harry s. truman was president of united states when the bombs were dropped on japan.
harry s. truman was president of united states when the bombs were dropped on japan.
who was president of united states when the bombs were dropped on japan?
harry s. truman
the third area of research hasegawa has conducted is an international history involving the soviet union, the united states, and japan in ending the pacific war. as the united states dropped its atomic bombs on hiroshima and nagasaki in august 1945, 1.6 million soviet troops launched a surprise attack on the japanese forces occupying eastern asia. hasegawa published a book, "racing the enemy: stalin, truman, and the surrender of japan" (2005). challenging the widely accepted orthodox view that the atomic bombings on hiroshima and nagasaki were the most decisive factor in japan's decision to surrender, ending world war ii in the pacific hasegawa puts forward the view that the soviet entry into the war by breaking of the neutrality pact played a more important role than the atomic bombs in japan's surrender decision. this view is in contrast to earlier critics of the bombing, such as gar alperovitz, who argued that us president harry s. truman's underlying objective was showcasing us military might, as a deterrent to soviet leader joseph stalin's ambitions. according to australian historian geoffrey jukes: "[hasegawa] demonstrates conclusively that it was the soviet declaration of war, not the atomic bombs, that forced the japanese to surrender unconditionally." this view received criticism. the most balanced and spirited discussion on this book is given in h-diplo roundtable discussion with gar alperovitz, michael gordin, david holloway, richard frank, and baron bernstein. james maddox, professor of history emeritus at the pennsylvania state university, and author of "weapons for victory: the hiroshima decision fifty years later", was one of the most trenchant critics of the book.
tsuyoshi hasegawa
after three more raids were scattered by the weather a five-zeppelin raid which became known as the "theatreland raid" was launched by the navy on 13 october. arriving over the norfolk coast around 18:30 the zeppelins encountered new ground defences installed since the september raid under the guidance of sir percy scott. these new gun sites proved ineffective, although the airship commanders commented on the improved defences of the city. a 13-pounder near broxbourne was put out of action by three bombs dropped from l 15, which continued to london and began bombing over charing cross, the first bombs striking the lyceum theatre and the corner of exeter and wellington streets, killing 17 and injuring 20. further bombs were dropped on holborn: as the airship neared moorgate it was engaged by a new 75 mm gun sited at the honourable artillery company grounds in finsbury. l 15 quickly recognised this new threat and jettisoned ballast, dropped only three more bombs (one landing on aldgate high street causing much damage) before departing, having suffered some engine damage from the shells. l 13 dropped some bombs around guildford and later others near woolwich. l 14 dropped bombs on otterpool army camp near folkestone, killing 14 soldiers and injuring 12, and later bombed tonbridge and east croydon. both the other zeppelins, l 16 and l 11, were even further off course. l 16 dropped up to 50 bombs on hertford and l 11 scattered a few bombs over norfolk before heading home. in total, 71 people were killed and 128 injured. this was the last raid of 1915, as bad weather coincided with the new moon in both november and december 1915 and continued into january 1916.
german strategic bombing during world war i