Atomic Bombs Notes

The formal conflict began with the attack on Pearl Harbor on December $7^{th}$, $1941$, involving $353$ Japanese aircraft.

All $8$ US battleships were damaged, $4$ sunk, and a total of $2,403$ Americans were killed and $1,178$ wounded.

Pearl Harbor was considered a failure for Japan due to:

• The absence of $3$ US aircraft carriers, which were at sea during the attack.

• Vital base infrastructure, including oil storage, was not targeted.

• The overall damage did not meet Japanese expectations.

• The attack catalyzed America's entry into WWII.

Japan sought to expand its empire in the ‘Asia-Pacific bubble’, attempting to unite Asian peoples while exploiting colonies for resources (e.g., Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand).

America and Australia were primary allies repelling Japanese expansion, with significant fear of attacks on Australia.

Japanese wartime culture was steeped in honor and Socially Darwinist beliefs, contributing to dehumanization and violence.

Numerous war crimes included:

• Nanjing Massacre in $1937$, where about $200,000$ Chinese were killed.

• ‘Comfort Women’ issue involving approximately $400,000$ women forced into sexual slavery.

• Unit $731$, infamous for inhumane medical experiments.

POWs faced severe treatment; surrender was seen as dishonorable, leading to torture and starvation.

The Thai-Burma Railway (‘The Death Railway’) involved $60,000$ POWs and $200,000$ civilians forced into labor, with over $90,000$ Asian civilians and $16,000$ POWs dying.

The ‘Manhattan Project’ began on August $13$, $1942$, aimed at developing nuclear weapons in response to Nazi Germany's nuclear ambitions.

The first atomic bomb test was the Trinity Test, showcasing immense power.

Hitler committed suicide on April $30$, $1945$; Germany surrendered on May $8$, $1945$.

The war continued in the Pacific, with the Potsdam Conference (July $17$ to August $2$, $1945$) demanding Japan's unconditional surrender, which the Japanese Field Service Code forbade.

Hiroshima was bombed on August $6$, $1945$, with ‘Little Boy’, killing $70,000$ to $80,000$ instantly.

Nagasaki was bombed on August $9$ with ‘Fat Man’, killing approximately $40,000$ instantly.

Justifications for the bombings included ending the war quickly, potentially saving up to $1$ million US lives, but criticisms pointed to high civilian casualties and inhumanity.

James Jones described the invasion of Japan as a ‘ghastly bloodletting’.

The bombings led to a significant legacy regarding nuclear age anxiety and a monitored risk reported as ‘$85$ seconds to midnight.’