2. The End of
World War II
Mushroom cloud over Nagasaki 1
On August 6, 1945, the first atomic bomb
was dropped on the Japanese city of
Hiroshima followed by a second atomic
bombing on August 9, 1945, on Nagasaki.
Six days later on August 15th the
Japanese surrendered to the Allies.
Although the bombings quickly ended
World War II, almost seventy years later
many historians continue to question both
the moral and psychological implications
of using the atomic bomb.

3. Prologue
In March of 1945, Tokyo was “firebombed”
by U.S. bombers as part of ongoing air raid
attacks on Japan. The attack on the capital
left over 100,000 people dead or severely
burned. A majority of those killed were
civilians.
The impact of the firebombing were
devastating and considered much worse
than the quick death that was associated
with atomic bombings.
On May 7, 1945, Germany surrendered to
the Allies. Now, the focus of the U.S. was to
end the war with Japan as quickly as
possible.
Tokyo burns from firebombing 2

4. Invasion of Japan
In the spring of 1945, preparations were underway for a U.S. invasion of
Japan. The invasion plan called for a two part strategy of sending U.S. troops
to the Japanese islands of Kyushu and Honshu. Due to the lack of easily
accessible invasion targets, the Japanese predicted where the U.S. would be
invading. In response, the Japanese sent millions of troops to these coastal
areas to protect their homeland from an invasion by the Allies.
In June of 1945 after a study was commissioned by the Joint War Plans
Committee, invasion plans were put on- hold. The committee found that the
invasion of Japan would cause a significantly high amount of U.S. causalities.
In addition, the amount of Japanese build- up of troops to protect their coastal
territories was alarming. After much consideration, alternative methods of
persuading the Japanese to agree to surrender were examined.

5. Alternative Plans
The U.S. mission was to end the war with
Japan as soon as possible with the smallest
amount of U.S. casualties. The atomic
bomb was ultimately chosen as the quickest
means to end the war against Japan.
U.S. research relating to the impact of the
atomic bomb began in 1939 as a response
to the Nazi’s intended development of the
weapon. In 1945, the German army
surrendered. Consideration of the use of
the atomic bomb against another enemy
now focused on Japan.
Big Boy type bomb used in Japan
3

6. Preparations to Bomb Japan
In April of 1945, a Target Committee was formed and chaired by U.S. Major
General Leslie Groves. Groves had been instrumental in the initial
development and design of the first atomic bomb. After thoroughly researching
locations, the committee chose four potential targets to bomb in Japan. The
potential target locations were: Kokura, Hiroshima, Niigata, and Kyoto.
Eventually, final targets were selected. Hiroshima was chosen as the primary
target with Kokura and Nagasaki as secondary targets. Hiroshima was
ultimately picked as the primary target due to its large military presence and
its many industrial factories.
Spared from previous firebombing attacks and generally untouched from the
war, Hiroshima at the time of the bombing had a population close to 350,000
individuals. For all times after the bombing, Hiroshima would represent what
devastating damage could be done by the atomic bomb.

7. The Potsdam Ultimatum and
Bombing of Hiroshima
Japan was provided an opportunity to
surrender to the Allies on July 26, 1945. The
Potsdam ultimatum was issued by the
U.S., Great Britain, and China. The
ultimatum called for unconditional
surrender of Japan. In particular, the
ultimatum threatened the quick and total
destruction of Japan if they failed to
surrender immediately. The ultimatum fell
on deaf ears, and two days later on July
28, 1945, the ultimatum was rejected by
leaders of the empire of Japan. The
Japanese appeared oblivious to the fact
that the U.S. had nuclear capabilities that
they planned to use on Japan.
On August 6, 1945, a B-29 bomber named the Enola Gay left the island of Tinian targeted for the city
of Hiroshima. Shortly after daylight, the bomb (referred to as “Little Boy”) was dropped over the city of
Hiroshima. The bomb blast sent shock waves through the city of Hiroshima; many died instantly. The
bomb destroyed most of the city.
Hiroshima before and after the bombing 4

8. The Bombing of Nagasaki
Following the destruction of Hiroshima, President Truman issued Japan
another warning: unconditionally surrender or face more bombs. Japan's
Supreme War Council still would not agree to the terms of the Potsdam
Ultimatum.
On August 9, 1945, a B-29 Superfortress (referred to as “Bockscar”) took off
with the atomic payload known as “Fat Man”. The B-29 headed toward its
intended target of Kokura; it was unable to deliver its payload because of
heavy cloud cover. With Kokura spared due to the heavy cloud cover, the
bomber now focused on Nagasaki.
In late morning, the atomic bomb known as “Fat Man” was dropped over the
industrial section of Nagasaki. Once again, the very destructive force of the
atomic bomb instantly destroyed a large percentage of the city and killed tens
of thousands of people. A majority of the city was spared from the bomb’s
brute force by the city’s surrounding hills. Most of the worst damage
impacted the Urakami Valley.

