Last year, David came on the Explaining History Podcast to discuss the last days of the Pacific War and the decision to drop the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and NagasakiHiroshima and Nagasaki Full Description The atomic bombing of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima (6 August 1945) and Nagasaki (9 August 1945) by US B-29 bombers, killing an estimated 110,000–210,000 people immediately and tens of thousands more from radiation in the following months. The bombings were followed by Japan’s surrender on 15 August 1945, ending the Second World War. They represented the first — and so far only — use of nuclear weapons in warfare, initiating the atomic age and the nuclear arms race that defined the Cold War. Critical Perspective The decision to use atomic bombs remains among the most contested in modern history. The Truman administration’s justification — that the bombs prevented a land invasion that would have killed millions on both sides — has been challenged by historians who note that Japan was already close to surrender, that the Soviet declaration of war against Japan (9 August) may have been the decisive factor, and that the bombings were partly designed to end the war before Soviet forces could claim a role in the Pacific settlement. The bombs were dropped on cities, killing primarily civilians — a fact that sits uncomfortably with the “military necessity” framing.. Tonight, David was kind enough to return to the show to share his expertise with me on the American air war over Europe. We discussed American strategic goals, the differences in strategic outlook with the British, the importance of degrading Germany’s military infrastructure and Roosevelt’s vision of a war fought from the air. Watch and remember to subscribe to the Explaining History YouTube Channel.