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Manhattan Project
The Army Corps of Engineers establishes the Manhattan Engineer District to develop and build the atomic bomb. Uranium isotope separation facilities are built at Oak Ridge, Tennessee; plutonium production reactors are built at Hanford, Washington; and a weapons laboratory is set up at Los Alamos, New Mexico. -
Roosevelt Death
President Roosevelt dies. Harry S. Truman becomes President. -
Germany surrenders.
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Hiroshima
The gun model uranium bomb, called Little Boy, is dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. -
Nagasaki
The implosion model plutonium bomb, called Fat Man, is dropped on Nagasaki, Japan. Five days later, Japan surrenders. -
Atomic Energy Act
President Truman signs the Atomic Energy Act of 1946 transferring Manhattan Project assets and responsibilities to the civilian Atomic Energy Commission. -
West Berlin
Soviet Union begins blockade of West Berlin. -
Korean War
North Korea invades South Korea. The Korean War begins.