atomic bombing of Hiroshima

Japan

occupation / innovator as

economist

historian

nationality

American

is an act that was unnecessary to end the war or to save lives. Rather, it was truman's means of sending a chastening message to the soviet union.

Gar Alperovitz published a book of ferocious revisionism, 'Atomic Diplomacy: Hiroshima and Potsdam' (1965). While acknowledging the paucity of evidence available at the time, he argued that dropping the atomic bomb 'was not needed to end the war or to save lives' but was Truman's means of sending a chastening message to the Soviet Union.

is a wrongheaded decision. It was a decision not to drop the bomb could actually have bolstered American diplomatic objectives in asia -for example, by helping to create the atmosphere for a more harmonious postwar American-soviet relationship.

Mr. Alperovitz insist that a decision not to drop the bomb could actually have bolstered American diplomatic objectives in Asia -for example, by helping to create the atmosphere for a more harmonious postwar American-Soviet relationship. He criticizes Truman for failing to issue a more explicit warning to Japan about the bomb and for attacking Hiroshima rather than a nonurban target, as his Army Chief of Staff, Gen. George C. Marshall, had suggested.

is an action that was clearly a sign to the Russians, reflected in the U.S. feeling of cheerfulness rather than frustration over differences with the Soviets at Potsdam.

Mr. Alperovitz argues that 'the U.S. feeling of cheerfulness rather than frustration' over differences with the Soviets at Potsdam 'makes little sense unless one realizes that top policy makers were thinking ahead to the time when the force of the new weapon would be displayed.'

is an action that was timed just before the Soviet Union declared war on the Japanese in order to cut the Soviets out of any deal-making.

Alperovitz says that the timing of the Hiroshima bombing -Aug. 6, 1945 -was no accident. Two days later the Soviet Union declared war on the Japanese and then crossed the border into Manchuria.

Gar AlperovitzThinkers

Gar Alperovitz