Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima

On August 6, 1945, the American B-29 bomber Enola Gay dropped an atomic bomb nicknamed "Little Boy" on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The explosion killed an estimated 80,000 people instantly, and tens of thousands more died from radiation exposure in the following months. Total casualties reached approximately 140,000 by the end of 1945. Three days later, a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. On August 15, Japan announced its surrender, ending World War II. The bombings remain the only use of nuclear weapons in armed conflict and sparked a worldwide debate about nuclear weapons that continues to this day. The decision to use the bomb was made by President Harry S. Truman, who argued it would save lives by avoiding a land invasion of Japan.

Key Takeaways