Podcasts about Truman

From the publisher: "An epic, riveting history based on new interviews and research that elucidates the approval, construction, and fateful decision to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima.At 8:15 a.m. on August 6, 1945, the Japanese port city of Hiroshima was struck by the world's first atomic bomb. Built in the US by the top-secret Manhattan Project and delivered by a B-29 Superfortress, a revolutionary long-range bomber, the weapon destroyed large swaths of the city, instantly killing tens of thousands. The world would never be the same.The Hiroshima Men's vivid narrative recounts the decade-long journey toward this first atomic attack. It charts the race for the bomb during World War II, as the Allies fought the Axis powers, and is told through several key characters: General Leslie Groves, leader of the Manhattan Project alongside Robert Oppenheimer; pioneering Army Air Force pilot Colonel Paul Tibbets Jr.; the mayor of Hiroshima, Senkichi Awaya, who would die alongside eighty thousand fellow citizens; and Pulitzer Prize–winning writer John Hersey, who traveled to Japan for the New Yorker to expose the devastation the bomb inflicted on the city and to describe in unflinching detail the dangers posed by radiation poisoning.This thrilling account takes the reader from the corridors of power in the White House and the Pentagon to the test sites of New Mexico; from the air war above Germany to the Potsdam Conference of Truman, Churchill, and Stalin; from the savage reconquest of the Pacific to the deadly firebombing air raids across Japan. The Hiroshima Men also includes Japanese perspectives—a vital aspect often missing from Western narratives—to complete Iain MacGregor's nuanced, deeply human account of the bombing's meaning and aftermath."Ian MacGregor's website can be found at: https://iainmacgregor.com/Information on his book from Simon & Schuster can be found at https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Hiroshima-Men/Iain-MacGregor/9781668038048Support our show and Reach out and Read of Tampa Bay at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistoryAxelbankHistory.com is designed by https://www.ellieclairedesigns.com/Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at https://twitter.com/axelbankhistoryhttps://instagram.com/axelbankhistoryhttps://facebook.com/axelbankhistory

Truman Charities, a 100% volunteer-based organization founded in 2010, has raised over $2 million through three annual charity events.Our upcoming Family Fun event on September 7th will benefit "Just TRYAN It," a local organization supporting families with children undergoing pediatric cancer treatment.My 9-year-old son, Dominic, has even created a team to involve his friends in the triathlon.The Family Fun event will take place at the Knights of Columbus from 2 PM to 5 PM on September 7th. We will have the Morazzi Pizza Truck, Clayboys Shave Ice, a Moon Bounce, and an open bar. REGISTER FOR OUR EVENT HEREDONATE HERELooking ahead, we will also be hosting a Halloween party on October 27th, benefiting the Salute Military Golf Association.For updates on our events, including "Bethesda's Best Happy Hours," please follow Truman Charities Connect with Jamie at Truman Charities:FacebookInstagramLinkedInWebsiteYouTubeEmail: info@trumancharities.comThis episode was post produced by Podcast Boutique https://podcastboutique.com/

Classic Radio Special - August 10, 1945 - Japanese Surrender is in sight-Part 2We continue with our look at the day before VJ Day, August 10, 1945, 80 years ago.First at 1pm Eastern War Time (EWT), the Mary Margaret McBride Show.  Mary Margaret chats with Eddie Rickenbacker, who mentions that he's known about the atomic bomb for some time. When he says, "This is the end of war for a long time to come," the studio audience breaks into applause. He describes the wonders of the future, such as frozen dinners and helicopters. Rickenbacker describes his well-known experiences on a life raft in the Pacific. Then at 1:45pm EWT, News of the World.  W. W. Chaplin and Morgan Beatty report from New York. The official Japanese surrender offer has been received by Sweden, but the war is not over. A report from Stockholm states that seven hours ago, the Japanese ambassador gave a note to the Swedish government to deliver to the British and Russian governments. Morgan Beatty analyzes what's "unofficially" happening. Beatty says that he "felt" that President Truman had something like the atomic bomb in mind while he was at the Potsdam conference. Sven Nordberg reports from Stockholm. Then back to Soap Operas with the Guiding Light at 2pm EWT.  