Did Truman make a mistake when he made the decision to drop the atomic bomb in World War 2?

Answer 1

In hindsight we can see that there might have been superior options. It is now fairly clear that Japan would likely have surrendered in a few weeks or months regardless of the bomb. The blockade was starving them out and the end was near.

But at the time, Truman did have our perspective. American armies had fought several years against a ruthless and near suicidal foe who took few and gave up few prisoners. There was no discernible evidence that the massive firebombing of civilian targets was breaking the Japanese morale. Thus it looked like invasion was the only course.

Had the US invaded Japan the results would have made Hiroshima look like child's play. The Japanese dead would have numbered in the millions and the cities would have been reduced to rubble. Additionally it looked like the Soviets might be coming in and would have demanded a partial occupation of the country. We all know what that looked like in Europe with mass rape, pillaging, terrorism, massive and lengthy imprisonment for POWs, etc.

As tragic as the death of so many at Hiroshima was it probably saved the Japanese a far worse alternative.

The decision was correct.