Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (aug 6, 1945 – aug 9, 1945)

Description:

In August 1945, the United States detonated two atomic bombs over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing between 150,000 and 246,000 people. The bombings remain the only use of nuclear weapons in an armed conflict. Japan surrendered to the Allies on 15 August, six days after the bombing of Nagasaki and the Soviet Union's declaration of war against Japan and invasion of Japanese-occupied Manchuria. The Japanese government signed the instrument of surrender on 2 September, effectively ending the war.

In the final year of World War II, the Allies prepared for a costly invasion of the Japanese mainland, followed by a conventional bombing and firebombing campaign that devastated 64 Japanese cities. Germany surrendered on 8 May 1945, and the Allies turned their full attention to the Pacific War. By July 1945, the Allies' Manhattan Project had produced two types of atomic bombs: "Little Boy" and "Fat Man". The 509th Composite Group of the United States Army Air Forces was trained and equipped with the specialized Silverplate version of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress, deployed to Tinian in the Mariana Islands.

The Allies called for the unconditional surrender of the Imperial Japanese armed forces in the Potsdam Declaration on 26 July 1945, but the Japanese government ignored the ultimatum. The consent of the United Kingdom was obtained for the bombing, and orders were issued on 25 July for atomic bombings against Hiroshima, Kokura, Niigata, and Nagasaki.

Added to timeline:

Date:

Images: