The Atomic Bomb and the End of World War II : The Debate Among Historians

For many years, professional historians have vigorously debated the decision of President Truman to drop atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This debate has gone through many changes and has shifted with the discovery of new documents and the changes in the historical profession itself. The following essay is a review of the key books and articles that have enriched the debate concerning the atomic bomb and the end of the Second World War. The writings of Henry L. Stimson, Herbert Feis, Gar Alperovitz, Gabriel Kolko, Martin Sherwin, and other important historians and critics are discussed.For many years, professional historians have vigorously debated the decision of President Truman to drop atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This debate has gone through many changes and has shifted with the discovery of new documents and the changes in the historical profession itself. The following essay is a review of the key books and articles that have enriched the debate concerning the atomic bomb and the end of the Second World War. The writings of Henry L. Stimson, Herbert Feis, Gar Alperovitz, Gabriel Kolko, Martin Sherwin, and other important historians and critics are discussed