Angie and Peter make small talk at breakfast. Peter has decided to confess all, even if he is disbarred! The first fifteen minutes of "The General Mills Hour."Following at 2:15pm EWT, Today's Children.  Otto receives a visit from his mother, Mrs. Schultz. Will he ever see again? Jan thinks about her feelings towards Otto...she's afraid he might regain his sight! News bulletins follow the story. The second fifteen minutes of "The General Mills Hour."Then at 2:30pm EWT, The Woman in White.   Jack has asked Eileen out, but she has another date. Regretting his lack of funds, Dr. Jack Landis decides to ask Jonathan for a job to see how it feels to be in business for himself! The third fifteen minutes of "The General Mills Hour."Finally, at 2:45pm EWT The Betty Crocker Service Program.   "Betty" tells a love story about a Marine named Tony and his girl Lois (who finds herself making lemon pie for fifteen hungry Marines)! Betty gives the recipe for "Emergency Steak" (which includes "Wheaties" as one of the ingredients). The concluding fifteen minutes of "The General Mills Hour."We'll pick up at 3pm EWT with A Woman in America, Ma Perkins, and more in our next block. 

Pour commémorer les 80 ans des bombardements d'Hiroshima et de Nagasaki, 20 minutes pour comprendre vous propose de redécouvrir ce double épisode, enregistré il y a environ 4 ans, dans lequel Simon et Vincent revenaient sur les causes et conséquences des attaques nucléaires sur le Japon.Vers la première partie.Avec Vincent Gabriel et Simon DesplanqueSuivez le podcast ! Il est désormais sur X/Twitter : @20MPC_podcast & LinkedIn !   Générique : Léopold Corbion (15 Years of Reflection)Bibliographie : ALPEROVITZ, G., The Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb: And the Architecture of an American Myth, New York, Alfred A. Knopf, 1995. BERSTEIN, B., “Roosevelt, Truman, and the Atomic Bomb, 1941-1945: A Reinterpretation” in Political Science Quarterly, vol. 90, n°1 (Spring, 1975), p.23-69. BIROLLI, B., “Le Japon a capitulé en raison d'Hiroshima” dans Lopez, J. et Wieviorka, O., Les mythes de la Seconde Guerre mondiale, t. 1, Paris, Perrin, 2018, p. 387-407. BOYER, P., “Some sort of peace” : President Truman, the American people, and the atomic bomb dans LACEY, M.J., The Truman presidency, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1991, p. 174-202. COURMONT, B, Pourquoi Hiroshima ? La décision d'utiliser la bombe atomique, Paris, L'Harmattan, 2007. DONOVAN, R., Conflict and crisis. The Presidency of Harry S. Truman, Columbia, University of Missouri Press, 1996. FERREL, R. H., Harry S. Truman: A life, Columbia, University of Missouri Press, 1994. FERREL, R. H., Off the record. The private paper of Harry S. Truman, New York, Harper and Row, 1980. MCKINNEY, K., SAGAN, S., WEINER, A., “Why the atomic bombing of Hiroshima would be illegal today” dans Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, vol. 76, n°4, p. 157-165. PHILIPP, R. J., “The belief System of Harry S. Truman and Its Effect on Foreign Policy Decision-Making during His Administration” in Presidential Studies Quarterly, vol. 12, n°2, p.226-238. TRUMAN, H. S., Memoirs, vol. 1: Years of decision, New York, New American Library, 1965.WALKER, S., Prompt and Utter Destruction. Truman and the Use of Atomic Bombs against Japan, 3rd ed., UNC Press Books, 2016. WILSON, M., “The winning weapon ? Rethinking nuclear weapons in light of Hiroshima” dans International Security, vol. 31, n°1, 2007, p. 162-179. YAGAMI, K., “Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: Gar Alperovitz and his critics” dans Southeast Review of Asian studies, vol. 31, 2009, p. 301-307. Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

Redistricting battles are heating up, with Republican-led states pushing to redraw congressional maps ahead of the next census, while Democrats promise to reciprocate. The back-and-forth is sparking legal questions and reigniting debates over gerrymandering and whether undocumented immigrants should be counted in the census. FOX News Sunday anchor Shannon Bream joins the Rundown to discuss the partisan fight over redistricting and what's at stake for both parties. Bream also weighs in on the investigation into former Special Counsel Jack Smith and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's vow to take control of Gaza. This week marks eighty years since the United States dropped two atomic bombs on