How did the experiences of Iwo Jima and Okinawa affect the Allied decision to drop the atomic bomb?

Answer 1

Okinawa was launched to confirm the general idea of how the final battle for the main islands of Japan would be fought. After the success of the creation of the A-bomb, the U.S. figured that the bomb would be a better way to finally end the war rather than an invasion. Truman left instructions that the bomb wasn't actually going to be used until after the Allies agreed and issued a declaration. The declaration (Potsdam Decl.) called for an "unconditional surrender" from Japan, however, Japan very much refused. The declaration stated that if Japan did refuse to surrender, more destruction (following the Battle of Okinawa) would continue. This destruction was the bombing on Japan (Hiroshima and Nagasaki).

Answer 2

The Japanese resolve to fight had been seriously hampered in the preceding months. Their losses at Iwo Jima and Okinawa had been staggering. Their navy had ceased to exist as an effective fighting force and the air corps had been decimated. American B-29's made bombing runs over military targets on the Japanese mainland an integral part of their air campaign. Japan's lack of air power hindered their ability to fight. The imprecision of bombing and the use of devastating city bombing in Europe eventually swayed United States Pacific theater military leaders to authorize bombing of Japanese mainland cities. Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, and Kobe all were decimated by incendiary and other bombs. In all, hundreds of thousands of civilians were killed in these air strikes meant to deter the resolve of the Japanese people. Yet, Japanese resolve stayed strong and the idea of a bloody "house to house" invasion of the Japanese mainland would produce thousands more American and Allied casualties. The Allies in late July 1945 declared at Potsdam that the Japanese must unconditionally surrender.

Answer 3

The experiences by the United States Military in taking the key locations of Iwo Jima and Okinawa affected the future of the war due to the casualties sustained. The Japanesse fought so hard and with such fury even in the face of certain death that the United States wanted to avoid a mainland invasion of Japan. The battles that were waged on these islands showed that the Japanesse military would fight to certain death, and with Japan refusing to surrender when they had been pushed back to their home island also influenced the United States to eventually use to Nuclear weapons on Japan.

Answer 4

The Japanese put up a fierce fight to keep those two, small islands. Neither were short or easy battles. They showed the US a sample of the resolve the Japanese would have if their main islands were invaded. The hell at Iwo Jima and Okinawa caused the projected casualty rate to excede half a million at the least. That shocking possible loss pushed Truman towards using the bomb and sparing all those American lives.