Top Secret Hiroshima Documents Released

The "gadget" on the test tower.
Source: US Department of Energy

Frode Weierud has send me a great heads-up about recently declassified documents at the National Security Archive. They have a comprehensive collection about the use of the first atomic bomb contains top secret material about meetings, decisions about targets selection and intercepts of Japanese messages.

The documents should help readers to make up their own minds over such questions as whether the first use of atomic weapons was justified, was necessary to get Japan's surrender, and didn't had President Truman alternatives to the use of atomic weapons.

These documents show why and how Hiroshima and Nagasaki were selected as target, the issue of unconditional surrender, meetings with Japanese diplomats, the first nuclear tests and other details of the Manhattan Project, the opposition of using the bomb by the scientists, minutes of meetings on top level, translations of decoded Japanese diplomatic messages (MAGIC), reports from the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, damage reports and photographs, and much more.

There's also a fascinating description of the first ever test with a nuclear bomb (pdf). This detailled report from inside the test bunker shows not only the technical aspects, but also the impressions and reactions of the those in the bunker. See also images from the US.Department of Energy of the Triniti test site in New Mexico.

If you want to have an opinion on the first use of nuclear bombs, read this first hand information. All the documents can be found on the National Security Archive. Don't miss it!