World War II THE END

D-Day: June 6, 1944 Allied Troops land on the French coast. They advance quickly to free Paris. American, British, and French forces then invade Germany from the west. The Soviet Union attacks from the east. By the spring of 1945, the Soviet army captures Berlin, the German capital. Hitler commits suicide and Germany Surrenders

The Demise of Hitler As the Third Reich crumbled, Hitler killed his faithful German Shepherd Blondie, his wife Eva Braun and himself in a bunker in Berlin. The bodies were found by Russian soldiers.

War In The Pacific Continues On April 12, 1945 President Roosevelt dies Vice-President Harry S Truman succeeds him and he is first then told about the “Manhattan Project”, the top secret research to develop an atomic bomb. America turns the tide of war in the Pacific by pushing the Japanese back towards Japan. The Japanese, however, refuse to give up. U.S. begins planning a major invasion of Japan.

Hiroshima & Nagasaki August 6, 1945 – Hiroshima President Truman orders Emperor Hirohito of Japan to surrender or face “prompt and utter destruction.” Emperor Hirohito refuses to surrender. August 9, 1945 – Nagasaki Enola Gay drops two atomic bombs on Japan causing massive death and destruction.

Atomic Bomb Arial view of Nagasaki three days after the atomic bomb was dropped.

Atomic Bomb

Atomic Bomb

Atomic Bomb

Atomic Bomb

Shadow People These people were so close to ground zero that all that was left of them is the outline of their bodies.

Atomic Bomb

Atomic Bomb 100,000 people were killed by enormous ball of fire at Hiroshima. 36,000 people died in Nagasaki Thousands of others died later do to burns, wounds and radiation sickness. “I cannot bear to see my innocent people suffer any longer.” - Emperor Hirohito August 15, 1945 Three days after the bombing of Nagasaki, Japan surrendered. World War II ended. The United States and the Soviet Union emerged as two superpowers. The daunting task of rebuilding now faced the world.

Did Truman make the right decision?

SHOULD WE HAVE USED THE ATOMIC BOMB AGAINST JAPAN? REASONS FOR REASONS AGAINST