Japan. The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were unprecedented, causing a level of destruction the world had never witnessed before, but they ultimately led to the end of the Second World War. Dr. Rebecca Grant, a national security and military analyst and senior fellow at the Lexington Institute, joins to discuss why President Truman decided to drop the first atomic bombs and the ramifications of those actions. Don't miss the good news with Tonya J. Powers. Plus, commentary from the host of “The Big Ben Show,” Ben Domenech. Photo Credit: AP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Darrell Castle recounts the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, around the 80th anniversary of the events and where it leaves us in the world today. Transcription / Notes COLONEL PAUL TIBBETS AND THE ATOMIC AGE Hello, this is Darrell Castle with today's Castle Report. This is Friday the 8th day of August in the year of our Lord 2025. Two days ago, on August 6th we remembered the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan. Tomorrow the 9th of August is the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Japan. I will talk about those events and about where they leave us in the world today. During World War ll the United States was in a technological race with Germany to develop a war winning atomic weapon. The U.S. had some of the smartest people on earth working on the weapon which came to be called “The Manhattan Project.” Einstein gave his theoretical advice and Oppenheimer ran the effort to build a potentially world destroying weapon. No one knew for sure what this weapon would do when it was unleashed. The only thing certain was that its explosive power would be like nothing seen before on earth. I am certainly no scientist and I am not scientifically educated but as I understand it the microscopic particle that makes up matter, called the atom contains enormous energy and if it could be split that energy would be unleashed by way of explosive power. Some scientists were afraid that the explosion would not be able to be contained and would continue until it destroyed the entire universe but they went ahead with it despite the unknown. The allies throughout the war fought a clandestine effort to prevent German scientists from finishing their work first. Many people gave their lives in that effort but eventually German industry was destroyed and only Japan was left. The decision to use the weapon against Japan was President Truman's alone. I understand from much reading on the subject that he was in Europe to conclude the German surrender when he received word that the weapon known as “Little Boy” was ready. His response was “use it.” Winston Churchill once famously said, “I think history will be kind to me because I intend to write it.” The point is that history is written by the winners not the losers. I have read many histories of the end of the war and the decision to use the bomb and my conclusion is that the historical perspective depends on your world view today. I read something this week which asserted that Japan was begging to surrender but Truman wanted to use the bomb so he ignored them. The supposed reason was to send a message to the Soviet Union that the same thing could happen to them. The Soviet angle as a secondary reason makes sense but I see no evidence of Japan begging to surrender. In fact, after the surrender when MacArthur was proconsul in Japan surviving Japanese troops tried to lead a rebellion against the surrender. The real question for debate is, was the dropping of the atomic bomb justified or was it the most heinous crime against humanity in history. Everyone has his opinion, but from the perspective of the Marines and soldiers on the beaches and in the jungles of Asia I doubt that they wanted to invade the Japanese home islands. Perhaps if some of those who condemn the decision had been at Tarawa, Saipan, Iwo Jima, or Okinawa they would see it differently. In any event on August 6th, 1945, a B-29 Super fortress flown by Colonel Paul W. Tibbets Jr and with a crew of 12 more men lifted off the runway on the island of Tinian and headed for Japan and a mission that would forever alter our world. I saw an interview with Colonel Tibbets just before he died and the interviewer gave him a chance to express his sorrow at what he did but he said no I have no regrets. “I viewed my mission as one to save lives. I didn't bomb Pearl Harbor. I didn't start the war. But I was going to finish it.” Colonel Tibbets continued to maintain the same m...

