The atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 were pivotal events in World War II, leading to Japan's surrender and the end of the war. The U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima on August 6 and Nagasaki on August 9, resulting in devastating destruction and loss of life, with hundreds of thousands killed or injured. The bombings marked the first and only use of nuclear weapons in warfare and raised ethical questions regarding their necessity. They also ushered in the nuclear age, prompting discussions about arms control and the implications of nuclear warfare on global politics and security.