1st August 1945 some 1 million leaflets were dropped on 30+ cities (including Nagasaki) telling them to flee the cities before bombs rained on them. By 9th August the number of leaflets dropped over major cities in Japan warning them about the A-bomb had reached some 5 million.
– Williams Info War in Pacific
Below: Nagasaki warned to evacuate (leaflet in Japanese with English translation, 6 August 1945)
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 against 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 explosion power to what 2000 of our giant B-29’s 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 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 honourable surrender. We urge that you accept those 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
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The reality was how many Japanese would have believed these words? And how many leaflets had previously been dropped over Japan? The Emperor was so adored by Japan and the military, believing him to be a god. Hirohito had never spoken publicly until he broadcast ‘the surrender’.
