Transcript Japan Surrenders

Hiroshima & Nagasaki,
Japan Surrenders
By: John Baeck and Yonna Worku
Key Figures
Harry S.
Truman
•
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States.
There were two main reasons President Truman wanted to bomb
Japan. Firstly, he wanted to end the war as soon as he can, to
minimize the deaths of American soldiers and secondly he
wanted to keep the U.S.S.R. out of Asia. Truman thought that by
deploying the atomic bomb, it would not only be revenge on
Japan for Pearl Harbor but would also display the strength of the
United States to the Japanese and other countries.
Key Figures
Paul
Tibbets
•
Paul Tibbets was the commander and pilot of the
plane that bombed Hiroshima, Japan. He flew the Enola
Gay, the B-29 Boeing plane which was named after his
mother. Getting prepared, the crew were only told that
the weapon had the capability to end the war, but none of
them were told what it actually was. Only Paul knew
exactly what they were planning to do. After the bombing
of Hiroshima, Paul was seen as a saviour to the
Americans.
Key Figures
Emperor
Hirohito
•
Emperor Hirohito was afraid he would lose his throne if
they lost World War II. The Allies said that Hirohito would
have to “follow orders from the occupying force,” after they
surrender. Even after the bombing of Hiroshima and
Nagasaki, some from the Japanese government wanted to
continue the war. However the emperor was soon convinced
to end the war, and finally on August 15, he broadcasted on
the radio that the war was over.
Top Secret Military Project
•
After Pearl Harbor and the United States joining the war, there began a great
effort to create a nuclear weapon. This effort began the biggest single military
construction project in history, codenamed the “Manhattan Project”.
•
The United States thought that the Germans and Japanese were developing a
nuclear weapon. However neither the Germans or Japanese prioritized the
development of a nuclear weapon, the U.S. did not know this until the war was over.
•
As for the Soviets the Americans and the British didn’t inform them about the
“Manhattan Project” because they did not fully trust their allies in the east.
Potsdam Conference and Ultimatum
•
After the bomb was produced and tested there were many talks between the
United States and Britain on what to do with it.
•
At the Potsdam Conference from July 17th to August 2nd, 1945 President Truman
mentioned to Joseph Stalin that the U.S. have developed a powerful new weapon.
However with the help of Soviet spies who were closely involved with the “Manhattan
Project”, Stalin knew about the weapon long before Truman told him.
•
Near the end of the conference Japan was given an ultimatum, to either surrender
or to meet prompt and utter destruction. Japan ignored the ultimatum and it was
decided that the nuclear weapon would be used on Japan.
It’s Your Decision Mr. President
Basically, President Truman and the armed forces had three strategic
options for inducing the Japanese surrender:
1. Continue the firebombing and blockade
• This option would have Japan accept an unconditional surrender
probably by November, the latest being the end of the year.
2. Invade Japan
• This was another option because many people thought that firebombing
and blockade wouldn’t push Japan into surrendering. An estimated
500,000 American soldiers would be killed.
3. Use the atomic bomb
• This was thought by many as being the quickest way to end the war
but would kill many Japanese citizens.
Why the U.S. Wanted to Bomb Japan
•
To end the war as soon as possible and limit allied soldier deaths.
•
To keep the U.S.S.R out of Asia.
•
To act as revenge for Pearl Harbour and to also demonstrate the power of the weapon
and of the United States to other countries especially to the USA’s emerging rival, the
U.S.S.R.
U.S. Base in Tinian
•
After the word was given that Japan would be bombed, the 509th Composite
Group had been picked as the unit to deliver the atomic bombs. Crews were hand
picked by the commander, Col. Paul Tibbets. The atomic bombs were transported to a
secret U.S. military base on the Pacific island of Tinian 1,500 miles south of Japan.
The “Little Boy” and the “Fat Man”
•
The two atomic bombs were nicknamed the “Little Boy” and the “Fat Man”. The “Little
Boy” was created using Uranium-235, a radioactive isotope of uranium and the bomb
cost $2 billion dollars to produce.
•
The “Little Boy” was never tested and that is why the Japanese weren’t warned of the
atomic bomb because of fear that the bomb would malfunction. The “Fat Man” was filled
with Plotonium-239, but unlike the “Little Boy” it was tested in the United States before
being transported to Tinian.
•
The two bombs were similar in weight but the “Fat Man” would have a larger
explosion.
