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 a historical overview of thye 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.

Acknowledgments
Introduction
Part I. Historical Narrative
1. The Debate Over Hiroshima
2. Building the Atomic Bomb
3. The Pacific War
4. The Decision to Drop the Bomb
5. The Japanese Government, Ketsu-Go, and Potsdam
6. Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Japan's Surrender
7. Hiroshima and American Power
Part II. Key Questions and Interpretations
Part III. Resources
Chronology
Glossary of Military Terms and Abbreviations
Glossary of Names
Selected Bibliography
Part IV. Documents
Guide to the Documents
A. American Civilian Documents
B. American Military Documents
C. MAGIC Diplomatic Summaries
D. Japanese Government Documents, Military Documents, and Diary Entries
E. Japanese Surrender Documents
F. United States Strategic Bombing Survey: Summary Report and Interrogations of Japanese Officials
G. Statements of Japanese Officials on World War II, Military Intelligence Section, Historical Division, U.S. Army
Notes
Index