, United States (USA) (American Colonies)
1945 - July 21 – WWII: President Harry S. Truman approves the order for atomic bombs to be used against Japan

President Harry S. Truman's decision to use atomic bombs against Japan came after years of devastating warfare in the Pacific Theater of World War II. By mid-1945, the Allies had been engaged in intense combat against Japan, and the Japanese government showed no signs of surrendering. The use of atomic bombs was seen as a way to quickly end the war and avoid the need for a costly invasion of the Japanese home islands.

On July 16, 1945, the United States successfully tested the first atomic bomb in New Mexico as part of the Manhattan Project. This test, known as the Trinity test, demonstrated the immense destructive power of atomic weapons. With this new weapon in hand, Truman and his advisors faced a difficult decision about how to proceed in the war against Japan.

After careful deliberation, Truman decided to use the atomic bomb against Japan. On August 6, 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb nicknamed "Little Boy" on the city of Hiroshima. The bomb instantly killed tens of thousands of people and caused widespread destruction.

Despite the devastation in Hiroshima, Japan did not immediately surrender. On August 9, 1945, the United States dropped a second atomic bomb, "Fat Man," on the city of Nagasaki. The bombing of Nagasaki resulted in further destruction and loss of life.

The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki remain highly controversial and are the only use of nuclear weapons in warfare to date. The decision to use atomic bombs against Japan continues to be the subject of debate among historians and policymakers, with some arguing that it was necessary to end the war quickly and save lives, while others contend that it was a morally questionable act that resulted in the unnecessary loss of civilian lives.

July 21, 1945

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