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FDR Dies
President Franklin D. Roosevelt dies suddenly of an aneurysm weeks before Germany surrenders. -
President Truman
Harry S. Truman is sworn in as president, and learns for the first time of the Manhattan Project. -
V-E Day
Victory in Europe Day- Allies accpt the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany & war in Europe is officially over. -
Trinity Testing, NM
The first atomic bomb is successfuly tested in San Antonio, New Mexico. The Manhattan Project is a success. -
Potsdam Conference
July 17- August 2, 1945 in occupied Germany. The Potsdam Conference: Truman, Churchill & Stalin meet to discuss the outcome of Germany's defeat and postwar order. -
Stalin Offers Soviet Support
In accordance with the Yalta Agreement that had been struck between FDR, Churchill & Stalin in February, 1945, Stalin reaffirms Soviet committment to providing aid against Japan. -
Truman Informs Stalin
After the day's conference session, Truman casually informs Stalin of a new U.S. weapon of "unusual destructive force". -
Potsdam Declaration
Truman [U.S.], Churchill [U.K.] & Chiang Kai-Shek [China] issue an ultimatum to Japan- calls for immediate and unconditional surrender or Japan will meet "prompt and utter destruction". Japan ignores the declaration. -
Bombing of Hiroshima
Bombing of HiroshimaAn atomic bomb nicknamed "Little Boy" is dropped from the Enola Gay onto Hiroshima. The entire city is devestated in a matter of minutes. -
Bombing of Nagasaki
A second atomic bomb, called "Fat Man", is dropped on Nagasaki. Thousands die within the inital impact and many more from radiation poisoning. It is estimated that ~2OO,OOO people die as a result of the two bombs. -
Soviet-Japanese War
As Stalin promised, the Soviet army enters war with Japan and defeats it northern armies. -
V-J Day
Victory in Japan Day- Japan formally and unconditionally surrenders. -
The big question...
Was the U.S. decision to drop an atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki strictly a military measure designed to force Japan's unconditional surrender OR a diplomatic measure meant to intimidate the Soviet Union and advance U.S. standing in the postwar era? To answer this question, we are going to evaluate the four main motives we highlighted: Save American lives, force Japan to surrender unconditionally & immediatly, advance U.S. standing, and keep the U.S.S.R out of war with Japan.