The Enola Gay
•
The 509th Composite Group was made up of fifteen Boeing B-29 Superfortress
planes. The planes were modified with new propellers, stronger engines, and faster
opening bomb bay doors. On August 5th, 1945 one of the fifteen B-29 planes was
chosen to carry the “Little Boy”. Col. Paul Tibbets nicknamed the plane “Enola Gay”
after his mother.
Dairy Entry:
Enola Gay Crew Member
Where to Go?
•
There had been four cities chosen as possible targets:
Hiroshima, Kokura, Nagasaki, and Niigata. The cities were
chosen because they were relatively untouched throughout
the war. The Target Committee wanted the first bomb to be
spectacular for the importance of the bomb to be
internationally recognized.
Hiroshima
•
At 2:45 a.m. on Monday, August 6th, 1945, the Enola Gay took off from Tinian. It
was escorted by two other planes with cameras and measuring devices. Three other
planes had departed earlier to scout out the weather conditions of the possible cities.
Out of all the other cities, Hiroshima had the clearest weather and the best condition.
•
At precisely 8:16 a.m. the Enola Gay released the “Little boy” on to the city of
Hiroshima. The explosion blasted 1900 feet above the city, missing the target, the Aioi
Bridge by 800 feet. The blast disintegrated everything it touched. Staff Sergeant George
Caron described that a huge purple mushroom cloud formed after the impact. And
after the smoke had cleared out, there was nothing left, except for a few burning
buildings.
Nagasaki
•
Three days after Hiroshima was bombed, the bombing of Nagasaki took place on
Thursday, August 9th,1945. Another B-29 plane named the “Bock’s Car” departed from
Tinian at 3:49 a.m. carrying the “Fat Man”. It was headed for Kokura, but the way
there, the fuel ran out, leaving them no choice but to find the nearest city to bomb. At
11:02 a.m. the bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, and exploded 1,650 above the city. The
city was home to 270,000 people, although there were many more people living here,
many survived because of the mountainous terrain.
Dairy Entry:
Japanese Survivor
Outcome
Hiroshima
•
Approximately 70,000 died immediately from the flash of the blast and 70,000 died
from radiation sickness within five years.
•
600,000 buildings were demolished in the blast.
Nagasaki
•
Out of the population of 270,000, approximately 40,000 died. Most people were
spared because of the mountainous terrain.
V-J Day, Japan Surrenders
•
After the bombings Japan was frantically trying to
comprehend the damage done to Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
•
Members of the Japanese government wanted to continue
the war even after the bombings, however Emperor Hirohito
was afraid that there would be more bombs like the ones that
devastated Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
•
The bombings ended the war immediately, which would
have go on for much longer
V-J Day, Japan Surrenders (Cont’d)
•
It was estimated that the war would have
killed over 300,000 American soldiers if it had
continued.
•
The U.S. and the Allied nations thought
that Japan surrendered after the bombings but
they officially surrendered on August
15th,1945 when Emperor Hirohito broadcast
the message over the radio.
•
This day was named V-J Day which
means Victory Over Japan and ended WWII as
the U.S. and the rest of the world rejoiced.
Works Cited
American Air Force Association. "The Decision That Launched the Enola Gay." The
Decision That Launched the Enola Gay. American Air Force Association, 1995. Web.
07 Apr. 2013. <http://www.afa.org/media/enolagay/07-02.asp>.
British Government. "The National Archives | Heroes & Villains | Truman & the
Atomic Bomb | Why Did Truman Use It?" The National Archives | Heroes & Villains |
Truman & the Atomic Bomb | Why Did Truman Use It? The National Archives, 2013.
Web. 07 Apr. 2013.
<http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/heroesvillains/g5/cs2/>.
Lawton, Clive. Hiroshima: The Story of the First Atom Bomb. Cambridge, MA:
Candlewick, 2004. Print
Rosenberg, Jennifer. "The Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima
And Nagasaki." About.com 20th Century History. About.com, 2013. Web. 07 Apr. 2013.
<http://history1900s.about.com/od/worldwarii/a/hiroshima.htm>.
World War 2 History.com. Nuclear Bomb on Hiroshima Pacific Front Key Moments
WW2History.com. World War 2 History.com, 2013. Web. 07 Apr. 2013.
<http://ww2history.com/key_moments/Pacific/Nuclear_bomb_on_Hiroshima>.