The Columbia Guide to Hiroshima and the Bomb

Few aspects of American military history have been as vigorously debated as Harry Truman's decision to use atomic bombs against Japan.

In this carefully crafted volume, Michael Kort describes the wartime circumstances and thinking that form the context for the decision to use these weapons, surveys the major debates related to that decision, and provides a comprehensive collection of key primary source documents that illuminate the behavior of the United States and Japan during the closing days of World War II.

Kort opens with a summary of the debate over Hiroshima as it has evolved since 1945.

He then provides an historical overview of the events in question, beginning with the decision and program to build the atomic bomb.

Detailing the sequence of events leading to Japan's surrender, he revisits the decisive battles of the Pacific War and the motivations of American and Japanese leaders.

Finally, Kort examines ten key issues in the discussion of Hiroshima and guides readers to relevant primary source documents, scholarly books, and articles.

These primary source documents comprise the largest part of this volume. They are organized into seven categories: American civilian documents; American military documents; MAGIC diplomatic summaries; Japanese government and military documents and diary entries; Japanese surrender documents; the United States Strategic Bombing Survey Summary Report and Interrogations of Japanese Officials; and Statements of Japanese Officials on World War II compiled by the Military Intelligence Section of the United States Army.

Kort's clear, insightful narrative examines conflicting points of view on numerous issues but remains impartial throughout.

Above all, by providing a broad range of documents, including translations of Japanese language materials, Kort makes it possible for readers to render informed and independent judgments in the ongoing debate.