How did the bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima affect the world’s view of atomic weapons?
Perhaps the greatest legacy of Nagasaki and Hiroshima is that nuclear weapons have never been used again as weapons of war. Nagasaki and Hiroshima demonstrated the unprecedented destructive power of nuclear weapons and has deterred nuclear states from using these types of weapons in combat. How did the U.S Government and Military choose their targets? Consult Truman’s memoir (p. 420) and the Target Committee meeting minutes, which are available here: http://www.lanl.gov/history/atomicbomb/victory.shtml Was there a feeling of guilt after the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were bombed? Some associated with the Manhattan Project felt guilty but most, based on my knowledge, did not. Oppenheimer, for example, was regretful that children would be killed in the attacks but I don’t believe he ever questioned the necessity of the bombings. Many of the scientists were appalled by the destruction and campaigned against the use of atomic bombs in future conflicts but even among those, f
