Which of the following actions by the Allies caused the highest casualty rates among Japanese civilians?
A) the "Doolittle Raid" on Tokyo of 1942 in reprisal for the attack on Pearl Harbor
B) the shelling of Japanese ports by the United States Navy
C) the dropping of the two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
D) the mass firebombing of Japanese cities during the summer of 1945
E) the naval blockade of the Japanese home island that led to widespread starvation

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The mass firebombing of Japanese cities, carried out by the Allies during the summer of 1945, killed an estimated 100,000 to 200,000 Japanese civilians, causing the highest casualty rates among Japanese civilians. The atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki killed approximately 129,000 people, but these attacks were not specifically targeted at civilians, and their overall impact on the war effort and eventual surrender of Japan is still debated by historians. The other options, such as the Doolittle Raid, shelling of Japanese ports, and naval blockade, did not cause significant casualties among Japanese civilians.

Which of the Following Actions by the Allies Caused the Highest