--- title: "Who made the final decision to use the atomic bomb against Japan?" description: "Who made the final decision to use the atomic bomb against Japan?" author: "Howard fuller" published: 2018-04-23 canonical: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/41322/who-made-the-final-decision-to-use-the-atomic-bomb-against-japan category: "history, politics & society" tags: ["usa history"] reading_time: 2 minutes --- # Who made the final decision to use the atomic bomb against Japan? Who made the final [decision](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/view/88258/human-vs-machine-decision-making-in-war) to use the [atomic bomb](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/43339/how-were-the-atomic-bomb-attacks-on-japan-during-world-war-il-an-example-of-total-war) [against](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/41814/how-did-the-violence-against-women-act-meet-the-problem-of-violence-against-women) Japan? ## Answers ### Answer by Sarda Kumari **[Atomic](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/38585/name-the-renowned-indian-scientist-who-was-appointed-as-the-director-of-bhabha-atomic-research-centre-barc-the-country-s-premier-multi-disciplinary-nuclear-research-centre-succeeding-shekar-basu) bombing of Heroshima and Nagasaki** **America had the bomb.** When **Harry Truman** learned about the **Manhattan Project's success**, he knew he was responsible for deciding unprecedented gravity. The **choice of ending the war with Japan was in his hands**, but it would include using the **most terrible weapon ever known, the atomic bomb.** ![Who made the final decision to use the atomic bomb against Japan?](https://answers.mindstick.com/questionanswer/fe65928e-9dc0-4ce0-a879-b35c3ca71a13/images/49f20281-902a-4f55-be1b-d1bd5a6adcc3.jpeg)\ Read also: [**when-was-pearl-harbour-attacked-by-the-japanese-air-force?**](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/34929/when-was-pearl-harbour-attacked-by-the-japanese-air-force) \ **Japan-America rivalry** **\** American soldiers and civilians were **tired and burnt out from four years of continuous warfare**. But the Japanese military was **not ready to give up** their fight. American forces occupied the **two Japanese cities, Okinawa and Iwo Jima**, and were i**ntensely bombing fire** at them. \ But **Japan had a strong military of 2 million soldiers**, who were put on duty in **Japan's home islands**. They were responsible for **guarding the country against American invasion.** The choice of **whether to use the atomic bomb or not was indeed the most critical decision of Truman's life.** \ America made an **Allied demand to the leadership of Japan**, asking for their immediate, **unconditional surrender.** The need declared that its **refusal would result in destruction** .however, it **did not mention the use of the atom bomb** for destruction. \ **Japan refused to surrender unconditionally** but indicated that it would **agree to a conditional surrender.** ![Who made the final decision to use the atomic bomb against Japan?](https://answers.mindstick.com/questionanswer/fe65928e-9dc0-4ce0-a879-b35c3ca71a13/images/b024cdb9-bc24-4ce1-a499-a0f013617be8.jpeg)\ Read also : [**on-what-date-did-the-japanese-bomb-pearl-harbor?**](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/39882/on-what-date-did-the-japanese-bomb-pearl-harbor) \ On **August 6, 1945,** an **American military plane, the ENOLA GAY,** dropped an **atomic bomb on HIROSHIMA.** Within a few seconds, about**70,000 Japanese citizens were vaporized.** In the following months and years, another **100,000people perished from burns and radiation sickness**. \ Two days after the incident, the **Soviet Union declared war on Japan**. On **August 9,** a **second atomic bomb was dropped on NAGASAKI,** where **80,000 Japanese people perished.** **\** On **August 14, 1945, the Japanese surrendered.** --- Original Source: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/41322/who-made-the-final-decision-to-use-the-atomic-bomb-against-japan Copyright © MindStick Software Pvt. Ltd. This Markdown version is provided for developers, AI systems, and offline reading.