The cities were both military headquarters for their prefects. The Japanese chose to put a prime military target in those cities. One of the bombs went off almost directly over 5,000 soldiers lined up for inspection. They were military targets.
As for a demonstration, the first bomb on an actual city didn't convince Gen. Anami, the War Minister at the time, that surrender was the only viable option. He was promoting the slogan "100,000,000 dead for the defense of the Empire!" It wasn't until after Nagasaki that he came around and agreed to allow the Emperor to call for a surrender. Even then troops stormed the Imperial Palace trying to find the records of the Imperial person's voice. The palace officials hid the records in a room and pulled bookcases in front of the door to hide it.
The Emperor's announcement mentioned the "new and terrible weapons" being used by the Allies, but not the Russian declaration of war.
And for those who think they were used to keep the Russians out of Japan, Gen. MacArthur, who would be commanding the invasion, asked Gen. Marshall to do everything possible to get the Soviets to invade Hokkaido when he invaded Kyushu so as to divert troops from the southern landings.
As for a demonstration, the first bomb on an actual city didn't convince Gen. Anami, the War Minister at the time, that surrender was the only viable option. He was promoting the slogan "100,000,000 dead for the defense of the Empire!" It wasn't until after Nagasaki that he came around and agreed to allow the Emperor to call for a surrender. Even then troops stormed the Imperial Palace trying to find the records of the Imperial person's voice. The palace officials hid the records in a room and pulled bookcases in front of the door to hide it.
The Emperor's announcement mentioned the "new and terrible weapons" being used by the Allies, but not the Russian declaration of war.
And for those who think they were used to keep the Russians out of Japan, Gen. MacArthur, who would be commanding the invasion, asked Gen. Marshall to do everything possible to get the Soviets to invade Hokkaido when he invaded Kyushu so as to divert troops from the southern landings.
