Two bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Truman decided that the Americans would explode their secret weapon – the atomic bomb - on a Japanese city. Hiroshima was chosen and on 6 August 1945 one atomic bomb was dropped on the city. The bomb killed 80,000 civilians instantly and a further 80,000 would die from the effects of radiation. Three days later, another was dropped on Nagasaki, killing another 45,000 immediately. The Emperor Hirohito at last faced up to reality - Japan would have to surrender unconditionally or face total destruction. On 14 August, the Emperor announced the surrender of Japan. The Second World War was over.

Neil Demarco: The era of the Second World War; Oxford University Press, 1993/2000, page 55