The End of World War The End of World War II:II:

Pearl Harbor and the Atomic Pearl Harbor and the Atomic BombBomb

December 7, 1941December 7, 1941 On December 7, On December 7,

1941 American 1941 American sailors at Pearl sailors at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Harbor, Hawaii, awoke to the sounds awoke to the sounds of screaming sirens.of screaming sirens.

Rushing to their Rushing to their posts, they saw a posts, they saw a sky full of Japanese sky full of Japanese planes.planes.

Within minutes, Within minutes, 2,500 American lives 2,500 American lives were lost.were lost.

Press Conference with FDRPress Conference with FDR

Imagine you are a Imagine you are a report covering report covering FDR’s speech.FDR’s speech.

What three What three questions would questions would you ask him at you ask him at the press the press conference conference afterwards?afterwards?

December 8, December 8, 19411941

The US entered World War II and The US entered World War II and fought on the side of the fought on the side of the AlliesAllies, , against Japan (and also against against Japan (and also against Hitler and Germany.)Hitler and Germany.)

How do you think this impacted How do you think this impacted Japanese-Americans living in the Japanese-Americans living in the US?US?

The End of World War IIThe End of World War II The Allies, made up of 26 nations including The Allies, made up of 26 nations including

America, decided to crush Germany, then Italy and America, decided to crush Germany, then Italy and Japan.Japan.

On June 6, 1944, the Allies launched a massive On June 6, 1944, the Allies launched a massive invasion on Nazi occupied Europe, known as D-Day. invasion on Nazi occupied Europe, known as D-Day.

US General Eisenhower landed on the beach of US General Eisenhower landed on the beach of Normandy, France with 130,000 allied soldiers. Normandy, France with 130,000 allied soldiers.

When the allies were within reach of Hitler, he When the allies were within reach of Hitler, he

committed suicide on April 30, 1945.committed suicide on April 30, 1945.

19451945 Although the war against Although the war against

Germany was won, most of Germany was won, most of Europe was in ruins. Thus, it was Europe was in ruins. Thus, it was up to the United States to defeat up to the United States to defeat Japan, who refused to surrender.Japan, who refused to surrender.

President Harry Truman (who President Harry Truman (who took over when Roosevelt died in took over when Roosevelt died in 1945) faced a difficult decision.1945) faced a difficult decision.

Should the United States fight on with Should the United States fight on with Japan in the Pacific?Japan in the Pacific?

OROR

Should Truman order the atomic bomb Should Truman order the atomic bomb to be dropped on Japan?to be dropped on Japan?

America’s Dilemma America’s Dilemma

On August 6, 1945, the United States used On August 6, 1945, the United States used its massive, secret weapon against its massive, secret weapon against Hiroshima, Japan. Hiroshima, Japan.

This atomic bomb, equivalent to 20,000 This atomic bomb, equivalent to 20,000 tons of TNT, flattened the city, killing tens tons of TNT, flattened the city, killing tens of thousands of civilians. of thousands of civilians.

While Japan was still trying to comprehend While Japan was still trying to comprehend this devastation, three days later the this devastation, three days later the United States struck again, this time United States struck again, this time dropping an atom bomb on Nagasaki. dropping an atom bomb on Nagasaki.

A Decision is MadeA Decision is Made

Colonel Paul W. Colonel Paul W. Tibbets, Jr., pilot of the Tibbets, Jr., pilot of the

ENOLA GAYENOLA GAY, ,

the plane that dropped the plane that dropped the atomic bomb on the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, waves Hiroshima, waves from his cockpit from his cockpit

before the takeoff.before the takeoff.

