Compare And Contrast Hiroshima And Nagasaki

636 Words2 Pages

Rebecca Pena
HIST-1302-V10
03/28/17
Hiroshima and Nagasaki United States forces and its allies had been at war – ever since Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941 – with Japan America was capable of fighting against Japan with the aid of their land, sea, and air forces, until it was made clear that Japan had authority over their homeland. The Potsdam Declaration, which was issued and signed by President Truman (also signed by Prime Minister Attlee of the United Kingdom, with the agreement of Chiang Kai-Shek, and the President of the National Government of China) on July 26, demanded for Japan’s renunciation and listed peace terms. Japan was warned by the Potsdam Declaration of the penalties of continued resistance. Ten days earlier, Truman had …show more content…

Military advisers warned Truman of the possible fatalities of thousands of American soldiers. If the war was to be efficiently reduced and the survival of numerous United States soldiers was to be saved, it was vital to produce a strong blow against the Japanese. The cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were virtually untouched by test bombings, but were specifically chosen as targets by military specialists. A B-29 plane – the “Enola Gay” controlled by Paul W. Tibbets – dropped a uranium atomic bomb (“Little Boy”) on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. Within minutes, 60,000-70,000 people were killed; hence, half the city disappeared with 140,000 injured and several made homeless as a result of the blasting. Within the blast, thousands died instantly and 100,000 came in contact with radiation. With over 60,000 buildings ruined, the city was completely distressed. The B-29 bomber “Bockscar” – piloted by Sweeney – three days after Hiroshima, the plane changed from its original course (Kokura) to Nagasaki. The “Fat man” bomb exploded over the north factory district to attain the maximum blast outcome; hence, many buildings collapsed, electrical systems were cut, and a wave of secondary fires occurred

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