Essay on The Power of the Atomic Bomb in Shaping the...

The Power of the Atomic Bomb in Shaping the Post-War World There were few men in Washington who understood the role the atomic bomb could play in ending World War II and shaping the peace. Military planning focused on two options, conventional bombing accompanied by a blockade or an invasion of the Japanese home islands. Both options were so problematic politically and militarily that policymakers who were familiar with the Manhattan Project found it difficult to oppose the bomb’s use. There were also few men who knew the role the bomb could play in winning the peace. President Harry S. Truman, Secretary of State James F. Byrnes, and Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson saw the bomb as a way to shape the post-war world in the American†¦show more content†¦It had the benefit of speed. Since the Casablanca conference, achieving Japanese surrender as early as possible following the capitulation of Germany had been the strategic objective in the Pacific. However, on May 25th, 1945 Truman had stated a new objective of economizing Ame rican lives to the greatest extent possible. The Army plan for invading Kyushu was the most costly option in terms of lives, but it was the quickest. It was based on a directive to end the war in the Pacific within 12 months of V-E Day. Casualty estimates for the first thirty days of operations against Kyushu ranged from 30,000 to 50, 000. The Army plan was grossly handicapped by its reliance on Soviet entry into the Pacific War. General Douglas MacArthur considered a Soviet attack in Manchuria a prerequisite for invasion. Considering the Polish crisis of April 1945 and growing tensions over Soviet behavior in occupied Europe, Soviet involvement in East Asia was less than desirable. The best recommendation of the Navy was a plan that offered no reasonable prediction of when Japan would be defeated. The Army plan for invasion, which the JCS approved over the Navy plan, required Soviet entry into the war to ensure success. Their entry would allow them to consolidate their Yalta conces sions in Manchuria and possibly allow them to exert influence over China. In addition to this diplomatic problem, the invasion plan was the more costly in terms of casualties. TrumanShow MoreRelatedThe Rise Of World War II Essay1478 Words   |  6 PagesWorld War II is usually associated with genocide, atomic bombs, and Hitler. Often times the positive outcomes that came from such a deadly war between nations is forgotten in the musk of death and power. The instability in Europe created by World War I, set stage for the rise of Hitler. Germany at the time was economically and politically unstable. 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