1. Hiroshima and Nagasaki
“If the radiance of a thousand suns were to burst at once into the sky, that would be like the splendor of the mighty one...”
-J. Robert Oppenheimer, quoting Hindu Scripture

2. Japan in the End By 1945, the Japanese Empire was unraveling
The Allies had taken back most of what Japan had conquered
Japanese wartime production couldn’t keep up with the United States
Japan continued to fight effectively in the Pacific
The war in Europe had basically ended with the surrender of Germany on May 8, 1945
The war in the Pacific continued

3. Death of Roosevelt
Franklin Roosevelt died on a cerebral hemorrhage in Warm Springs, Georgia on April 12, 1945, less than three months into his fourth term
He was succeeded by his new Vice-President Harry Truman, who had little experience, and didn’t even want to be Vice-President

4. Truman and Japan
After becoming President, Truman sought to end the war quickly.
The war in Europe would end in a matter of weeks
Japan proved to be more elusive
Potsdam Declaration
Statement calling for the unconditional surrender of Japan
Threatened “prompt and utter destruction” if not accepted
Japanese refused (mokusatsu)

5. Manhattan Project
Project during World War II to develop a nuclear bomb
Scientific research led by American physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer
Project work sped up during World War II
Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer

6. Decision to “Drop the Bomb”
Location
Several sites were explored
Wanted a large metropolitan area where the blast would create “effective damage”
Decided on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (Kyoto was rejected because of its beauty and historical significance)
After Japanese rejection of the Potsdam Declaration, President Truman signed the order to proceed with the Bombings

7. The bombing sites

8. The Bombs “Little Boy”, dropped on Hiroshima
“Fat Man”, dropped on Nagasaki

9. The Plane and Pilot B-29 Bomber, the Enola Gay
Brigadier General Paul Tibbets
Pilot of the Enola Gay

10. Hiroshima Bomb was dropped at 8:15 a.m. local time
Fell for 57 seconds
Detonated 2000 feet above the city
Missed its intended target due to crosswinds
Mushroom cloud over Hiroshima about 1 hour after the bombing

11. Destruction
Temperature at the hypocenter are estimated to have reached several million degrees centigrade
All wooden structure within a 1.2 mile radius were destroyed
All concrete structure with 1500 feet were destroyed
Five square miles of the city was reduced to ashes
63% of the 76,000 buildings were destroyed
This all happened almost instantaneously

12. Hiroshima – Before and After

13. The people 50% death rate within 1.2 miles of the hypocenter
70,000-80,000 were killed instantly (including 90% of the doctors and nurses)
70,000 plus had severe injuries
119,000 people died within 1 year
Number stands at around 140,000 today
Thousands suffer from radiation sickness, various cancers, and birth defects

14. Pictures A burned body near the hypocenter
Japanese woman with the pattern of her dress burned into her flesh

15. Pictures
Melted bottles and a melted downtown Hiroshima

16. Nagasaki Bomb exploded after a 43 second drop
Generated temperatures of about 3900 degrees centigrade and winds up to 624 miles per hour
40,000-75,000 dead
2.6 square miles of the city reduced to ashes

17. Nagasaki – Before and after
The total destruction of Nagasaki

18. Historic district of Nagasaki
Clock of victim stopped at exact moment of detonation

19. Atomic Shadows

20. Japan surrenders
Having no other alternative, Japan formally surrendered to the Allies on August 15, 1945
Surrendered aboard the U.S.S Missouri
General Douglas MacArthur and Admiral Chester Nimitz accepted the surrender

21. Hiroshima and Nagasaki today
Hiroshima Peace Memorial
Hypocenter Memorial in Nagasaki

22. Hibakusha Translates to “Explosion affected people”
People who survived the blasts
Receive government aid from Japan
Discriminated against
Tsutomu Yamaguchi ( )
A survivor of both Atomic Bombs