The Columbia guide to Hiroshima and the bomb / Michael Kort.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

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.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

CHOICE Review

The dropping of the US atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, on August 6, 1945 (and then on Nagasaki three days later) has long been controversial. Here Kort (Boston Univ.) makes available to a wide audience selected primary source materials on this topic, useful as background for researchers studying President Truman's fateful decision at the end of WW II. The first part is a historical narrative of the events leading up to the destruction of the cities, and the second part discusses ten key questions that may be used as starting points for classroom discussions and directed readings in other sources. Both parts include references to the document excerpts that follow in Part 4. In that last part are excerpts from American and Japanese military, government, and civilian documents, and postwar Japanese government statements; and the US Strategic Bombing Survey: Summary Report and Interrogations of Japanese Officials. The reference utility of this work is found in part 3, in the 9-page chronology, glossary of military terms and abbreviations, list of important individuals and their positions/responsibilities, and an 11-page selective bibliography arranged by archival collections, government publications, microfilm and published document collections, interviews and personal communications, books and articles, and Web sites. Reference notes are located at the back before the index. Summing Up: Recommended. Library circulating collections; lower-/upper-level undergraduates, researchers/faculty, and general readers. D. K. Blewett College of DuPage