On August 6, 1945, a U.S. B-29 bomber dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The explosion destroyed a large part of the city and caused catastrophic loss of life. Many people died instantly from the blast and heat, while others suffered later from radiation sickness. The attack was intended to hasten Japan’s surrender and end World War II. It also demonstrated the terrible destructive power of nuclear weapons. The bombing remains one of the most debated decisions in American military and moral history.
