If Japan does not surrender, bombs will have to be dropped on her war industries and, unfortunately, thousands of civilian lives will be lost. I urge Japanese civilians to leave industrial cities immediately, and save themselves from destruction.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Truman justifies bombing civilian areas as necessary to end the war.
- In plain terms
- Civilian deaths were unavoidable to destroy war industries.
- What can you take from it?
- War often forces terrible choices.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Are civilians ever targets?
- What ends justify means?
Another view
Civilian protection should be prioritized over strategic gain.
More from Harry S. Truman
The world will note that the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, a military base. That was because we wished in this first attack to avoid, insofar as …
Permalink to quote #35 I realize the tragic significance of the atomic bomb. Its production and its use were not lightly undertaken by this Government. But we knew that our enemies w…
Permalink to quote #37 The British, Chinese, and United States Governments have given the Japanese people adequate warning of what is in store for them. We have laid down the general…
Permalink to quote #34
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