Japanese Emperor Hirohito announced Japan’s unconditional surrender on August 15, 1945 after the August 6 and 9 bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, respectively. The formal surrender ceremony took place on September 2 aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, ending World War II.
American History TV and C-SPAN’s Washington Journal will be LIVE to look at the strategic situation in World War II’s Pacific theater leading up to the bombings, President Harry Truman’s decision to use the new weapon, and the impact of these atom bombs.
On August 6, we’ll be LIVE on C-SPAN from 8am to 10am ET. Guests include Ian Toll, author of "Twilight of the Gods: War in the Western Pacific, 1944-1945” and President Truman’s grandson, Clifton Truman Daniel. And on August 9, we’ll be LIVE on C-SPAN & C-SPAN 3 from 9am to 10am ET. All guests will respond to viewer calls and tweets.