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

2. 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

3. 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!

4. The End of Japan

5. 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…

6. 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

7. The End of Japan

8. 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?

9. 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?

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. The End of Japan

14. 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.

15. 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

16. The End of Japan

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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!