navy Captain William Parsons armed the first nuke and sent out planes as a scare tactic but all that happened is that the Japanese issued a warning among the cities, more specifically, Hiroshima.

Answer 7

Why the heck would we warn them? They didn't warn us about Pearl Harbor. Its completely stupid. Thats like bringing a massive army to the border of the country, sending an emissary, telling them they have 3 days before we will attack. If your going to conquer somebody, suprise is KEY

Answer 8

Why would you want to warn your enemy before dropping a bomb in their country? Did Japan warn Hawaii before they bombed Pearl Harbor?

Answer 9

Japan claims to have intended to warn America that war was imminent, before attacking Pearl Harbour, but NO declaration of war was given before the sneak attack on the "day that will forever live in infamy".

What goes around comes around!

Answer 10

Not so that Japan had any realistic idea of what was about to happen. The warning was very general.