Hiroshima: BBC History of WWII By Elizabeth Berryman

Response/Reaction I chose to watch this World War II documentary because I have always been interested in the subject and relationship between the US and Japan. While watching it, it made me feel bad for the Japanese especially all the innocent people that were affected. The US killed thousands of innocent people. Questions that arose while I was watching it were: ▫Why didn’t we drop the bomb on a military base instead of in the middle of a populous town? ▫Was dropping the bomb necessary? Could we have done without it?

Summary This World War II documentary explains the history and planning of the US dropping the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima. The narrator describes the reasoning behind the dropping of the bomb and the evident consequences of this tragic event for the Japanese.

Timeline August 6, First atomic bomb dropped, on Hiroshima, Japan. August 8, Soviets declare war on Japan and invade Manchuria. August 9, 1945 – Second atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki, Japan. August 14, 1945 – Japanese agree to surrender. September 2, 1945 –Japanese sign the surrender agreement (V-J Day, Victory over Japan).

Dropping the bomb The atomic bomb was dropped from an airplane and took 45 seconds to trigger the mechanisms inside the bomb. o Thought it was a dud. When hit the ground, a fire ball 300 meters wide was formed degrees Celsius. Formed mushroom cloud.

Aftermath After the bomb was dropped, many were thirsty. Huge cloud of ash and smoke lingered over Hiroshima. Many suffered from severe burns. Finally when it began to rain, the rain was black, filled with ashes- highly radioactive. At that time they didn’t know this and drank the toxic rain water.

Radioactive poisoning Hair falls out Bleed internally Skin begins to rot Long term damage includes : mutation of sex cells :unable to have children but if can, children may have mutations

Facts about the Bomb Bomb dropped on August 6, The flash from the explosion was seen from over 10 miles away. A soldier, 10,000 feet away was knocked to the ground because of the force. Another soldier 5 miles away was temporarily blinded. The aircraft carrying the bomb, the Enola Gay, was named after the pilots mother. Today remnants of a vaporized man still exist on the stairs

The Atomic Bomb Original purpose: to use against Nazi Germany First atomic test was in New Mexico. Exploded with the force of 67 million sticks of dynamite. Japanese knew an attack would be coming but didn’t know where. Suicide bombers prepared themselves mentally and physically. ▫“A true soldier rather die than surrender”

America’s Reasoning Gave the Japanese several times to surrender however they were too honorable to surrender in time of war. Americans believe dropping the bomb saved more lives from being lost than if the war had continued. Also, Americans did not know exactly how much radiation would be given off and how badly the aftermath was going to be.

Bibliography ne/ww2time.htmhttp:// ne/ww2time.htm whttp:// w /hiroshima.htmhttp://history1900s.about.com/od/worldwarii/a /hiroshima.htm