Name: ______________________________________
Date: ______________
Hiroshima: BBC History of WWII
1. What was the strategy of Japan at this stage of World War II?
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2. Why was Hiroshima selected as the target for the atomic bomb?
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3. Describe the Potsdam Conference. What was decided during this conference? Why was the decision
made to alter the terms for Japanese surrender?
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4. How did the Minister Suzuki respond to the alteration of the terms for Japanese surrender? Was this
the result President Truman had expected?
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5. What was expected of the United States Military men selected for this mission? Why?
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6. What were some of the challenges involved in transporting the atomic bomb? What decisions were
made to help ensure the success of this mission?
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7. How was the name of the airplane selected? Why was this the name it was given?
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8. Describe one of the Japanese citizens and his/her experience on this date. (What was his/her feeling
about the dropping of the bomb?)
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9. Describe one of the American troops and his experience on this date. (What was his feeling about the
dropping of the bomb?)
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10. Why did General Anami say, “My death is my apology for my great crime?”
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11. How do you feel about the Japanese doctor’s statement, “It was an experiment! They knew the bomb
had enormous explosive power. What they did not know was how much damage the radiation would
cause.”
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12. What was the overall result of the dropping of the first atomic bomb in history? Did the bomb
achieve its purpose? Did the ‘ends justify the means?’ Explain.
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