U.S.A. Drops Atom Bombs on Japan: August 6 & 9, 1945
Aug 6 & 9, 1945:
Japan was already on full retreat, but refused to surrender and placed a strong defense. It seemed that an invasion might be needed to bring Japan to the peace table, which would cost millions of lives. U.S.A. brought up an alternative solution. Year ago, it had started the Manhattan Project. Research in developing atomic bombs, something the Germans were also doing. President Truman decided to show Japan the awesome destructive power of an atomic bomb by dropping it on a city in Japan. The first was dropped on August 6, 1945 by an American B-29 bomber, the Enola Gay. As the plane flew over the city Hiroshima, Japan¡¦s seventh largest city, the atomic bomb ¡§Little Boy¡¨ was dropped. It was the first atomic bomb ever used in war, more than 70, 000 people were killed and 61, 000 were injured. Even after such a horrific event, Japan still would not surrender. U.S. was forced to drop a second bomb. Three days after Hiroshima, ¡§Fat Man¡¨ was dropped on the Japanese city of Nagasaki. Another 40, 000 people were killed. It was a worry that Japan will still not surrender; U.S. was out of atomic bombs for the time being. Fortunately, further bloodshed was avoided, as Emperor Hirohito declared Japan¡¦s unconditional surrender.
