1. End of WWII March 22, 2018

2. Warm Up!
Learning Target: I will investigate the U.S. decision to drop the atomic bomb.
Why did the US begin to develop the atomic bomb?
Which two cities in Japan was the bomb dropped on? When?

3. D-Day: Success! After 2 weeks, 500,000 Allied soldiers in France
In 4 weeks, 1 million

4. The Allies Liberate Paris
The Allies make it to Paris in August 1944.
By September, the Allies liberated France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and much of the Netherlands.

5. The Battle of the Bulge Hitler’s Last Offensive
Hitler is now faced with the Soviets on the east and the Allies on the west.

6. The Battle of the Bulge
Allied airpower provided support - Germans eventually retreated
The Allies rolled into Germany as the Soviets approached from the east.

7. The Battle of Dresden Allied attack on Dresden
4,000 tons of explosives
Example of total war

8. Hitler commits suicide
Hitler and his wife, Eva Braun, commit suicide as the Allies close in on Berlin.

9. Russian and American soldiers meet at the Elbe

10. V-E Day
Victory in Europe Day: The Allies accept the Germany’s unconditional surrender on May 8, 1945
US President Roosevelt died a month before and Truman took his place.

11. Europe in Ruins
40 million dead (2/3 civilians)—more deaths than any conflict in history.
Hundreds of cities destroyed
No water, no electricity, little food
Factories destroyed so no jobs to earn $

12. Manhattan Project:

13. Atomic Bombs Bombing of Hiroshima: Aug. 6, 1945
Bombing of Nagasaki: Aug. 9, 1945
6 days after Nagasaki, Japan announced their surrender

14. Dropping the Atomic Bomb
Arguments for dropping it
Arguments against
Necessity of ending the war – this accomplished that
Concerns that Japanese wouldn’t surrender
Sending in troops on the ground would lead to many more American deaths
Ended the war quickly
Possibly fewer deaths than the other options
Importance of giving other countries a fair chance to surrender
Should have warned Japan of new weapon
Surrender could have ended the war with even fewer deaths
Brutality & terrorism of this weapon

15. V-J Day
August 15, 1945
Emperor Hirohito urged his people to accept the surrender, blaming the use of the “new and most cruel bomb” on Hiroshima and Nagasaki for the country’s defeat.
Official end of all WWII fighting

16. The Atomic Bomb
Today you will read some documents from the perspective of either Japanese survivors or American veterans.
Read the documents
With your group, fill out the worksheet. Switch around who’s writing so that everyone gets a chance to write (1 worksheet per group)
When you are finished with the worksheet, choose which picture your perspective would select to represent the bombing. Be prepared to share why your perspective would select that photo.

17. The Atomic Bomb
Now we will watch about 15 minutes of a documentary by the BBC - “Hiroshima”
When we finish watching, take a few minutes and discuss these questions with your group:
Should the US have dropped the bomb? Why or why not?
Can we judge Truman’s decision? Why or why not?
In what ways do you think the use of the bomb changed the world?