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Originally Posted by Flame Of Liberty
Apparently the shock factor wasn't big enough considering the US had to drop a second bomb.
Japan did not surrender after firebombs, it did not surrender after the first A bomb was dropped, they only surrendered when they saw the US was serious about finishing the war without a land invasion.
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Japan also didn't know how many Atomic weapons the US had - if the US had only dropped one and waited a few months for a Japanese response, it would have been different. Dropping 2 bombs instead of just 1 is a completely different message which is being sent: That the US can continue to rein down death from above, and that they have more than just 1 prototype of this weapon.
Semantics really, but here is Hirohito's quote:
Quote:
"Moreover, the enemy now possesses a new and terrible weapon with the power to destroy many innocent lives and do incalculable damage. Should we continue to fight, not only would it result in an ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese nation, but also it would lead to the total extinction of human civilization.
Such being the case, how are We to save the millions of Our subjects, or to atone Ourselves before the hallowed spirits of Our Imperial Ancestors? This is the reason why We have ordered the acceptance of the provisions of the Joint Declaration of the Powers."
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The A-Bomb got their attention and the Firebombs didn't.