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The War in the Pacific Ends

This version was saved 14 years, 11 months ago View current version     Page history
Saved by Mr. Kane
on May 5, 2009 at 11:41:01 am
 

Development of the Atomic Bomb

 

          Ida Noddack had the theory that if uranium was hit by neutrons that the atoms would burst. Her theory suggested the nucleus of an atom might fission and was considered absurd. But later her theory was proved true. With the theory was the thought that this process could create enormous amounts of uncontrollable energy that could be used in a bomb

 

When American military leaders heard about the studies and power of nuclear fission they became afraid of its power.   Albert Einstein who was a refugee from Germany and one of the most famous scientists at the time sent a letter convincing President Roosevelt to increase funding and effort in the formation of the atomic bomb.

 

         President Roosevelt then started the “Manhattan Project” which was a clever code name because nuclear fission was being studied by military engineers and scientists in New York City.

 

         Because of the density of uranium and plutonium they are the only elements that could be used in the bomb that would have enough power when subjected to fission to create a deadly explosion.

 

        

         The first test if the atomic bomb was preformed at “ground zero” in the middle of the desert. The explosion was huge, much bigger than expected and vaporized everything it touched. The total amount of money spent on this study and test cost over 6 billion dollars.

 

 

 

Hiroshima, Nagasaki

 

               This is a picture of Hiroshima, these are victims of this massacre.

 

 

           On August 6th 1945, WWII ended in Europe. However, Japanese cities were still being bombed. In one unsuspecting city, it was just a regular normal day. Little did they know that for thousands of them, life was about to come to an end. Hiroshima had been selected by the United States as the very first atomic bomb target. Nobody knew for certain what the effect would be. 

           The single atomic bomb weighed 4 tons, which is 3,600 kilograms. The person who dropped the bomb was Major Tom Ferebee from the aircraft, the “Enola Gay”. The pilot who was flying the “Enola Gay” at the time was Colonel Paul Tibbets.

           The dropping happened just after 8am. Less than a minute after the dropping, the atomic bomb exploded. The explosion produced a temperature of 5,400 Fahrenheit, which is twice as high as the melting point of iron. Close by citizens skin began to peel off their faces, hands, and arms. It has been estimated that people living within 1,100 yards (1km) of the dropping burned to death. 

           Survivors were just in a state of shock. Dead and dying people lay all around Hiroshima. Hiroshima used to be a city of 245,000 people with only 150 doctors and 1,780 nurses. 65 doctors were killed and the rest were wounded. 1,654 nurses were dead/wounded. At the biggest hospital, only 1 doctor out of 30 was uninjured and the nursing staff of over 200 was down to 10. 

          Nobody knows the exact number of people who died in Hiroshima. Official figures estimated 100,000 died. However, due to radiation; by the end of 1945, the estimate rose to 140,000.

 

 

The Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

 

 

In Germany and Great Britain, all of the soldiers were dead and surrender was evident. The primary topic of interest was the United States’ problems with Japan. Japan had to surrender soon because their economic supplies were depleting quickly. The cities were in ruins and everyone knew that it was time for Japan to give up. On August 6, 1945, the United States bombed the city of Hiroshima and it was a disaster. The next bomb exploded above the city of Nagasaki, the bombs killed a combined 180,000 people. These two were the only atomic bombs ever used as warfare in the history of the world. It took years until Americans understood the impact of the bombs on Japan and the rest of the world. The first bomb was called “Little Boy” and the plane that transported the bomb was called “Enola Gay.” The plane was not able to lift off with the weight of the bomb and the 7600 gallons of fuel so the bomb had to be assembled aboard the plane. The bomb was dropped over Hiroshima at an altitude of 31,600 feet and it detonated 43 seconds later at a height of 1,800 feet.

 

            The bomb completely destroyed Hiroshima. The only way to describe it is that the city was completely erased from the face of the Earth. Thousands of innocent people disappeared without a trace. An estimated 70,000 to 80,000 people were immediately killed from the bomb and thousands more died in the coming months from the effects of radiation. At the epicenter of the explosion, there was a 250-foot-wide fireball the temperature of the sun. The sound of the explosion was indescribably loud and the massive concussion wave destroyed 6,820 buildings. One quarter of the people living in Hiroshima died instantly. The bomb destroyed: 70% of fire fighting equipment, 80% of firefighters, 100% of all communication, 42/45 hospitals, 262/290 physicians, and 1654/1780 nurses.

 

            The bomb was completely unexpected by the Japanese because Hiroshima was not one the larger cities of Japan. A major bomb raid could be expected in larger cities such as Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Kobe or Yokahama. After the first bombing, Japan rejected the United States’ ultimatum so America dropped a second bomb on Nagasaki. The bomb was called “Fat man.” The bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima involved the splitting of an atom of uranium while the Nagasaki bomb was plutonium so the second was more powerful. Japan surrendered to the United States on August 14, 1945, 8 days following the first bombing.

 

QUOTES: Co-pilot Lewis-“I don’t believe anyone ever expected to look at a sight quite like that. Where we had seen a clear city two minutes before, we could no longer see the city. We could see the smoke and fires creeping up the side of the mountain.”

 

Crew Member-“My God, what have we done?”

 

President Harry Truman-“[The atomic bomb was] the greatest achievement of organized science in history.”

 

Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer (director of atomic bomb project)-“[The atomic bomb was] a grievous error.” and “We have blood on our hands.”

 

This mushroom cloud  demonstrates the explosive power of an atomic bomb.

 

 

 

Reenactment of the Atomic Bomb Detonatin Over Hiroshima

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 V-J Day

 

August 15 1945 president Truman announced that the Japanese government agreed to the surrender of Japan. On September 2, 1945 the Japanese the commander of the Japanese forces and foreign minister signed the official unconstitutional surrender. Aboard the ship the UUS Missouri at the Tokyo Bay, president Harry Truman announced the victory over Japan day also known as VJ day. On august 15, 1945 dropping of the atomic bomb later with another atomic bomb called fat men dropped upon Nagasaki. The war ended on august 15, 1945 and victory over Japan was celebrated. Dropping of the atomic bomb remains the Nazi administration was crushed. In august 14, 1945 the people in time square awaited the news that Japan has formally surrender. World war ended but the cold war has just begun. 

In August 14, 1945 over two million people crowded time square. In august 15, 1945 world war 2s bloodiest war in human history ended. The allies declaimed victory in Japan day but the celebration took place the day before when Truman announced that Japan had signed the unconstitutional surrendered of Japan. On June 22, 1945 declared Okinawa secured most bloody part of the war. Since April the Japanese had been caring out operation ester go. This plan distributed over two million regular solders to protect the four islands and Korea. Japanese surrender on September 2, 1945.

 

  

 

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An American sailor kisses a nurse in Times Square to celebrate Victory in Japan Day.

 

 

 

American soldiers gather to celebrate V-J Day

 

 

 

The Proclamation of Celebration for the Surrender of Japan or V-J Day in Florida

 

 

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

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