THE DEVASTATION OF NAGASAKI FOLLOWING THE ATOMIC BOMB, ONLY THE RUINS OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL STILL STANDING. THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE ATOMIC BOMBS PROVED THE LEAST AWFUL OF THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO THE U. S. IN ENDING THE WAR.
THE PLANNED INVASION OF JAPAN- DUBBED OPERATION DOWNFALL- CONSERVATIVELY ESTIMATED U. S. CASUALTIES IN THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS- AND JAPANESE CASUALTIES INTO THE MILLIONS.
ANOTHER STRATEGY FAVORED BY SOME IN THE NAVY CALLED
FOR A PROLONGED BLOCKADE AND BOMBING CAMPAIGN. WHILE SPARING AMERICAN CASUALTIES, THE STRATEGY WOULD HAVE UNDOUBTEDLY LED TO WIDESPREAD FAMINE AMONG THE JAPANESE PEOPLE.
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