Hiroshima: The Decision to Drop the Bomb

This excellent documentary takes the view that the atomic bombs were dropped on Japan primarily to scare the Soviets. Stewart Udall, being interviewed toward the end of the show, even gives his opinion that the atomic bomb prolonged the war, as the Japanese had been trying to surrender for months but the Americans weren't ready to accept any form of surrender until they had a chance to demonstrate the Bomb.

The documentary contains interviews with many people involved in this part of history from Hans Bethe and Edward Teller (who were involved in creating the atomic bomb) to several Japanese victims of the bombs as well as crew members of the B-29's that dropped the bombs. There are also interviews with aides to policy makers (as most of the policy makers of the day are now dead). The interviews are cut with archival footage of the events of the time: speeches by Harry Truman, scenes of Okinawa, the Soviet invasion of Manchuria, etc. Much of the imagery, especially of the aftermath of the atomic bomb attacks, is very graphic.