US Bombing of Japan During WWII

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US Bombing of Japan During WWII

Album Description

This album provides primary sources for teaching about the bombing of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the United States during World War II. Teachers may consider pairing these primary sources with a reading of Barefoot Gen by Keiji Nakazawa.

9 - 12 13+ English/Language Arts Social Studies/History Science WWII Japan

Other Possible Uses:

Print out the items and ask the students to use inferences to place them in chronological order.

Distribute the article "Hiroshima" by John Hersey (link provided in album). After reading the article, direct the students to re-write one of the narratives from a first-person point of view. Then, ask them to choose an image from the album to accompany their narrative and explain why they chose that image.

Letter, Franklin D. Roosevelt to J. Robert Oppenheimer thanking the physicist and his colleagues for their ongoing secret atomic research, 29 June 1943.

Teaching Notes

Describe what you see. What do you notice first?

What do you think was happening when this letter was created? What can you learn from examining this?

What do you wonder about?

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/mcc.083/

Reference note

Created / Published: 29 June 1943
Subject Headings: - Japan
- Presidents
- Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano) (1882-1945)
- Alamogordo (N.M.)
- Atomic bomb
- Hiroshima-shi (Japan)
- Manhattan Project (U.S.)
- Nagasaki-shi (Japan)
- Oppenheimer, J. Robert (1904-1967)
- Physicists
- Scientists
- Manuscripts
Genre: Manuscripts
Notes: - Reproduction number: A70 (color slide; pages 1-2)
- In the midst of World War II when the United States was engaged abroad in a major conflict with Germany and Japan, it was also working furiously at home toward the completion of the Manhattan Project. This huge research and development project was begun in June 1942 to develop a superexplosive weapon based on the nuclear fission process. It was hoped that such a superweapon would end the war. Two years before such an experimental atomic bomb was detonated successfully near Alamogordo, New Mexico, President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945) wrote to J. Robert Oppenheimer (1904-1967), the scientist in charge of its development. In this otherwise oblique note of confidence and appreciation, Roosevelt's understanding of the project's significance is made perfectly clear, and he ends his letter with an upbeat morale- booster, suggesting that American science is up to anything the enemy can offer. His confidence was proven justified, as the United States followed its experimental detonation of 16 July 1945 by dropping atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima (6 August 1945) and Nagasaki (9 August 1945), resulting shortly thereafter in Japan's surrender.
Repository: Manuscript Division

Briefing before dropping of first atomic bomb, Guam, 5 August 1945

Teaching Notes

What do you notice first? What people and objects are shown? What is the physical setting?

What's happening in the image. *What's missing from this image?

What do you wonder about?

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/2017658392/

Reference note

Summary: Photograph shows men at meeting in Guam, addressing plans to use first atomic bomb, 5 August 1945.
Created / Published: [1945, printed likely 1948]
Subject Headings: - World War, 1939-1945--Military personnel--American--Guam
- Military personnel--American--Guam--1940-1950
- Atomic bombs--American--Guam--1940-1950
Genre: Photographic prints--1940-1950
Notes: - Title from inscription on verso.
- Dates from inscription on verso and stamp on verso.
- Stamp on verso: 9-2-48.
- Stamp on verso: Official U.S. Navy photograph (crossed out).
- Stamp on verso: Official U.S. Army Air Forces photograph.
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Digital Id: ds 10872 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ds.10872

Pre-strike aerial view of Hiroshima [...]

Teaching Notes

Use for comparison (before and after)

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/95505485/

Reference note

Created / Published: [Before Aug. 6, 1945]
Subject Headings: - World War, 1939-1945--Air operations--American--Japan--Hiroshima-shi
- Hiroshima-shi (Japan)--1940-1950
Notes: - Date stamped on verso: Jun 26 1946.
- New York World-Telegram and the Sun Newspaper Photograph Collection.
- Official U.S. Army photo.
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
Digital Id: cph 3c13495 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3c13495

Aerial view of Hiroshima after the bomb

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/95505474/

Reference note

Created / Published: 1946 Jun 26.
Subject Headings: - World War, 1939-1945--Air operations--American--Japan--Hiroshima-shi
- War damage--Japan--Hiroshima-shi--1940-1950
- Nuclear weapons--1940-1950
- Aerial bombings--Japan--Hiroshima-shi--1940-1950
- Hiroshima-shi (Japan)--1940-1950
Notes: - New York World-Telegram and the Sun Newspaper Photograph Collection.
- Official U.S. Army photo.
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Digital Id: cph 3c13494 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3c13494

View of a Hiroshima bridge 4,400 feet east of X

Teaching Notes

What do you notice about the topography of Hiroshima?

Do you think this photo was taken before or after the bombing? Why?

