One Family and the Atomic Bomb
The aftermath of Hiroshima.
On August 6, 1945, the United States became the only country ever to use nuclear weapons in a war with the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and, a few days later, Nagasaki.
The 78th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima is in a few days, and I am writing a seven-part series on it.
Was the Atomic Bomb Needed to End World War II?
The American government led the US public to believe that dropping the atomic bomb was necessary to end World War II and prevent future bloodshed. However, we now know that Japan may have been willing to surrender if certain terms were met.
The Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs sent a message to the Soviet Union on July 12, asking them to help broker a truce between the US and Japan.
Truman and the US government had intercepted the message and were aware of this. However, they insisted on unconditional surrender and were unwilling to negotiate.
The bombing, then, may not have been needed to end the war.
Read more about the events leading up to Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bomb.