August 6August 6thth, 1945, 1945

"The mushroom cloud "The mushroom cloud itself was a spectacular itself was a spectacular sight, a bubbling mass sight, a bubbling mass of purple-gray smoke of purple-gray smoke and you could see it and you could see it had a red core in it and had a red core in it and everything was everything was burning inside. . .[I]t burning inside. . .[I]t looked like lava or looked like lava or molasses covering a molasses covering a whole city…“ whole city…“

- Staff Sergeant - Staff Sergeant George Caron, tail George Caron, tail gunnergunner

Hiroshima, JapanHiroshima, Japan

The cloud is estimated to have reached a height of 40,000 feet.

Captain Robert Lewis, the co-pilot, stated, Captain Robert Lewis, the co-pilot, stated, "Where we had seen a clear city two "Where we had seen a clear city two minutes before, we could no longer see minutes before, we could no longer see the city. We could see smoke and fires the city. We could see smoke and fires creeping up the sides of the mountains.“creeping up the sides of the mountains.“

Two-thirds of Hiroshima was destroyed. Two-thirds of Hiroshima was destroyed.

Within three miles of the explosion, 60,000 Within three miles of the explosion, 60,000 of the 90,000 buildings were demolished. of the 90,000 buildings were demolished.

Clay roof tiles had melted together. Clay roof tiles had melted together. Shadows had imprinted on buildings and Shadows had imprinted on buildings and other hard surfaces. Metal and stone had other hard surfaces. Metal and stone had melted. melted.

Hiroshima, JapanHiroshima, Japan

The atomic bomb that exploded The atomic bomb that exploded over Hiroshima killed civilian over Hiroshima killed civilian women and children in addition women and children in addition to soldiers. to soldiers.

Hiroshima's population has been Hiroshima's population has been estimated at 350,000; estimated at 350,000; approximately 70,000 died approximately 70,000 died immediately from the explosion immediately from the explosion and another 70,000 died from and another 70,000 died from radiation within five years.radiation within five years.

Hiroshima, JapanHiroshima, Japan

– ““The appearance of people was . . . well, The appearance of people was . . . well, they all had skin blackened by burns. . . . they all had skin blackened by burns. . . . They had no hair because their hair was They had no hair because their hair was burned, and at a glance you couldn't tell burned, and at a glance you couldn't tell whether you were looking at them from in whether you were looking at them from in front or in back. . .their skin - not only on front or in back. . .their skin - not only on their hands, but on their faces and bodies their hands, but on their faces and bodies too - hung down. . too - hung down. . If there had been only one or two such If there had been only one or two such people . . . perhaps I would not have had people . . . perhaps I would not have had such a strong impression. But wherever I such a strong impression. But wherever I walked I met these people. . . . Many of walked I met these people. . . . Many of them died along the road - I can still them died along the road - I can still picture them in my mind - like walking picture them in my mind - like walking ghosts.”ghosts.”

Hiroshima, JapanHiroshima, Japan

NagasakiNagasakiA dense column of smoke A dense column of smoke rises more than 60,000 rises more than 60,000 feet into the air over the feet into the air over the Japanese port of Japanese port of Nagasaki, the result of an Nagasaki, the result of an atomic bomb, the second atomic bomb, the second ever used in warfare, ever used in warfare, dropped on the industrial dropped on the industrial center August 8, 1945, center August 8, 1945, from a U.S. B-29 from a U.S. B-29 Superfortress.Superfortress.

With a population of 270,000, approximately With a population of 270,000, approximately 70,000 people died by the end of the year. 70,000 people died by the end of the year.

Remembering History:Remembering History:Each year on August 6Each year on August 6thth the City of the City of Hiroshima holds the Peace Memorial Hiroshima holds the Peace Memorial

Ceremony. People from across the world Ceremony. People from across the world gather at the memorial and pray for the gather at the memorial and pray for the

repose of the A-bomb fallen victims while repose of the A-bomb fallen victims while calling out to the entire world for peace.calling out to the entire world for peace.

What lessons can we learn from this What lessons can we learn from this history?history?

““If we do not die If we do not die together in war, we must together in war, we must live together in peace.” live together in peace.”

~President Truman~President Truman