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/2017658388/

Reference note

Summary: Photograph shows aftermath of the August 6, 1945 atomic bomb blast in Hiroshima, Japan.
Created / Published: [New York] : [New York World-Telegram & Sun], 26 June 1946.
Subject Headings: - Hiroshima-shi (Japan)--History--Bombardment, 1945
- World War, 1939-1945--Destruction & pillage--Japan--Hiroshima-shi
- War damage--Japan--Hiroshima-shi--1940-1950
- Nuclear weapons--1940-1950
- Aerial bombings--Japan--Hiroshima-shi--1940-1950
Genre: Photographic prints--1940-1950
Notes: - Title from caption on item.
- Date from stamp on verso.
- Official U.S. Army photo.
- Forms part of: New York World-Telegram and the Sun Newspaper Photograph Collection (Library of Congress).
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Digital Id: ds 10870 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ds.10870

Blog: Hiroshima, 75 Years Later: A Survivor's Account

General panoramic view of Hiroshima after the bomb ... shows the devastation ... about 0.4 miles ... / official U.S. Army photo.

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/2004669950/

Reference note

Created / Published: [1945]
Subject Headings: - Hiroshima-shi (Japan)--History--Bombardment, 1945
- War damage--Japan--Hiroshima-shi--1940-1950
- World War, 1939-1945--Destruction & pillage--American--Japan--Hiroshima-shi
Genre: Aerial views--1940-1950
Gelatin silver prints--1940-1950
Notes: - Title from item.
- Official U.S. Army photo.
- Date stamped on verso: Jun 26 1946.
- Forms part of: New York World-Telegram and the Sun Newspaper Photograph Collection (Library of Congress).
- Published in: "War" chapter of the ebook Great Photographs from the Library of Congress, 2013.
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Digital Id: cph 3c34192 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3c34192

Nagasaki, Japan after atomic bombing / U.S. Army A.A.F. photo.

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/91482332/

Reference note

Summary: Aerial view of Nagasaki, Japan after atomic bombing.
Created / Published: [1945]
Subject Headings: - World War, 1939-1945--Destruction & pillage--American--Japan--Nagasaki-shi
- Aerial bombings--Japan--Nagasaki-shi--1940-1950
- Nuclear weapons--1940-1950
Notes: - Ira Clarence Eaker Collection.
- No. B-58582A.C.
Digital Id: cph 3c04725 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3c04725

Nagasaki, Japan under atomic bomb attack / U.S. Army A.A.F. photo.

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/2002722137/

Reference note

Summary: Photograph shows atomic bomb mushroom cloud over Nagasaki.
Contributor Names: United States. Army Air Forces, photographer
Created / Published: [Nagasaki, Japan], [9 August 1945]
Subject Headings: - World War, 1939-1945--Air operations--Japan--Nagasaki-shi
- Mushroom clouds--Japan--Nagasaki-shi--1940-1950
- Atomic bombs--Japan--Nagasaki-shi--1940-1950
Notes: - Title from item.
- No. A-58450 AC.
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Digital Id: ds 05458 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ds.05458
cph 3a40193 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3a40193

Bird's-eye view of Nagasaki and its beautiful beautiful harbor, Japan

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/2002707122/

Reference note

Contributor Names: Keystone View Company, publisher
Created / Published: Meadville, Pa. ; St. Louis, Mo. : Keystone View Company, Manufacturers and Publishers, 1901.
Subject Headings: - Harbors--Japan--Nagasaki-shi--1900-1910
- Cities & towns--Japan--Nagasaki-shi--1900-1910
- Nagasaki-shi (Japan)--1900-1910
Genre: Stereographs--1900-1910
Photographic prints--1900-1910
Notes: - Copyright, 1901, by B.L. Singley (Keystone View Co.).
- No. 14000.
- Title transcribed from item
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Digital Id: stereo 1s30755 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/stereo.1s30755
cph 3b26475 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3b26475

Photograph of Hiroshima After Atomic Bombing (National Archives)

Teaching Notes

Potentially Harmful Content Alert: See NARA’s Statement

Blog Post: Hiroshima and Nagasaki Photos (National Archives)

Atomic Bomb Being Raised into Plane (National Archives)

Letter from Luis Alvarez to His Son (National Archives)

Teaching Notes

Find something small but interesting. What did you notice that you didn't expect?

Why do you think this item is important? What can you learn from examining this?

What do you wonder about?

Potentially Harmful Content Alert: See NARA’s Statement

Download File

"Hiroshima" by John Hersey

Teaching Notes

Suggestion: Students re-tell one of the survivor's stories from the first-person point of view. Students pair their account with one of the images in the gallery.

"Hiroshima" by John Hersey