Redistricting battles are heating up, with Republican-led states pushing to redraw congressional maps ahead of the next census, while Democrats promise to reciprocate. The back-and-forth is sparking legal questions and reigniting debates over gerrymandering and whether undocumented immigrants should be counted in the census. FOX News Sunday anchor Shannon Bream joins the Rundown to discuss the partisan fight over redistricting and what's at stake for both parties. Bream also weighs in on the investigation into former Special Counsel Jack Smith and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's vow to take control of Gaza. This week marks eighty years since the United States dropped two atomic bombs on Japan. The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were unprecedented, causing a level of destruction the world had never witnessed before, but they ultimately led to the end of the Second World War. Dr. Rebecca Grant, a national security and military analyst and senior fellow at the Lexington Institute, joins to discuss why President Truman decided to drop the first atomic bombs and the ramifications of those actions. Don't miss the good news with Tonya J. Powers. Plus, commentary from the host of “The Big Ben Show,” Ben Domenech. Photo Credit: AP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Redistricting battles are heating up, with Republican-led states pushing to redraw congressional maps ahead of the next census, while Democrats promise to reciprocate. The back-and-forth is sparking legal questions and reigniting debates over gerrymandering and whether undocumented immigrants should be counted in the census. FOX News Sunday anchor Shannon Bream joins the Rundown to discuss the partisan fight over redistricting and what's at stake for both parties. Bream also weighs in on the investigation into former Special Counsel Jack Smith and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's vow to take control of Gaza. This week marks eighty years since the United States dropped two atomic bombs on Japan. The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were unprecedented, causing a level of destruction the world had never witnessed before, but they ultimately led to the end of the Second World War. Dr. Rebecca Grant, a national security and military analyst and senior fellow at the Lexington Institute, joins to discuss why President Truman decided to drop the first atomic bombs and the ramifications of those actions. Don't miss the good news with Tonya J. Powers. Plus, commentary from the host of “The Big Ben Show,” Ben Domenech. Photo Credit: AP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Let us know what you think of the latest episode of Distinct Nostalgia by clicking here and sending us a messageAhead of the launch of the epic new landmark drama about the decision to drop the first atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, Clifton Truman Daniel chats to Ashley Byrne about playing his grandfather in The President and the Emperor. Clifton talks candidly about his relationship with his grandpa and how he learned about his family history when he was growing up. He also reflects on the impact the decision his grandfather made has had on the world and on the work he's done to foster peace the region.Clifton Truman Daniel is in conversation with Ashley Byrne.A Made in Manchester Production   Coming soon ....The President and The Emperor  brings to life the story behind one of the most consequential decisions in modern history, the dropping of the atomic bomb eighty years ago.Told in seven parts and produced by indie company Made in Manchester, the series draws on newly declassified US and Japanese documents, along with first-hand testimony, to present a dual-perspective account of the final days of the Second World War.At the heart of the drama are two isolated but powerful figures, President Harry S. Truman and Emperor Hirohito. They navigate moral and political dilemmas as the world teeters on the brink of nuclear devastation.In a unique casting move, Truman is portrayed by his real-life grandson, Clifton Truman Daniel, adding an intimate connection to a role few could approach with such personal insight.He stars alongside acclaimed Japanese actor Sadao Ueda, who plays Hirohito with quiet intensity and emotional nuance.“This drama is not about who was right or wrong in the war,” Ueda says. “It presents historical facts dramatically from two different points of view. I hope the listener will reflect on what global conflict might mean if it ever happened again.”Samuel Barnett plays Robert OppenheimerThe President and the Emperor is written by Guy Smith, directed by Jonathan Kydd and produced by Ashley Byrne. The Executive Producer is Kurt Brookes.Guy Smith says: ''I wanted to find out what really took place behind the scenes in Washington and Tokyo in the weeks leading up to the most momentous - and controversial - decision in the history of modern warfare; the order to drop the atomic bomb on Japan.And, just as importantly, I wanted to find out if that world changing event could have been avoided.  