The Atomic Bomb and the end of WWII The End of Japan The Atomic Bomb and the end of WWII

The End of Japan The U.S. and the Japanese have waged a brutal war against one another for 3½ years that has resulted in thousands of deaths, millions of dollars in damage, and the devastation of countless families By June 1945, the U.S. had been firebombing Tokyo for six months and is ready to invade Japan and finally end the war

The End of Japan Operation Downfall: The planned invasion of Japan to end the war in 1945 It would have been broken up into two separate invasions: -The invasion of southern Japan in October 1945 -The invasion of central Japan in the Spring of 1946 Estimated casualties: 1 million men!

The End of Japan

The End of Japan At this time, the atomic bomb was a closely guarded secret that even Truman did not know about until he became President back in April The initial plans for Japan did not include using the bomb until it became available and only if sufficient numbers could be produced in time Plans for the invasion change the next month…

The End of Japan July 16, 1945, the U.S. detonates the first atomic bomb in the desert of New Mexico. “The Gadget” Scientists watch from a bunker nearly six miles away as the bomb explodes with 20 kilotons of TNT The news is immediately reported to President Truman, who now has an unprecedented decision to make

The End of Japan

The End of Japan Truman’s Debate: He has the capacity to end the war, but it involves unleashing the most terrible weapon ever known The Situation: Americans are weary of war, the Japanese are refusing to surrender, and Truman wants to end the war and save American lives What to do?

The End of Japan On July 26th Truman demands an unconditional surrender from the leadership of Japan or face “prompt and utter destruction” Japan rejects the demand and Truman makes the decision to use the bomb to end the war and save American lives Who gets the task of using it now?

The End of Japan Paul Tibbets was assigned to organize and command the 509th combat group to develop the means of delivering an atomic bomb

The End of Japan After months of training and retooling the planes, Tibbets declared his men ready and they deployed to the island of Tinian in the Marianas By the 1st of August, the city of Hiroshima had been selected as the first target due to it being an industrialized area big enough in diameter to measure the blast

The End of Japan August 6th, 1945, Tibbets and his plane, the “Enola Gay,” along with two other B-29s, take off for Hiroshima. At 8:15 am, the bomb doors open and “Little Boy” falls to the earth 43 seconds later 77,000 people are dead

The End of Japan

The End of Japan After the bombing, Truman issues a statement announcing the use of the bomb and again calls for Japan to surrender. While the Japanese decide what to do, the Soviet Union declares war on Japan and invades Manchukuo.

The End of Japan With no official surrender from Japan, Truman orders a second bomb to be dropped August 9th 1945, the B-29 “Bockscar,” flown by Major Charles Sweeney drops “Fat Man” on the city of Nagasaki (Same reasons as Hiroshima) 43 seconds later, 60,000 people are dead

The End of Japan

The End of Japan More bombs and bombing raids were scheduled for August On August 10th Hirohito notifies the Allies that Japan will surrender if the throne is preserved. The Allies reject that proposition Four days later, Hirohito surrenders unconditionally

The End of Japan Sporadic fighting continues against the Soviets until a cease fire is ordered on August 18th The next day General MacArthur will travel to Tokyo to begin the formal occupation of Japan and accept the formal surrender of the Japanese in two weeks

The End of Japan V-J Day: Victory over Japan Historians consider multiple days as V-J Day including August 14th and September 2nd Most importantly, the fighting and the war have come to an end!