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

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Kort, Michael, 1944- author.

Series:

Columbia guides to American history and cultures.

Columbia Guides to American History and Culture

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Atomic bomb--United States--History--20th century.

Atomic bomb.

Atomic bomb--United States--History--20th century--Sources.

Atomic bomb--Japan--History--20th century.

Atomic bomb--Japan--History--20th century--Sources.

Hiroshima-shi (Japan)--History--Bombardment, 1945.

Hiroshima-shi (Japan).

Hiroshima-shi (Japan)--History--Bombardment, 1945--Sources.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (912 p.)

Place of Publication:

New York : Columbia University Press, 2007.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

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.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

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

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

Notes:

Includes index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9780231527583

0231527586

OCLC:

815651645