What effects did the dropping of the atom bomb have? Do Now: What do you know about atom bombs and nuclear weapons? L.O: Can I explain the significance of the atom bomb on the Cold War?

On 9th May 1945, Hitler and his allies surrendered and lost the war, after 6 long years of ‘Total War’. This day was called V.E day (Victory in Europe day). After Britain and her allies were victorious in Europe, the war in the pacific continued, Japan still wouldn’t surrender, and the Americans were struggling to defeat them. Q: What do you think the Americans might do to end the war in the Pacific and defeat the Japanese? Q: Why were people so terrified and in awe of nuclear weapons?

On 10th August the war against Japan ended On 10th August the war against Japan ended. President Harry Truman decided to drop the world’s first atom bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Hiroshima was bombed on August 6th and Nagasaki on August 9th. Q: Consider what you know about the relationship between the USA & the USSR in 1945. How do you think Stalin would react to this news?

What did Stalin think of all this? I am not happy about this! I want to be the world’s biggest superpower, and the first one to develop nuclear weapons!!! I hate those damn American Capitalists

At the Yalta Conference, if you remember rightly, Stalin had promised to enter the war against Japan on the side of the Americans. He had taken far too long, and didn’t actually keep to his promise. Truman had told Churchill at the Yalta conference that he was planning to use the atom bombs on Japan. Stalin knew that the USA had nuclear weapons, but hadn’t been told of this plan. Between the first atom bomb being dropped on Hiroshima on August 6th, and the other on Nagasaki on August 9th, Stalin joined the war against Japan on 8th. Thanks a lot for your help! Q: What effect do you think the dropping of the atomic bomb on Japan had on the relationship between the USSR and the USA?