The Atomic BombsAugust 6, 1945: HiroshimaAugust 9, 1945: Nagasaki

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Panoramic view of the monument marking ground zero of the atomic bomb explosion over Nagasaki.

Citizens of Hiroshima walk by the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, the closest building to have survived the city's atomic bombing.

Pictures & captions retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_bombings_of_Hiroshima_and_Nagasaki