Was it inevitable?  Or could the conflict have been ended without the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki?The more I dug into the archives and examined first hand accounts of those who were there at the White House and Imperial Palace, I discovered an extraordinary story full of intrigue, drama and turmoil.Now, as the world once again moves closer to the threat of nuclear conflict than at any time since the Cold War, I hope The President and the Emperor provides listeners with a timely warning on the dangers of escalating tensions and failing to explore all possible opportunities to stop man's inhumanity to man.'With thanks to:The National Security Archive, Washington DChttps://nsarchive.gwu.eduThe Harry S Truman Library, Independence, MOhttps://www.trumanlibrary.govSupport the show

It's the 80th anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists has the Doomsday Clock at 89 seconds to midnight, while Trump moves nuclear submarines closer to Russia in response to social media posts by Russian officials. Aerial photographs of the Gaza Strip look eerily similar to Hiroshima and Nagasaki 80 years ago. It's a good a time as ever to consider and re-consider the lessons of Truman's "Atomic Diplomacy" in 1945. So we're reposting our episode on the atomic bombing of Japan at the end of World War Two. -----------------------------------------From the 2020 episode: “For years, large majorities of Americans have believed that the U.S. had to use the A-Bomb against Japan on August 6th, 1945 to end the war quickly and avoid a land war and thus save one-million American lives. Scott and Bob discuss the use of the bomb, why it was used as a message to the Soviet Union and not a military necessity, the chronology behind the development and deployment of atomic weapons, the U.S. public response to it, and the creation of a new history, a propaganda piece, regarding the use of the bomb. The dropping of the bomb on Hiroshima was vital in the development of the Cold War, the arms race, the military-industrial complex, and the National Security State. Seventy-five years after the first atomic weapon was used by the U.S., it's still a highly-debated and important topic.”------------------------------------Outro- Green and Red Blues by Moody

Was dropping the atomic bomb necessary? For nearly 80 years, historians have debated President Truman's decision to use nuclear weapons against Japan. But secret intelligence intercepts - classified for decades after the war - reveal what Japanese leaders were actually planning in the summer of 1945.Using newly available evidence from the "Magic" intercepts, Mat McLachlan examines the brutal alternatives Truman faced: invasion projections of over a million American casualties, Japanese preparations to turn their entire population into combatants, and intelligence proving Japan's refusal to surrender.Through the stories of Colonel Paul Tibbets, who piloted the Enola Gay, and Reverend Kiyoshi Tanimoto, who survived Hiroshima, this episode explores one of history's most controversial decisions - and why the evidence suggests it was the only choice that could end the war and save lives.The atomic bombs killed 200,000 people. But would the alternatives have killed millions more?Presenter: Mat McLachlanProducer: Jess StebnickiReady to walk in the footsteps of heroes? Join Mat McLachlan on an exclusive river cruise that visits the battlefields of Waterloo, WWI and WW2 in 2027: https://battlefields.com.au/pre-register-for-2027-battlefield-river-cruises/Find out everything Mat is doing with books, tours and media at https://linktr.ee/matmclachlanFor more great history content, visit www.LivingHistoryTV.com, or subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/LivingHistoryTV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just Buy Less Coffee Presents: the premiere episode of Royal Cannon, a coffee shop deep dive on key historical events and figures that continue shape our world today. This podcast features the perspective of two snarky educators from two different generations. A duo famous for ruining parties with their hours-long conversations attempting to out nerd each other.On this episode, hosts Cathy Cannon and Royal Webster talk about how the U.S. dropped two atomic bombs in three days — and why people still can't agree on whether it was justified.They dig into the context behind Hiroshima and Nagasaki, what Truman was thinking, and whether the bomb ended the war… or just started the next one. Then things spiral (in classic fashion) into everything from FDR's internment camps to war crimes, religion, and how history gets sanitized in school. It's spicy, it's sobering, and yes — there's a metaphorical punch bowl somewhere in there.

