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Harry Truman becomes President
With the death of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Harry Truman becomes the 33rd President of the United States of America image from www.trumanlittlewhitehouse.com -
Target Committee Meets
The Target Committee met for the first time and decidded which Japanese cities to drop atomic bombs on. The following cities were selected: Kyoto, Hiroshima, Kokura and Niigata. Nagasaki was added to the list later. -
War in Europe ends
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Shunichi Krase wants to end hositilities
"Japan's minister to Switzerland, Shunichi Kase, wished 'to help arrange for a cessation of hostilities.'" with President Truman. quote from http://www.nuclearfiles.org/menu/key-issues/nuclear-weapons/history/pre-cold-war/hiroshima-nagasaki/decision-drop-bomb-chronology.htm image from jiamom.wordpress.com -
Szilard meets with Oppenheimer
Oppenheimer says of the atomic bomb, "this is a weapon with no military significance. It will make a big bang-a very big bang-but it is not a weapon which is useful in war." -
Decision about civilians
Interim Committee decides not to warn civilians in cities where bombs will be dropped image from presscore.ca -
Franck Committee advises against bomb
Nobel Laureate James Franck advises against the dropping of the atomic bombs saying "If we consider international agreement on total prevention of nuclear warfare as the paramount objective.this kind of introduction of atomic weapons to the world may easily destroy all our chances of success." quote from http://www.nuclearfiles.org/menu/key-issues/nuclear-weapons/history/pre-cold-war/hiroshima-nagasaki/decision-drop-bomb-chronology.htm -
Petition to Truman
A petition begins addressed to President Truman opposes the dropping of the atomic bombs because of moral grounds -
New York Times reports war would end
"Senator White of Main, the minority leader, declared that the Pacific war might end quickly if President Truman would state, specifically, in the upper chamber just what unconditional surrender means for the Japanese." quote from http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=990CEFDD133BEE3BBC4B53DFB166838E659EDE&url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1945/07/03/88252895.html -
Trinity Test
Trinity test occurs at 5:29am in Alamogordo, New Nexico. This is the first ever atomic detonation. image from en.wikipedia.org -
Truman approve atomic bomb use
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Stimson passes orders
Henry Stimson, the Secretary of War, passed order for atomic attack image from blog.nuclearsecrecy.com -
Japan seeks peace
A report reaches President Truman that declares that Japan is seeking peace -
Hiroshima is bombed
Little Boy is dropped. Approximately 100,000 people are killed immediately.
President Truman is quoted saying this was "the greatest day in history." quote from http://www.nuclearfiles.org/menu/key-issues/nuclear-weapons/history/pre-cold-war/hiroshima-nagasaki/decision-drop-bomb-chronology.htm
image from rap.genius.com -
Nagasaki is bombed
At 11:02 Fat Man is dropped on Nagasaki. image from news.bbc.co.uk -
Warning leaflets dropped on Nagasaki
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Japan surrenders
