[alloysteel]

Nazi Germany was ALWAYS the primary target for first use of the atomic bomb. The fact that they crumbled before we had a tested version of the weapon available was a matter of circumstances, not of strategy. But the Japanese made an excellent alternative target of opportunity.

And say, wasn't that a MOST satisfying reprisal for the bombing of Pearl Harbor? Now if we could deliver something as equally rewarding for the events of September 11, 2001....

[Reaganwuzthebest]

Nazi Germany was ALWAYS the primary target for first use of the atomic bomb.

That was my understanding as well. It totally debunks the ranting from liberals the atomic bomb attack on Japan was done strictly for racist reasons. The firebombing of Dresden clearly proved Roosevelt cared little for German civilians. His approach to war in both Germany and Japan was Shermanesque.

[Focault's Pendulum]

Nazi Germany was ALWAYS the primary target for first use of the atomic bomb

You are correct. The Manhattan Project was implemented with the intention of beating the German Axis before they had completed their own development project.

The bombing of their heavy water plants (extra hydrogen atom) in Norway somewhat delayed the German research...however...it was found out after the war, that they had not advanced nearly as much as we thought.

It is thought that this might have been caused by Adolf Hitler's inability to understand it's significance....such as he failed to grasp the Luftwaffe's rather interesting development of the first jet engine airplane.

[pepsionice]

What may have been true was simply the goal to make the bomb (from 1943 on), and that the targets from the 1943 list might have included Germany. If D-Day had gone badly and thousands of Americans captured, then the entire war in 1944 would have stalled. No further attempt to move into Europe would have taken place until at least the summer of 1945, and we would have likely looked upon a entrance into Spain and fight northward. A failed D-day would have been a major reason to drop a nuke upon Germany, although Berlin would have likely been the last target to use. One would guess that a major airfield would have been the choice in a unpopulated region of the country.

[Redleg Duke]

"And say, wasn't that a MOST satisfying reprisal for the bombing of Pearl Harbor? Now if we could deliver something as equally rewarding for the events of September 11, 2001...."

May I suggest Mecca and Medina for starters? Perhaps Tehran, Bagdad, Damascus, for the second course?

[Straight Vermonter]

Nazi Germany was ALWAYS the primary target for first use of the atomic bomb.

I am shocked it took 21 posts to get to what I thought was general knowledge. The Manhattan Projects scientists were irate about plans to drop the bomb on Japan.

I guess they thought it was okay to use it to stop the Nazis from killing their families but those people in Korea, China and elsewhere should just go on suffering.