Many books have been written about the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. Evan Thomas, a journalist and historian, puts a fresh spin on the topic by focusing on three key figures involved in the events during the final months of the war. On the American side, the two people profiled are Harry Stimson, the Secretary of War, and General Carl Spaatz, head of strategic bombing in the Pacific. The Japanese government official featured is Shigenori Togo, the country’s Foreign Minister. Based on extensive research, Thomas plums the diaries of these three men to present their thoughts as they wrestled to successfully bring the war to a close with a minimal loss of life on both sides.
Both Stimson and Spaatz are shown battling other American officials who wanted to drop the atomic bombs on Tokyo or other heavily populated cities in Japan. In the end, they helped steer the choices to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, smaller cities which also had key military installations. Togo, on the other hand, risked his own life by pushing for surrender, going against military leaders determined to fight until the bitter end. When Emperor Hirohito decided to go along with Togo, it proved to be a nail biter right up to the conclusion, with a number of the military trying to overturn the civilian government and seize the emperor as a prisoner.
The not well known behind-the-scenes maneuvering on each side makes for a fascinating read. Stimson’s diary reveals a man greatly troubled about the use of an atomic bomb, not only because of the heavy casualties it would cause, but also fearing such a weapon of mass destruction could result in the end of civilization itself. Togo is shown as a man determined to prevent the loss of Japanese lives, even if it meant surrendering and allowing an American occupation of the country. He did so knowing it was likely that he would be arrested for war crimes afterwards. Road To Surrender, published in 2023, does an excellent job of depicting the mindsets and emotions of numerous key figures in both countries and, in doing so, gives a nuanced account of the final days of WWII.
Robert Up At Dawn 