The Atomic Bombing of The Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima and NagasakiHiroshima and Nagasaki

By: John GillilandBy: John Gilliland

Root cause of bombingRoot cause of bombing

Rationale for the bombing.Rationale for the bombing. 1. To stop the plan called Operation 1. To stop the plan called Operation

Downfall, a planned attack on the U.S.Downfall, a planned attack on the U.S. 2.To prevent mass casualties resulting 2.To prevent mass casualties resulting

from the planned invasion of the Japanese from the planned invasion of the Japanese mainland. mainland.

3. To prevent the war from going on any 3. To prevent the war from going on any longer.longer.

Reasons not to bombReasons not to bomb

Many people didn’t want us to use the Many people didn’t want us to use the bomb.bomb.

1. Ethical consideration that the act of 1. Ethical consideration that the act of bombing civilians may be considered a bombing civilians may be considered a war crime.war crime.

2. Use of bombs may not serve intended 2. Use of bombs may not serve intended purpose. Japan may still refuse to purpose. Japan may still refuse to surrender.surrender.

Important PeopleImportant People

Albert Einstein was a critic of the bombing Albert Einstein was a critic of the bombing and was against it. He sent a letter to the and was against it. He sent a letter to the president saying that the bombs weren’t president saying that the bombs weren’t necessary.necessary.

Important PeopleImportant People

Leo Szilard is one of the many people Leo Szilard is one of the many people against the bombing of Hiroshima and against the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.Nagasaki.

Important PeopleImportant People

Peter Kuznick was the director of the Peter Kuznick was the director of the Nuclear Studies Institute at American Nuclear Studies Institute at American University. He said to the president: University. He said to the president: ”He”He knew he was beginning the process of knew he was beginning the process of annihilation of the species. It was not just a war annihilation of the species. It was not just a war crime; it was a crime against humanity."crime; it was a crime against humanity."

Maps of the devastation and the Maps of the devastation and the weapon that caused itweapon that caused it

First Atomic Bomb

Format of the First Atomic Bomb

Primary SourcePrimary Source "We have discussed among ourselves the ethics of the "We have discussed among ourselves the ethics of the

use of the bomb. Some consider it in the same category use of the bomb. Some consider it in the same category as poison gas and were against its use on a civil as poison gas and were against its use on a civil population. Others were of the view that in total war, as population. Others were of the view that in total war, as carried on in Japan, there was no difference between carried on in Japan, there was no difference between civilians and soldiers, and that the bomb itself was an civilians and soldiers, and that the bomb itself was an effective force tending to end the bloodshed, warning effective force tending to end the bloodshed, warning Japan to surrender and thus to avoid total destruction. It Japan to surrender and thus to avoid total destruction. It seems logical to me that he who supports total war in seems logical to me that he who supports total war in principle cannot complain of war against civilians."principle cannot complain of war against civilians."

By: Father John A. Siemes (works at a Catholic By: Father John A. Siemes (works at a Catholic University).University).

DetailsDetails

The Americans decided to bomb Japan with the The Americans decided to bomb Japan with the Atomic bombs to avoid being attacked and to Atomic bombs to avoid being attacked and to protect lives of American soldiers. It is estimated protect lives of American soldiers. It is estimated half of our men, a number approaching about half of our men, a number approaching about half a million people, would have died invading half a million people, would have died invading Japan.Japan.

There were no good solutions to end the war, There were no good solutions to end the war, given Japan’s willingness to accept a given Japan’s willingness to accept a tremendous amount of casualties in continuing tremendous amount of casualties in continuing their war efforts.their war efforts.

In the endIn the end

At the end of the bombing, more than 220,000 At the end of the bombing, more than 220,000 people died from both bombs (The “Little boy” people died from both bombs (The “Little boy” killed 140,000 people in Hiroshima and the “Fat killed 140,000 people in Hiroshima and the “Fat man” killed 80,000 people).man” killed 80,000 people).

The Japanese surrendered six days later.The Japanese surrendered six days later.

Time LineTime Line

1. August 81. August 8thth, 1945, leaflets dropped to warn of , 1945, leaflets dropped to warn of next bombing unless the Japanese accepted their next bombing unless the Japanese accepted their requests.requests.

2. August 92. August 9thth, Soviet Military declare war on Japan., Soviet Military declare war on Japan. 3. August 93. August 9thth, the “Fat man” bomb carried to , the “Fat man” bomb carried to

Nagasaki and dropped by U.S. B-29 Superfortress Nagasaki and dropped by U.S. B-29 Superfortress Bockscar.Bockscar.

4.4. August 14, Japan surrenders and ends the war.August 14, Japan surrenders and ends the war.

HiroshimaHiroshima

A city in Japan that was the primary A city in Japan that was the primary source for the bombing with the “Little source for the bombing with the “Little man”.man”.

The bomb did 1.38% of material The bomb did 1.38% of material fissioning. 90% of the buildings were fissioning. 90% of the buildings were damaged or completely destroyed. damaged or completely destroyed.

NagasakiNagasaki

The largest seaport in Japan and very The largest seaport in Japan and very important during the war.important during the war.

The primary target was Kokura and The primary target was Kokura and Nagasaki as a secondary.Nagasaki as a secondary.

The bombs temperature was 3900 The bombs temperature was 3900 degrees Celsius (7000 degrees degrees Celsius (7000 degrees Fahrenheit). Fahrenheit).

Hirohito’s speechHirohito’s speech Moreover, the enemy now possesses a new and terrible weapon Moreover, the enemy now possesses a new and terrible weapon

with the power to destroy many innocent lives and do with the power to destroy many innocent lives and do incalculable damage. Should we continue to fight, not only would incalculable damage. Should we continue to fight, not only would it result in an ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese it result in an ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese nation, but also it would lead to the total extinction of human nation, but also it would lead to the total extinction of human civilization. Such being the case, how are We to save the millions civilization. Such being the case, how are We to save the millions of Our subjects, or to atone Ourselves before the hallowed spirits of Our subjects, or to atone Ourselves before the hallowed spirits of Our Imperial Ancestors? This is the reason why We have of Our Imperial Ancestors? This is the reason why We have ordered the acceptance of the provisions of the Joint Declaration ordered the acceptance of the provisions of the Joint Declaration of the Powers.of the Powers.

That speech was released on the radio and ended the invasion That speech was released on the radio and ended the invasion and the war.and the war.

The Unexpected The Unexpected

When we bombed Japan, we didn’t know of When we bombed Japan, we didn’t know of who (besides the Japanese) was there.who (besides the Japanese) was there.

We killed:We killed: Allied POWs.Allied POWs. Korean and Chinese laborers.Korean and Chinese laborers. Malaya students on scholarships.Malaya students on scholarships. 3,200 Japanese Americans citizens.3,200 Japanese Americans citizens.

Citied SourcesCitied Sources

http://www.atomicarchive.com/Maps/Images/Nagasaki.gifhttp://www.atomicarchive.com/Maps/Images/Nagasaki.gif http://www.atomicarchive.com/Maps/Images/Hiroshima.ghttp://www.atomicarchive.com/Maps/Images/Hiroshima.g

ifif http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debate_over_the_atomic_bohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debate_over_the_atomic_bo

mbings_of_Hiroshima_and_Nagasakimbings_of_Hiroshima_and_Nagasaki http://www.voanews.com/english/images/TV_06jul05_Pethttp://www.voanews.com/english/images/TV_06jul05_Pet

erKuznick.jpgerKuznick.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d3/Albhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d3/Alb

ert_Einstein_Head.jpgert_Einstein_Head.jpg