250807PCOppenheimers awful Toy Mensch Mahler am 07.8.2025Natürlich wäre die Ukraine in der Lage, die Angriffe auf Kiew mit Gegenangriffen auf Moskau zu erwidern. Allerdings wäre dann zu befürchten, dass Putin die Drohung wahr macht, und mit Nuklearwaffen antwortet. Die Ukraine selbst wäre dann schutzlos. Sie hat ihre Atomwaffen im Jahr 1994 im Rahmen des Budapester Memorandums aufgegeben. Im Gegenzug für Sicherheitsgarantien von Russland, den USA und Großbritannien, verzichtete die Ukraine auf die Atomwaffen, die sie nach dem Zerfall der Sowjetunion geerbt hatte. Dieser Tage jährt sich der erste Einsatz von Atomwaffen zum 80igsten mal. Den US-amerikanischen Präsidenten Harry Truman erreichte während der Potsdamer Konferenz der Siegermächte des 2. Weltkriegs am 16. Juli 1945 die Nachricht, dass in der Wüste von New Mexiko die Explosion einer nuklaren Bombe gelungen sei. Als der britische Premier Winston Churchill davon erfuhr, meinte er, man könne jetzt mit ein- zwei Schlägen den Krieg in Fernost beenden. Truman schrieb in sein Tagebuch: „Ich glaube, dass die Japsen klein beigeben werden, ehe Russland eingreift.“Und so fielen am 6. August 1945 die Bomben auf Hiroshima und Nagasaki. Churchill behielt recht. Der 2. Weltkrieg war endgültig vorbei. In Hiroshima wurde 80% der Innenstadt zerstört. 80.000 Menschen verdampften geradezu, im folgenden Jahr kamen weitere 100.000 Tote dazu. Viele litten noch Jahrzehnte später an der nuklearen Kontamination.80 Jahre danach ist Zeit innezuhalten. Zumal die atomare Bedrohung sich um ein vielfaches gesteigert hat und einige Staaten, die in Konflikte verwickelt sind, Nuklearwaffen besitzen.Ich kann wärmstens den Kinofilm „Oppenheimer“ empfehlen. Der Vater der Bombe verzweifelte als ihm gewahr wurde, was er da erfunden hat. Er hat das Tor zur totalen Vernichtung der Erde geöffnet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a terribly sad anniversary, in any way you perceive it – especially for people of any faith tradition, like myself. We're replaying an episode from 2023 recorded on the occasion of the Academy Award-winning movie, “Oppenheimer”. It features my son-in-law, Dylan Cuellar, who was born and grew up in New Mexico, near Los Alamos, where the first several nuclear bombs were invented. Also, my daughter Kassia, Dylan's wife, who had a rare opportunity to explore the original Trinity test site, where the first bomb test occurred. It seems more relevant now. The facts: on the morning of AUGUST 6, 1945, the U.S. dropped the first fission uranium atom bomb from a US-made B-29 on Hiroshima in Japan. It killed 85,000+ people almost instantly. 150,000+ would die weeks and months later from radiation sickness. 98% of the deaths were civilians and not uniformed soldiers. In fairness, radiation sickness was not understood by either the U.S. physicists who built the bomb or the supervising generals at the time. A second plutonium bomb was dropped on Nagasaki 3 days later, with similar, catastrophic results. FDR died only weeks before the Nazi Germany surrender. Vice President HARRY TRUMAN hurriedly became the new President, knowing very little of the top-secret investments – like the atom bomb – that were in the works. Unlike FDR, Truman was a religious man, a life-long practicing Baptist. When eventually presented with these previously unknown facts, he faced a terrible choice between his own Christian faith and what most of his advisors believed was necessary to finally end the 7 year war that had already killed 55 million people (conservatively). His choice was controversial then – as it is now. The reality was the Japanese DID FINALLY SURRENDER only days after the 2 nuclear bombs were dropped on their cities. But - was it really worth the terrible body count? Although - on the other hand - how many more would have died on both sides if the Allies had staged a D-Day style amphibious invasion of Japan, as was planned? Casualty estimates for everyone were much, much worse in that scenario. When Truman did his nightly prayers to God, as he did for 50+ years, what did God say to him? Or, did he say anything at all? A soul-crushing, lose-lose choice no single person should ever have to make....but it was done… It's not up to your Scandal Sheet friends to tell you what's what. Just to present facts that are available to us. You guys call it yourself. I think we all agree that we appreciate that horrible war ended and, while there have been other wars on the planet since, none have reached the size and scale of WW2. Let us know you thoughts at scandalsheetpod@gmail.com.

