On August 6 and August 9, 1945, the United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, respectively. Hiroshima was bombed first on August 6, resulting in massive destruction and immediate loss of life. The second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki three days later, compounding the devastation. These bombings were pivotal events that precipitated Japan's surrender and the end of World War II. They marked the first and only use of nuclear weapons in armed conflict, raising significant ethical and humanitarian concerns that continue to be debated to this day.