During the Second World War, on which specific date did the United States drop the first atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: 6th August 1945

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
The dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima is one of the most significant and tragic events in modern world history. It marked the first use of nuclear weapons in warfare and played a major role in bringing about the end of the Second World War in the Pacific. Knowing the exact date of this event is a basic general knowledge requirement and helps place the event correctly in the timeline of the war and subsequent international relations.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The question asks for the exact date of the Hiroshima bombing.
  • Four different dates are given, only one of which is correct.
  • We know that the event occurred near the end of World War Two.
  • Therefore the correct date must fall within the mid nineteen forties, not earlier or later decades.


Concept / Approach:
The main concept is remembering that World War Two lasted from 1939 to 1945 and that the atomic bombs were dropped in August 1945. Specifically, Hiroshima was bombed first, followed by Nagasaki a few days later. The approach is to select the date that matches this well known historical fact and to eliminate dates that either lie outside the war period or do not correspond to August 1945.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall from history that the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima in August 1945.Step 2: Look at option A, which states 6th August 1945. This matches the standard date given in textbooks and commemorations.Step 3: Check option B, 18th July 1922. This is long before World War Two and therefore cannot be correct.Step 4: Check option C, 26th June 1947. This is after the war ended in 1945 and does not match the known timeline.Step 5: Check option D, 11th May 1931. This is also far before World War Two and unrelated to the event.Step 6: Since only option A falls in August 1945 and is the widely recognised date, we choose 6th August 1945.


Verification / Alternative check:
Historical references and official memorial sites confirm that the United States bomber Enola Gay dropped the atomic bomb nicknamed Little Boy on Hiroshima on the morning of 6th August 1945. A second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki on 9th August 1945. Japan announced its intention to surrender shortly after these bombings, and formal surrender documents were signed in September 1945. No serious historical source claims any of the other dates given in the options as the date of the Hiroshima bombing. This confirms that 6th August 1945 is correct.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B, 18th July 1922, is wrong because it refers to a date in the interwar period, long before the development and use of atomic weapons. Option C, 26th June 1947, is wrong because it comes after the war and does not correspond to any major atomic bombing event. Option D, 11th May 1931, is wrong because it lies well before the Second World War and has no connection to Hiroshima in this context. None of these dates align with the historical record.



Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes mix up the dates of Hiroshima and Nagasaki or confuse the year with other important world events. Another pitfall is to choose a date that looks like it belongs in the nineteen forties without checking whether it is actually in August and within 1945. To remember correctly, connect the phrase Hiroshima and atomic bomb with 6 August 1945 and associate Nagasaki with 9 August 1945. This simple pair of dates helps anchor the end of the war in your memory.


Final Answer:
The United States dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima on 6th August 1945.

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