History Channel, Japan and Atomic Bomb

[TuskCracker]

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I saw two documentaries on WW-II, that were "new" to me

I have only seen these once, and at home, with spouse interruption of course

- -> Ken Burns and his WW-II documentaries on PBS (very average I thought)

- -> History Channel, Modern Marvels, about the Atomic Bomb effort

What I heard that was new

01) The atomic bomb was to be used on Germany first, but that ended before final development

02) The atomic scientist in Oak-Ridge (not New Mexico), had a petition to do a demonstration atomic bomb attack. Many dirty politics went into "snuffing" this out. That's what I saw.

03) The air-base, from which the Enola Gay took off, had many rumors on what was going on. One guy gave one, which was a wild crazy rumor. I cannot remember it. It was almost funny the rumor

04) The B-29 bomber project was more expensive than the atomic bomb Manhattan project

05) A key person in the President Truman administration, said to Harry Truman that he might be impeached if he didn't use it. The American people wanted the war over. They saw Iowa Jima and Okinawa battles, and the attitude of the Japanese military. The opinion was that if the American people found out that the United States had spent millions upon millions successfully to build a weapon that could end the war. And the invasion of Japan took place, and many many American soldiers died or wounded badly. The outcry would had been to impeach President Harry Truman, for not using the weapons

06) Their was only so much material for bombs. To make more would had been several more months (I think 3-5 months).

07) Somehow very high up, was against it. I think it was Eisenhower. I am not sure of this.

[ArmandV]

I saw the Ken Burns documentary, "The War." The gist of it was that the experiences of fighting the Japanese soldiers on Iwo Jima and elsewhere along with the J-government training of citizens in fighting an invasion in Japan led U.S. war planners to conclude a bloodbath would ensue should the allies invade Japan.

Also, there were two A-bombs available for immediate use. Making more would have taken months. The Japanese didn't know that. It may have made a difference in their decision to surrender had they known.

[TuskCracker]

History Channel, Modern Marvels, about the Atomic Bomb effort

this was the history channel about the atomic bomb. i saw this also. most of the statements are identical to the history-channel

[caster51]

Research of nuclear before WW2
Japan's Atomic Bomb PART 1~5
YouTube - Japan's Atomic Bomb PART 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdCe2wBeCiw
though it is an american Exaggerated propaganda

Indeed, Japan started to research about nuclear from 1940.

there was already uranium to make A-Bomd in Japan before WW2 by Kodama organs
Yoshio Kodama - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoshio_Kodama

the research had been finished in 1944.
then ,Tojo reported it with pleasure to Emperor .
However, The emperor opposed it by contraries.
Tojo doesn't act against emperor's intention at all.

However, a chief of the general staff concealed it and continued developing.
He cannot lead Japan to the defeat as a chief of the general staff. He thought His Majesty should be able to be pleased if Japan won a war.

Tojo dismissed a prime minister in July 1944 by the responsibility of saipan.

after that, The explosion of the rocket that piled up the warhead of the nucleus happened.
it became an accident that His Majesty knew it again.
It becomes impossible to have done the development anymore.


emperor said" "Man not only dies but also the plant doesn't grow either. Japan need not win a war by using such frightening arms."
then Japan gave up to make them

[TuskCracker]

I believe the crazy rumor discussed by a sailor in "The War" was that the top secret shipment was something along the lines of it being McArthur's personal supply of toilet paper (or some fancy embroidered toilet paper). Something crazy like that


This was it !

Pretty crazy

[Ewok85]

1) Correct, but the war in Europe ended before a usable bomb was created, thus Japan became the target.

2) There was atomic testing done in July 16 1945, so I'm unsure what you are talking about with this one...

3) The bomb was super top secret, the crew did not know what they had until almost directly before the flight. Some of the rumours were pretty far out there.

4) Until that point, yes. Building hundreds of bombers is going to end up more expensive than a few bombs, atomic or not.

5) I can't source it, but he was under pressure to end the war as quickly and bloodlessly as possible. At the time little was known about the bombs except that they held the potential to do massive amounts of damage and had a real shock and awe value that noone could ignore.

6) Correct, I think the estimate was 2-3 more bombs in the 6 after Hiroshima.

7) There was plenty people who had their doubts, its well documented.

[TuskCracker]

1) Correct, but the war in Europe ended before a usable bomb was created, thus Japan became the target.

That was the point of one.

2) There was atomic testing done in July 16 1945, so I'm unsure what you are talking about with this one...

I don't understand what you said. The petition was one of new items I learned. The petition was to have demonstration on Japanese soil !

3) The bomb was super top secret, the crew did not know what they had until almost directly before the flight. Some of the rumours were pretty far out there.


Here is my point. The air-base had many rumors that something unusual was happening.

4) Until that point, yes. Building hundreds of bombers is going to end up more expensive than a few bombs, atomic or not.
It show the importance of the B-29. A few bombs, it was much much more than that. This was the very first atomic bomb. This was the 1940's, so technology was in "horse-and-buggy" for atomic bomb technology.

5) I can't source it, but he was under pressure to end the war as quickly and bloodlessly as possible. At the time little was known about the bombs except that they held the potential to do massive amounts of damage and had a real shock and awe value that noone could ignore.

I almost quoted exactly what the documentary had. I think they gave a name of the person who presented this arguement, you might be impreached.

6) Correct, I think the estimate was 2-3 more bombs in the 6 after Hiroshima.

You fine-tune the answer

7) There was plenty people who had their doubts, its well documented

I knew this before, but this documentary had a "different" way of talking about this issue. It was another way to learn more. My weakest point, I agree. So I can be "low-life" also

p.s: This is old history. Probably better, what can Japan, United States take from this. The issue of IRAN and developing Nuclear Technology. What should be brought forth on these issues.
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