1. The Atomic Bombs
August 6, 1945: Hiroshima
August 9, 1945: Nagasaki

2. Manhattan Project
1939: Albert Einstein wrote a letter to FDR explaining his concern that Nazi Germany may be developing nuclear bombs. He urges the president to have America build some of her own.
In response, FDR appointed a committee to create an atomic bomb.

3. The Trinity Test
After FDR died in April of 1945, Harry S. Truman continued to fund the Manhattan Project.
July 16, 1945— Those working to develop the atomic bomb detonate one in New Mexico to see if it worked. It did.

4. Potsdam Declaration
July 1945—Allied leaders meet in Potsdam, Germany to discuss how to win the war against Japan. Truman issues the Potsdam Declaration which stated that if Japan did not surrender, it faced “prompt and utter destruction.”
The Japanese did not surrender and Truman ordered the use of the bomb.

5. Hiroshima
August 6, 1945
Paul Tibbets flies the Enola Gay over Hiroshima drops the first bomb.
This bomb was called “Little Boy.”
Hiroshima was completely destroyed and about 70,000 people were killed instantly.

6. Nagasaki
August 9, 1945—due to bad weather conditions, the second atomic bomb was not dropped on its original target of Kokura Arsenal. Instead, it was dropped on Nagasaki.
This bomb was called “Fat Man.”
“Fat Man” exploded over an industrial center and killed 40,000 people.

7. Japanese Surrender
August 15, 1945—After the two bombings, the Japanese government surrendered. Emperor Hirohito announced the surrender on the radio. For many Japanese subjects, this was the first time they had heard their Emperor’s voice.
September 2, 1945— The formal surrender ceremony took place aboard the USS Missouri.

8. Citizens of Hiroshima walk by the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, the closest building to have survived the city's atomic bombing.
Panoramic view of the monument marking ground zero of the atomic bomb explosion over Nagasaki.
Pictures & captions retrieved from