WWII and the Bomb

Question 1

Potsdam Conference

Answer 1

July 1945: Grand Alliance leaders of USA, UK, USSR (Truman, Churchill, Stalin) met in Potsdam to consider post-war effects and building, considered future of Germany and Eastern Europe, discussed how to end Pacific War, Truman tried to use success of Trinity Test as leverage (atomic diplomacy) against Stalin but he wasn’t surprised

Question 2

Potsdam Declaration

Answer 2

July 26, 1945: USA, UK, China issued the declaration to call for Japan’s unconditional surrender thru threat of continous attacks, ignored by Japan

Question 3

historiography

Answer 3

how historians view history, refers to differing interpretations of the same topic/event

Question 4

3 main perspectives on the decision to use the bomb

Answer 4

1. the Trinity Test was a finalization of the decision 2. decision was military-based and that bomb was used by USA to avoid invading Japan’s interior that would’ve required reinforcements 3. geo-political context, used to impress the USSR and deter them from Manchuria region

Question 5

bombing of Hiroshima

Answer 5

Aug 6, 1945: uranium bomb, caused hundreds of thousands of deaths and mass destruction

Question 6

bombing of Nagasaki

Answer 6

Aug 9, 1945: plutonium bomb, resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and further destruction of buildings, medical aides were injured or dead, overwhelming number of patients and casualties