How did the Battle of Okinawa influence Harry S. Truman’s thinking about using the atomic bomb?

The Battle of Okinawa was a pivotal factor in President Harry S. Truman’s decision to use the atomic bomb. The campaign was characterized by extreme tenacity from Japanese forces, resulting in massive casualties for both sides and the widespread use of kamikaze suicide attacks against the U.S. fleet.1

Following the battle, American planners estimated that an invasion of the Japanese home islands could result in between 225,000 and 1,000,000 U.S. casualties. Faced with the Japanese military's refusal to surrender despite the destruction of their cities and a naval blockade, Truman sought to avoid a repeat of the brutal, prolonged fighting experienced on Okinawa. He explicitly expressed his hope that there was a possibility of preventing an "Okinawa from one end of Japan to another," a sentiment that played a significant role in his decision to use the atomic bomb to bring the war to an end.1