hiroshima ppt

Hiroshima: BBC History of WWII By Elizabeth Berryman

Response/Reaction • I chose to watch this World War II documentary because I have always been interested in the subject and relationship between the US and Japan. • While watching it, it made me feel bad for the Japanese especially all the innocent people that were affected. • The US killed thousands of innocent people. • Questions that arose while I was watching it were:

▫ Why didn’t we drop the bomb on a military base instead of in the middle of a populous town? ▫ Was dropping the bomb necessary? Could we have done without it?

Summary • This World War II documentary explains the history and planning of the US dropping the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima. • The narrator describes the reasoning behind the dropping of the bomb and the evident consequences of this tragic event for the Japanese.

Timeline • August 6, 1945 - First atomic bomb dropped, on Hiroshima, Japan. • August 8, 1945 - Soviets declare war on Japan and invade Manchuria. • August 9, 1945 – Second atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki, Japan. • August 14, 1945 – Japanese agree to surrender. • September 2, 1945 –Japanese sign the surrender agreement (V-J Day, Victory over Japan).

Dropping the bomb • The atomic bomb was dropped from an airplane and took 45 seconds to trigger the mechanisms inside the bomb. o Thought it was a dud. • When hit the ground, a fire ball 300 meters wide was formed. • 4000 degrees Celsius. • Formed mushroom cloud.

Aftermath • After the bomb was dropped, many were thirsty. • Huge cloud of ash and smoke lingered over Hiroshima. • Many suffered from severe burns. • Finally when it began to rain, the rain was black, filled with ashes- highly radioactive. • At that time they didn’t know this and drank the toxic rain water.

Radioactive poisoning • • • • • •

Hair falls out Bleed internally Skin begins to rot Long term damage includes : mutation of sex cells :unable to have children but if can, children may have mutations

Facts about the Bomb • Bomb dropped on August 6, 1945. • The flash from the explosion was seen from over 10 miles away. • A soldier, 10,000 feet away was knocked to the ground because of the force. • Another soldier 5 miles away was temporarily blinded. • The aircraft carrying the bomb, the Enola Gay, was named after the pilots mother. • Today remnants of a vaporized man still exist on the stairs

The Atomic Bomb • Original purpose: to use against Nazi Germany • First atomic test was in New Mexico. • Exploded with the force of 67 million sticks of dynamite. • Japanese knew an attack would be coming but didn’t know where. • Suicide bombers prepared themselves mentally and physically. ▫ “A true soldier rather die than surrender”

America’s Reasoning • Gave the Japanese several times to surrender however they were too honorable to surrender in time of war. • Americans believe dropping the bomb saved more lives from being lost than if the war had continued. • Also, Americans did not know exactly how much radiation would be given off and how badly the aftermath was going to be.

Bibliography • http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/timeli ne/ww2time.htm • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoqIFezih9 w • http://history1900s.about.com/od/worldwarii/a /hiroshima.htm