Chuck Todd examines Trump's disastrous CNBC interview filled with demonstrable lies and errors, questioning whether the president is mentally declining or being fed bad information as he poisons government data and threatens economic stability by claiming false achievements like having the "highest vote total ever in Texas" when he actually ranked just 7th since World War II. He warns that Trump's calls for rigged elections in Texas to maintain power, combined with his corruption of federal statistics, represents a fundamental threat to democracy that even elected Republicans won't support—though the party remains largely silent as Trump advocates for systematic unfairness. The episode also covers emerging political developments including Arnold Schwarzenegger's vow to fight Gavin Newsom over redistricting, Democratic donor Steve Kloobeck launching TV ads in California focused on Trump's Epstein connections after Kamala Harris bows out, and the growing likelihood that Sherrod Brown will mount another Senate run in Ohio despite being positioned as Republicans' top 2028 target. He rounds out the discussion with updates on crowded Democratic primary fields in Iowa, potential presidential ambitions from Hawaii Governor Josh Green, Jerry Demings' Florida political future, and the economic reality of shrinkflation hitting grocery stores as Americans face continued price increases.Then, nuclear weapons historian Greg Mitchell joins Chuck Todd to discuss his documentary "Atomic Bowl" and the largely forgotten story of a football game played in Nagasaki just four months after the atomic bombing, revealing how both American and Japanese governments worked to quickly turn the page on nuclear devastation. Mitchell explores why Nagasaki became the "forgotten city" compared to Hiroshima, despite the horrific targeting of civilian populations rather than military bases, and how the military-ordered football game featuring a Heisman Trophy winner was part of a broader effort to westernize Japan and normalize post-war relations. The conversation delves into the decades-long government cover-up of radiation health effects on American troops, the "downwinders" affected by nuclear testing, and how the true decision-making process behind the bombings remains buried by official narratives that claimed the bombs saved a million American lives.The discussion takes on contemporary urgency as Mitchell warns that nuclear weapons are being made "more useable" while the horror of their effects fades from living memory, with AI now integrated into nuclear protocols and the Trump administration proposing nuclear reactors on the moon. Todd and Mitchell examine how Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" brought renewed attention to nuclear issues, the ongoing radiation monitoring in Japanese cities, and whether there's a modern equivalent to muckraking journalists like Upton Sinclair who could expose nuclear truths today. The episode highlights the critical importance of remembering nuclear history as policymakers consider the role of nuclear power in clean energy transitions while the Pacific Theatre's lessons remain overshadowed by European World War II narratives, making the atomic bombings' anniversaries increasingly forgotten despite their lasting global implications.Finally, he answers listeners' questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment.Timeline:(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)00:00 Chuck Todd's Introduction02:00 Trump's crazy interview with CNBC was full of errors and lies03:15 Trump is either losing it or is being given bad information04:30 Trump is poisoning government data05:45 Corrupting data can destroy the economy06:15 Trump claims highest vote total ever in Texas… not true07:30 Trump had the 7th highest vote total in Texas just since WW208:45 Trump is calling for an unfair election in Texas to hold power09:45 Illinois is the most gerrymandered Democratic state10:45 Arnold Schwarzenegger vows to fight Newsom over redistricting13:15 Advocating for unfairness is terrible for the democracy14:45 Elected Republicans are not on board with manipulating BLS stats16:00 Steve Kloobeck running TV ads in CA after Harris bows out17:45 Kloobeck's first ad is about Trump & Epstein19:15 Looking likely Sherrod Brown will run for senate in Ohio21:15 If Brown wins he'll be the #1 target for Republicans in 28'23:15 Democrats now have 4 senate candidates in Iowa25:30 Democrats will have a hard time clearing the primary field26:45 Hawaii governor Josh Green might run for president28:00 Jerry Demings might run for governor or senate in Florida30:00 Shrinkflation is showing up at grocery stores as prices rise33:45 Greg Mitchell joins the Chuck ToddCast! 