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In reply to the discussion: Hiroshima - quit lying to yourselves [View all]GreenStormCloud
(12,072 posts)From his surrender speech of Aug 15, 1945: The enemy, moreover, has begun to employ a new most cruel bomb, the power which to do damage is indeed incalculable, taking toll of many innocent lives. Should we continue to fight, it would only result in the ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese nation . . . but would lead also to the total extinction of human civilization. Such being the case, how are we to save millions of our subjects, or ourselves, to atone before the hallowed spirits of our Imperial ancestors? This is the reason we have ordered the acceptance of the provisions of the joint declaration of the Powers.
http://www.japanorama.com/surrendr.html
Further, Russia was no threat to the Japanee home islands. Russia was a land power, not a sea power. They had only a tiny navy. For them, defeating the Nazis meant they needed an army and an air force, not a navy. The Japanese troops in Manchuria were already lost to Japan as they had been isolated from Japan by the U.S. Navy. What could Russia do to the Japanese home islands? Drive tanks under the sea? Have soldiers swim to Japan?
The A-bomb gave the leaders of Japan a way to surrender without further loss of face.