💣 This Week In History - We Dropped The Atomic Bomb

Welcome back History Nerds,

We are back with another edition of the LOL History Newsletter. In this one, we cover some exciting times in history, like the adoption of the US dollar, the resignation of a US President, and the story behind Operation Storm. If you’re a new reader, respond to this email with your name and favorite historical event. Thanks for joining us, and enjoy this week’s newsletter.

Did You Know? On April 1, 1945, the U.S. launched the Battle of Okinawa, the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific during World War II. Over 1,500 ships and 180,000 troops hit the beaches—expecting a quick victory. Instead, it turned into a brutal 82-day slugfest with kamikaze attacks, cave warfare, and one of the highest casualty counts of the entire war. It was so intense, some commanders feared the upcoming invasion of Japan would be even worse—which helped push the decision to use the atomic bomb.

During Your History Lesson You’ll Learn About:

• 100,000 Troops, 200,000 Displaced: The Story Behind Operation Storm

• The Blast That Ended a War and Changed the World

• Jefferson's Decimal Dream: The Birth of the U.S. Dollar

• The Only President to Quit the Job

How Operation Storm Ended the Republic of Serbian Krajina

On August 4, 1995, Croatian forces launched Operation Storm, a swift and staggering military offensive that would change the course of the Balkan Wars—and mark the largest European land battle since World War II. In just four days, more than 100,000 troops surged into the Serbian-held Krajina region, dismantling the self-proclaimed Republic of Serbian Krajina and reasserting Croatian control over nearly a fifth of its territory. The offensive was not just a military maneuver; it was a declaration of sovereignty and a pivotal moment in the unraveling of Yugoslavia’s post–Cold War map.

For Croatia, Operation Storm was hailed as a triumph of national unification, celebrated with parades and presidential speeches. But the aftermath was far more complex. The offensive displaced an estimated 200,000 Serbs, many of whom fled their homes in fear or were forcibly expelled. Dozens of civilians were killed in the chaos that followed, and entire villages were left abandoned—haunted by a silence that spoke of loss, trauma, and unresolved justice.

In the years since, Operation Storm has remained deeply divisive: honored in Croatia as a symbol of liberation, condemned in Serbia as ethnic cleansing, and scrutinized internationally for its humanitarian cost. Yet its legacy is undeniable. Like the borders it helped redraw, the operation carved deep lines across memory and identity in the Balkans—lines that, even decades later, have yet to fully fade.

The Blast That Ended a War and Changed the World

On August 6, 1945, the United States dropped the first atomic bomb ever used in warfare on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The bomb, nicknamed "Little Boy", exploded with unimaginable force, instantly killing more than 70,000 people and leveling most of the city. The blast turned buildings to dust, melted steel, and left a haunting mushroom cloud that marked a terrifying new era in human history.

The decision to use the atomic bomb came after years of brutal fighting in the Pacific during World War II. American leaders believed the shock and devastation would force Japan to surrender without a costly invasion. Just three days later, a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. On August 15, Japan announced its surrender, officially ending the war. But while the bomb may have shortened the conflict, it opened the door to decades of nuclear tension.

For historians, Hiroshima isn't just a turning point in the war—it's the moment the world realized what it had unleashed. The bomb changed the rules of warfare, diplomacy, and science all at once. It's a story of innovation, horror, and the heavy cost of trying to end a global conflict. It’s also a reminder that even history’s biggest victories can come with questions we’re still asking today.

Minting a Nation: The 1786 Adoption of the Dollar and America's Economic Dawn

On August 8, 1786, the U.S. Congress took a quiet but profound step toward economic identity: it adopted the dollar as the official monetary unit of the newly formed United States. At a time when the young republic was still stitching itself together from former colonies, burdened with war debts and awash in a confusing mix of foreign currencies—from British pounds to Spanish pieces of eight—the decision marked an early and essential move toward national coherence.

Inspired by Enlightenment ideals and the decimal logic proposed by Thomas Jefferson, the dollar was envisioned as more than just currency; it was a symbol of order, unity, and modernity. Unlike the old-world complexity of pounds, shillings, and pence, the dollar’s base-10 system offered simplicity and accessibility, reflecting the democratic spirit of the American experiment.

Yet for all its practicality, the dollar’s adoption didn’t instantly solve the country’s financial woes. Economic instability, inflation, and competing state-issued notes continued to plague the post-Revolutionary landscape. Still, the choice to standardize the nation’s money laid the foundation for what would become the world’s most powerful currency—a tool of commerce, diplomacy, and global influence.

The Only President to Quit the Job

On August 8, 1974, Richard Nixon became the first (and so far only) U.S. president to resign from office. After two years of cover-ups, secret recordings, and a little thing called the Watergate scandal, Nixon finally realized the walls were closing in. With impeachment looming and support from his own party crumbling like a stale cracker, he went on national TV and told the country he’d be stepping down for the good of the nation. The next day, Gerald Ford took the oath and suddenly became president, talk about a wild promotion.

Nixon’s fall was dramatic, messy, and unlike anything the nation had ever seen. Once known as a tough, savvy political fighter, he was ultimately undone by his own recordings and a growing mountain of evidence. The scandal deeply shook Americans’ faith in the presidency, leading to new laws around transparency, campaign finance, and government oversight. It was a turning point—one that forced the country to reckon with the limits of power and the importance of accountability at the highest level.

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See You Next Time!

We hope that you enjoyed this edition of the LOL History newsletter! See you next week!

— Evan & Derek - LOL History Co-Founders