Jim's Reviews > Hiroshima Nagasaki: The Real Story of the Atomic Bombings and Their Aftermath

Excellent account of the development of the atomic bomb leading to the A-bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the aftermath. Ham focuses on the horror of the bombings and how it affected some of the indviduals. Over 100,000 people were killed and people have kept dying since then.
Was it worth it? Ham argues that, no, it wasn't. The atomic bombings did not bring about an end to the Pacific War. The blockade of Japan by the overpowering naval might of the USA and American total control of the air by July 1945 were bringing about an end to the war without any invasion by troops necessary. What finally pressed the Emperor Hirohito to make his announcement of surrender was the Soviet declaration of war followed by the reception of "the Byrnes Note" which stated that the Japanese could keep their Emperor ( although most Americans wanted him put on trial as a war criminal). So Japan was able to surrender conditionally--not unconditionally...Ham makes a good case that the thousands of deaths in Hiroshima and Nagasaki were unnecessary...