The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 were significant as they marked the first and only use of nuclear weapons in warfare. The United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima on August 6 and Nagasaki on August 9, leading to immense destruction, immediate loss of life, and long-term radiation effects. These events contributed to Japan’s surrender on August 15, 1945, bringing an end to World War II. The bombings also initiated global debates about the ethics of nuclear warfare and influenced post-war international relations, resulting in arms control efforts and the Cold War nuclear arms race.