2007-11-13 03:03:05 · 11 answers · asked by Annette 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
The USA and Japan had been communicating via the USSR, which up to after the bombs went off, was not at war with Japan.
Japan was given the opportunity to surrender before we dropped the first bomb. They would not do it. They were given the opportunity to surrender before the second bomb. They would not do it. They were given the opportunity to surrender before the third bomb and this time they did. Which was lucky for the USA as it did not have a third bomb.
And note, while the surrender document stated it was an unconditional surrender, they had the promise of the USA not to try the Emperor as a War Criminal. Had the USA not given that promise, we would still be fighting Japan today.
2007-11-13 06:11:59 · answer #1 · answered by forgivebutdonotforget911 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Aside from the blatant racial slur, there are conflicting accounts of what choices the Japanese had before the bomb was dropped.
The first account states that Japan attempted to surrender before the bomb was dropped, but that it was turned down because it was not an "unconditional surrender". Those who adhere to this tend to be against the bombing and are seen as historical revisionists.
The second account is that even though there was an attempt to surrender, leaders also stated that they were going to fight to the death to defend the homeland. Those who believe this suggest that any other military option (Operation Downfall) would have cost many more lives, both American and Japanese.
In the end, it's becoming more and more difficult to say as those involved are passing away. There are several websites for both sides of the argument. Start with wikipedia and follow the footnote sources.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debate_over_the_atomic_bombings_of_Hiroshima_and_Nagasaki
2007-11-13 03:22:10 · answer #2 · answered by Edrondol 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Russians actually talked to them at the request of the U.S. and the option was unconditional surrender or get the bomb. They wanted to negotiate and keep the areas still under their control which was not going to happen. They were given the same option after Hiroshima and still refused to surrender unconditionally so Nagasaki got it. The Empereor made the decision to surender and some of the Japanese military officers actually attempted a coup because they did not want to surrender. They were given no other option but unconditional surrender and should not have been offerred any options; this was in line with the German surrender which had already happend.
2007-11-13 03:27:57 · answer #3 · answered by GunnyC 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
All nations that were part of the axis forces were pretty much given the same option, either surrender unconditionally to allied forces or face invasion and occupation by any means necessary.
There was a lot happening at this time though in japan, they had been given technology developed by the German, including rocket systems and the German jet developments, all of which they had improved upon and imp lamented(discovery channel did a show on it, The Secret weapons of Japan). To further complicate things the Japanese officers in charge of the war attempted a coop on the night the emperor was to announce the unconditional surrender of Japanese forces in a radio address(which was the first time many Japanese citizens had heard the emperors voice).
This is sort of the short answer but options were there though they were not really great ones, but given the events that lead to them the options offered were as good as could be expected.
2007-11-13 03:22:22 · answer #4 · answered by j_new42 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The problem was that unconditional surrender implied deposing the Emperor, which was probably a mistake on the part of the US. Had this condition been removed, they might have given up (hard to say, but that's what THEY said after the fact).
As it turns out, the US pretty much admitted thi error, when the Treaty of Surrender (wisely) allowed the Emperor to remain as the symbolic leader of the conquered country.
Given how docile the Japanese were when American troops arrived, at that time knowing the Emperor would not be deposed, (MacArthur flew into Tokyo airport unarmed and without a bodyguard---he said "If they are going to kill us, a few bodyguards won't help"), there is some credence to this theory in my opinion.
MacArthur was quick to see this docility, and cabled Washington "Give me beans or give me bullets", meaning either feed these people or we'll have to shoot them once they start starving.
We sent beans, and the rest is history.
2007-11-13 03:17:53 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
One problem they faced was that immediate surrender would have ruined the power of the military-controlled government Japan had by 1945.
National destruction seemed almost an attractive alternative to unconditional surrender, for its leaders. The emperor finally side-stepped his generals after the second, Nagasaki bomb.
2007-11-13 03:11:05 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Short and Sweet:
Unconditional Surrender or Else,
The took the Or Else Option,
End of Story.
2007-11-13 03:10:59 · answer #7 · answered by conranger1 7 · 4⤊ 2⤋
They were told that we had a terrifying new weapon that was destructive beyond belief and they should surrender. They didn't believe us, so we had to show them. They still didn't surrender after Hiroshima on Aug. 6th, they thought we might only have one, so we had to show them again at Nagasaki on the 9th of Aug. They agreed to surrender after that and made it official at a ceremony aboard the Missouri in Tokyo harbor on Sept. 2nd..
2007-11-13 03:09:48 · answer #8 · answered by booman17 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
One option: unconditional surrender.
2007-11-13 03:07:49 · answer #9 · answered by Fast Eddie B 6 · 4⤊ 2⤋
They could have surrendered to avoid the A-Bomb.
Or, better yet, they could have not attacked America at Pearl Harbor.
2007-11-13 03:06:51 · answer #10 · answered by jskmarden 4 · 3⤊ 2⤋