Did the US ask Japan to surrender before the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima?

Answer 1

no, but they were in the process of putting together a surrender "package", the only main sticking point was that they wanted to keep their emperor(sp?), and America refused...Ironically, after the bombs were dropped, Japan unconditionally surrendered only to have the Americans allow them to keep Hirohito as head of state, though his official powers were drastically reduced.

No SurrenderThe Japanese military leaders were not considering surrender. They were preparing a last-ditch defense of the home islands using old women and children with rocks and clubs if necessary. Only when they realized that the US had the capability of totally annihilating their culture with the atomic bomb (they didn't know we only had two) did they consider surrendering, and even then some of the leaders tried to prevent the Emperor's surrender message from getting to the US. Confusion in the Japanese LeadershipBy August 1945, Japan was being controlled by a small junta - roughly 4 military generals and 2 civilian politicians make up the ruling council. They nominally "advised" the Emperor on policy, but, in reality, ran the country, with the Emperor nothing more than a figurehead (though a revered one).

Before the atomic bombs were dropped, the latest council meetings had resulted in a 3-to-3 tie over surrender, with the civilians trying to negotiate a conditional surrender (keep the Emperor, retain the council as the head of government, and no war-crimes trials), while the military section continued to advocate resistance. Ties were always resolved in the favor of the military, so the government was NOT going to surrender. The civilian officials were attempting to communicate through various intermediaries with the Americans at that point, however. These attempts were relatively slow-moving, though.

Immediately after the first atomic bombing, confused (yet reasonably accurate) reports filtered back to the council, causing the civilian members to propose surrender (solely conditioned on retention of the Emperor), with the military still refusing to go along. The Emperor remained silent. War was still the default choice at that point. No communication attempts were made to the Americans.

The quick second bombing combined with the Soviet declaration of war (and invasion of Manchuria) drove the civilian members of the council into a panic, and caused some wavering in the military members. However, at this point, the Emperor chose to speak in favor of surrender. While he had no vote, his influence (and acquiecence to the terms of surrender) was key in overcoming the military members' reluctance; however, there are an attempted coup by several military commanders (attempting to kidnap the Emperor and forestall the surrender). Only after this coup was stopped was the council able to declare it's acceptance of the Allied terms (with a vague condition of maintaining the Emperor in some manner).

Answer 2

No, because at the Yalta Conference in the Soviet Crimea in early 1945, the Big Three: Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin knew that Germany and Japan were going to be defeated. They planned the aftermath of World War II along with making promises. The Soviet Union, under Joseph Stalin, promised the Allies war against the Japanese when the Germans were defeated. In April of 1945, the last Nazi officials surrendered after Berlin was sacked by the Soviet Union. In August of that same year, when an American B-29 was to drop the world's first atomic bomb on Japan, the Soviets declared war against Japan and attacked the Japanese puppet-state of Manchuria (known as Manchukhuo by the Japanese). Soon, the Japanese surrendered to the Allies on board the USS Missouri and thus ending the war. No, because at the Yalta Conference in the Soviet Crimea in early 1945, the Big Three: Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin knew that Germany and Japan were going to be defeated. They planned the aftermath of World War II along with making promises. The Soviet Union, under Joseph Stalin, promised the Allies war against the Japanese when the Germans were defeated. In April of 1945, the last Nazi officials surrendered after Berlin was sacked by the Soviet Union. In August of that same year, when an American B-29 was to drop the world's first atomic bomb on Japan, the Soviets declared war against Japan and attacked the Japanese puppet-state of Manchuria (known as Manchukhuo by the Japanese). Soon, the Japanese surrendered to the Allies on board the USS Missouri and thus ending the war.

Answer 3

Japan had started the war by declaring peace to the Americans then bombing them despite their announcement of peace. They did not surrender nor did they have any intentions of surrenduring prior to the atomic bomb.

Answer 4

Yes, but only if the following conditions were granted them:

1. The emperor continued to rule as god.
2. No prosecution of war criminals by the allies.
3. All remaining captured territories remain in japanese hands.
4. Japan could rule as it sees fit after the war with no allied interference.
5. etc.

The Potsdam Declaration had stated that surrender must be unconditional. These conditions were all unacceptable to the allies. After the bombing the allies did permit Japan one condition: that the emperor could continue to rule, but had to publicly declare he was not god.

Answer 5

yes they did but japan refused. tsutomu yamaguchi survived both atomic bombs on japan in Hiroshima and nagasaki

Answer 6

Before. They surrendered after the U.S dropped two bombs on Japan's two major cities. :P

Answer 7

No.

Answer 8

No.