1. The Dropping of the Atomic Bomb

2. I. The War in the Pacific
A. By early 1945 the U.S. was dominating the Japanese in the Pacific.

3. I. The War in the Pacific
B. But how much more money and how many more lives would complete victory in the Pacific cost?
1. The 7th War Bond Drive was
a huge success thanks
to the Iwo Jima Photo
2. U.S. Officials estimate
1 million U.S. lives
lost and 3 to 10 million Japanese
lost if the U.S. were to
invade Japan.

4. II. The Japanese War Mentality
The Japanese Code of War = Bushido
Bushido means– “The Way of the Warrior”
According to Bushido – Surrender was the ultimate disgrace.

5. II. The Japanese War Mentality
D. As the Japanese began to lose ground in the Pacific:
1. The number of Kamikaze missions increased.
2. Japanese soldiers were instructed to take as many Americans with them in death as possible.

6. Kamikaze attack on the USS Bunker Hill

7. Kamikaze attack on the USS Bunker Hill

8. Kamikaze attack on the USS Bunker Hill

9. Kamikaze attack on the USS Bunker Hill

10. III. The Manhattan Project
A. The US was forced to consider alternative ways of winning the war in the Pacific.
The U.S. would call on Fat Man and Little Boy.

11. III. The Manhattan Project
B. With the fear that Germany had already begun development of an atomic bomb, the US entered the race to develop the first nuclear weapon.

12. III. The Manhattan Project
C. In June of 1942, under the direction of General Leslie Groves The Manhattan Project began.

13. III. The Manhattan Project
D. With a team of experts lead by theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer the US developed, produced, and tested an atomic bomb in just three years.

14. IV. The Trinity Test
A. July 16, White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico - The U.S. tested the first nuclear weapon.
“I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds”
J.Robert Oppenheimer

15. IV. The Trinity Test
B. Testing showed a bomb capable of delivering previously unimagined damage.
No one who saw it could forget it, a foul and awesome display. -Kenneth Bainbridge, physicist on the project

25. V. Hiroshima – August 6, 1945
A. The US dropped the bomb code name “Little Boy” on the Japanese city of Hiroshima.
Picture of Hiroshima Mushroom cloud taken by the crew of the Enola Gay.

26. V. Hiroshima
B. Exploding some 2000 feet above an Industrial area of Hiroshima “Little Boy” instantly killed approximately 150,000 people and seriously injured another 100,000.

29. VI. Hiroshima
Before and After aerial photos of Hiroshima

30. Then & Now

31. VII. Nagasaki – August 9, 1945
A. The US dropped the bomb code name “Fat Man” on the Japanese city of Nagasaki.

32. VI. Nagasaki
B. While the loss of life was light compared to Hiroshima it was still a horrific total.
C. An estimated 80,000 were instantly killed and another 25,000 were seriously injured when “Fat Man” exploded some 500 feet above Nagasaki.

33. VI. Nagasaki
Religious Temples destroyed in Nagasaki

34. VI. Nagasaki
The Mitsubishi shipbuilding factory was one mile away from the epicenter.

35. VI. Nagasaki
D. Thousands fled both cities during the days following the blasts.

36. VI. Nagasaki
Before and After aerial shots of Nagasaki
Before After

37. VII. Victory in Japan
A. Fearing any further destruction the US might inflict on his people Japanese Emperor Hirohito surrendered.
B. It could be argued that the use of the atomic bomb by the U.S. saved an estimated 1 million U.S. lives and nearly 10 million Japanese lives.

38. VII. Victory in Japan D. World War II is over
C. VJ Day – August 14, 1945
D. World War II is over