The war in Europe ended when Nazi Germany signed its instrument of surrender on May 8, 1945, but the Pacific War continued. The two events are the only use of nuclear weapons in war to date.įollowing a firebombing campaign that destroyed many Japanese cities, the Allies prepared for a costly invasion of Japan. The atomic bombings of the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan were conducted by the United States during the final stages of World War II in 1945.
