[ventanax5]

On August 1, 1945, five days before the bombing of Hiroshima, the U.S. Army Air Force dropped one million leaflets over Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and 33 other Japanese cities warning that those cities were going to be destroyed within a few days and advising the residents to leave to save their lives. One side of the leaflet had a photo of five U.S. bombers unloading bombs and a list of the targeted cities. The other side had the text. The English version of the leaflet is included in an article at the CIA website, “The Information War in the Pacific, 1945,” by Josette H. Williams. OWI stands for Office of War Information:

[no-to-illegals]

War is a Monster. I read, once upon a time, the people of Hiroshima, and Nagasaki were told by word of mouth and radio (those left alive), and the people of Japan were told via radio broadcast that he devastation of a new weapon had been visited upon the United States’ cities similar to the devastation after (I believe the names were) Fat Man and Little Boy had been dropped. Propaganda is / was a chief weapon, as in any War. Japan was realizing the devastation one plane could deliver. The moral of Japan’s people needed a boost, per the continue the War effort supporters. War is a Monster, but to Win a War, terrible things must be done. Thankfully, Japan opted to surrender, and the War supporters were not successful.

[ought-six]

I know that we dropped leaflets warning of the imminent destruction of certain cities, and telling the people to evacuate. The leaflet contained a list of cities to be bombed. After the first city on the list was hit, there was no discernible evacuation from any of the other cities. After the second city was hit, there was scattered and isolated evacuation of other cities. After the third city on the list was hit, the Japanese seemed to get the message, as evacuation picked up exponentially. The bombings were incendiary in nature, creating tremendous firestorms. It was part of General Curtis LeMay's strategic bombing campaign.

[goldfinch]

I scanned the whole article and did not see any factual errors. In the WWII time-frame, the Air Force was part of the Army and was called the Army Air Force. The United States did drop leaflets warning citizens in cities that were bombed. On a quick first reading, I would say this article is indeed true.

[iopscusa]

Dropping the A bombs saved a Million US casualties and we gave them explicit warnings as opposed to our enemies attack on Pearl Harbor.
The Japanese were well aware of this weapon and the Nazi’s were trying to get the makings of the bomb to Japan when the European war was closing...do you think the Japanese would warn an enemy before they would use this weapon?
Shoulda used them during the Korean War

[ken21]

the thing that strikes me odd about the paragraph is the syntax,

a bit complex.

the receivers are emotionally charged, so simple sentences would work easier.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Leaflets Dropped On Cities In Japan

Leaflets dropped on cities in Japan warning civilians about the atomic bomb, dropped c. August 6, 1945

TO THE JAPANESE PEOPLE:
America asks that you take immediate heed of what we say on this leaflet.

We are in possession of the most destructive explosive ever devised by man. A single one of our newly developed atomic bombs is actually the equivalent in explosive power to what 2000 of our giant B-29s can carry on a single mission. This awful fact is one for you to ponder and we solemnly assure you it is grimly accurate.

We have just begun to use this weapon against your homeland. If you still have any doubt, make inquiry as to what happened to Hiroshima when just one atomic bomb fell on that city.

Before using this bomb to destroy every resource of the military by which they are prolonging this useless war, we ask that you now petition the Emperor to end the war. Our president has outlined for you the thirteen consequences of an honorable surrender. We urge that you accept these consequences and begin the work of building a new, better and peace-loving Japan.

You should take steps now to cease military resistance. Otherwise, we shall resolutely employ this bomb and all our other superior weapons to promptly and forcefully end the war.

EVACUATE YOUR CITIES.

ATTENTION JAPANESE PEOPLE. EVACUATE YOUR CITIES.

Because your military leaders have rejected the thirteen part surrender declaration, two momentous events have occurred in the last few days.

The Soviet Union, because of this rejection on the part of the military has notified your Ambassador Sato that it has declared war on your nation. Thus, all powerful countries of the world are now at war with you.

Also, because of your leaders' refusal to accept the surrender declaration that would enable Japan to honorably end this useless war, we have employed our atomic bomb.

A single one of our newly developed atomic bombs is actually the equivalent in explosive power to what 2000 of our giant B-29s could have carried on a single mission. Radio Tokyo has told you that with the first use of this weapon of total destruction, Hiroshima was virtually destroyed.

Before we use this bomb again and again to destroy every resource of the military by which they are prolonging this useless war, petition the emperor now to end the war. Our president has outlined for you the thirteen consequences of an honorable surrender. We urge that you accept these consequences and begin the work of building a new, better, and peace-loving Japan.

Act at once or we shall resolutely employ this bomb and all our other superior weapons to promptly and forcefully end the war.

EVACUATE YOUR CITIES.

Source: Harry S. Truman Library, Miscellaneous historical document file, no. 258.

Front side of OWI notice #2106, dubbed the “LeMay bombing leaflet,” which was delivered to Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and 33 other Japanese cities on 1 August 1945. Office of War Information [OWI] presses were turning out leaflets that revealed the special nature of Hiroshima’s destruction and predicted similar fates for more Japanese cities in the absence of immediate acceptance of the terms of the Potsdam agreement. The Japanese text on the reverse side of the leaflet carried the following warning: “Read this carefully as it may save your life or the life of a relative or friend. In the next few days, some or all of the cities named on the reverse side will be destroyed by American bombs. These cities contain military installations and workshops or factories which produce military goods. We are determined to destroy all of the tools of the military clique which they are using to prolong this useless war. But, unfortunately, bombs have no eyes. So, in accordance with America's humanitarian policies, the American Air Force, which does not wish to injure innocent people, now gives you warning to evacuate the cities named and save your lives. America is not fighting the Japanese people but is fighting the military clique which has enslaved the Japanese people. The peace which America will bring will free the people from the oppression of the military clique and mean the emergence of a new and better Japan. You can restore peace by demanding new and good leaders who will end the war. We cannot promise that only these cities will be among those attacked but some or all of them will be, so heed this warning and evacuate these cities immediately.” (See Richard S. R. Hubert, “The OWI Saipan Operation,” Official Report to US Information Service, Washington, DC 1946.) By 9 August, more than 5 million leaflets about the atom bomb had been released over major Japanese cities. The OWI radio station beamed a similar message to Japan every 15 minutes.

[Bender2]

Re: (Hmm is this True?)

Yes...

And maybe we need to start dropping like love notes over Iran and Chavezland...