# The use of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, was it justified?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-the-atomic-bomb-in-hiroshima-and-nagasaki-was-it-justified/1021901>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [August 10, 2025, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-the-atomic-bomb-in-hiroshima-and-nagasaki-was-it-justified/1021901 "2025-08-10T03:53:42Z")\
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**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-the-atomic-bomb-in-hiroshima-and-nagasaki-was-it-justified/1021901/90 "2025-08-12T14:09:08Z")

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> [@DrDeth](#):
>
> the civilian cost would have been horrendous, millions. Remember the Firebombing of Tokyo killed more than either bomb did directly. Think of every major city being firebombed.

Hell, think of [Saipan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Saipan) and [Okinawa,](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Okinawa) where a total of somewhere between 48,000 and 160,000 civilians died. Either at their own hands, by being drafted to take up arms, as a consequence of being forced to gather supplies for their military, or by Allied artillery.

> [@Seventy Years Ago Today....](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seventy-years-ago-today/727154/17):
>
> Extrapolating from the percentage of the total population which died during the invasions of Saipan and Okinawa, something like six million Japanese would have died if the Allies invaded their homeland. Many of them at their own hands.

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