9. The Surrender of Japan
Japan’s situation continued to
deteriorate. Atomic bombs had been
dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The Soviet Union declared war on
Japan. Finally, he combination of these
events led Japan to accept the terms
of the Potsdam Declaration.
On September 2, 1945 after a myriad of
deliberations and negotiations, the
surrender ceremony was held aboard
the USS Missouri. Japanese officials
signed the Instrument of Surrender, and
World War II was ended.
General Douglas MacArthur accepting Japanese
Surrender on battleship USS Missouri 5

10. Epilogue
Almost seventy years after the end of World War II, many continue to debate
implications of the U.S. choosing to use the atomic bomb against Japan. A
recent USA Today/CNN/Gallup Poll indicated that 59% of Americans believe
the U.S. was correct in dropping atomic bombs on Japan in August, 1945; a
Gallup poll taken in August, 1945 showed 85% approval of the bombings. 6 It
must be remembered that the surprise attack by the Empire of Japan at Pearl
Harbor on December 7, 1941, was the catalyst that brought the United States
into WW II. Finally, geopolitical researchers remind us of the ramifications
surrounding the U.S. decision at the time to bomb Hiroshima and Nagasaki:
• The bombings saved lives on both sides by preventing a full scale invasion
of Japan and kept the Soviet Union from claiming post-war territory in
Japan.
• The Japanese were very determined and had no intentions of ever
surrendering.
• The bombings brought about a quick ending to the war.
• The decision to bomb Japan indicated strength of the U.S. on the world
stage.

11. Footnotes
1 Levy, Charles. 2010. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Atomic_bombing_of_Japan.jpg (accessed June 12, 2013).
2 Library of Congress. Tokyo burns under B-29 fire bomb assault. 1945. Library of Congress.
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/94506803/ (accessed June 10, 2013).
3 Williams, Harris. 2008. How Nuclear Bombs Work. How Stuff Works.com.
http://www.howstuffworks.com/nuclear-bomb7.htm (accessed June 10, 2013).
4 Kingendai/AFLO. Aerial Photo of Before and After of Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima in 1945. Corbis Images.
http://www.corbisimages.com/stock-photo/rights-managed/42-34838297/aerial-photo-of-before-and-after-of
(accessed June 11, 2013).
5 National Archives. General Douglas MacArthur Accepts Japanese Surrender on USS Missouri. Museum
Syndicate. http://www.museumsyndicate.com/item.php?item=35242 (accessed June 10, 2013).
6 Hoversten, Paul.1995. A-bomb was justified, most still say. USA Today.
http://www.museumsyndicate.com/item.php?item=35242 (accessed June 10, 2013).

12. Bibliography
Hoversten, Paul.1995. A-bomb was justified, most still say. USA Today.
http://www.museumsyndicate.com/item.php?item=35242 (accessed June 10, 2013).
Kingendai/AFLO. Aerial Photo of Before and After of Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima in 1945. Corbis Images.
http://www.corbisimages.com/stock-photo/rights-managed/42-34838297/aerial-photo-of-before-and-after-of
(accessed June 11, 2013).
Levy, Charles. 2010. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Atomic_bombing_of_Japan.jpg (accessed June 12, 2013).
Library of Congress. Tokyo burns under B-29 fire bomb assault. 1945. Library of Congress.
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/94506803/ (accessed June 10, 2013).
National Archives. General Douglas MacArthur Accepts Japanese Surrender on USS Missouri. Museum
Syndicate. http://www.museumsyndicate.com/item.php?item=35242 (accessed June 10, 2013).
Williams, Harris. 2008. How Nuclear Bombs Work. How Stuff Works.com.
http://www.howstuffworks.com/nuclear-bomb7.htm (accessed June 10, 2013).