35:30 How Greg ended up on the nuclear weapons beat 37:00 Nagasaki is the "forgotten city" 38:00 Oppenheimer brought nukes back into public consciousness 39:15 The "atomic bowl" was played 4 months after Nagasaki bombing 40:30 The story of the game was swept under the rug 43:00 Why was Nagasaki bombed if Hiroshima "made the point"? 44:45 Why were Hiroshima and Nagasaki chosen for bombing? 46:00 Target wasn't military bases, it was the middle of the cities 47:00 Truman put a stop to use of additional nukes 48:30 Anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki is largely forgotten 50:00 U.S. troops sent in after bombing had health problems from radiation 51:30 Government took decades to deal with health fallout for troops 52:45 Oppenheimer brought attention to the "downwinders" of nuke tests 54:00 Both U.S. & Japanese governments wanted to turn page on WW2 56:00 The atomic bowl featured a Heisman trophy winner 57:30 Why was the game played? 58:45 Game was part of an effort to westernize Japan 1:01:15 Game was ordered by military command, not Washington 1:02:15 Participants didn't talk about playing in the game 1:03:45 There's been no feedback on the film from the Pentagon 1:05:15 Horror of nuclear weapons barely exists in living memory 1:07:00 Is there a robust community of historians in Japan for this topic? 1:08:15 Do the Japanese still monitor radiation fallout in these cities? 1:10:15 Justification narrative was saving a million American lives 1:11:30 The Pacific theatre receives far less attention than Europe 1:13:00 Decision making process has been buried by the government 1:14:00 Trump administration wants a nuclear reactor on the moon 1:15:15 The role of nuclear power in clean energy transition 1:16:30 AI is being used in our nuclear weapons protocols, but can't launch 1:17:30 J. Robert Oppenheimer's conversation with Truman 1:19:45 Thoughts on Nolan's portrayal of Oppenheimer? 1:22:45 American public perception on use of the bomb 1:23:45 Nukes are being made "more useable" 1:25:00 The taboo around using nukes 1:26:45 Is there someone in political culture today like Upton Sinclair? 1:30:45 How to watch "Atomic Bowl"1:31:45 Chuck's thoughts on interview with Greg Mitchell 1:33:45 Ask Chuck 1:34:00 What can Democrats do to reconnect with young men? 1:40:00 How will high housing prices and inequality shape young voters? 1:44:45 What is Dems 2032 path without turning Texas and Florida purple?

This is a terribly sad anniversary, in any way you perceive it – especially for people of any faith tradition, like myself. We're replaying an episode from 2023 recorded on the occasion of the Academy Award-winning movie, “Oppenheimer”. It features my son-in-law, Dylan Cuellar, who was born and grew up in New Mexico, near Los Alamos, where the first several nuclear bombs were invented. Also, my daughter Kassia, Dylan's wife, who had a rare opportunity to explore the original Trinity test site, where the first bomb test occurred. It seems more relevant now. The facts: on the morning of August 6, 1945 the U.S. dropped the first fission uranium atom bomb from a US-made B-29 on Hiroshima in Japan. It killed 85,000+ people almost instantly. 150,000+ would die weeks and months later from radiation sickness. 98% of the deaths were civilians and not uniformed soldiers. In fairness, radiation sickness was not understood by either the U.S. physicists who built the bomb or the supervising generals at the time. A second plutonium bomb was dropped on Nagasaki 3 days later, with similar, catastrophic results. FDR died only weeks before the Nazi Germany surrender. Vice President HARRY TRUMAN hurriedly became the new President, knowing very little of the top-secret investments – like the atom bomb – that were in the works. Unlike FDR, Truman was a religious man, a life-long practicing Baptist. When eventually presented with these previously unknown facts, he faced a terrible choice between his own Christian faith and what most of his advisors believed was necessary to finally end the 7 year war that had already killed 55 million people (conservatively). His choice was controversial then – as it is now. The reality was the Japanese DID FINALLY SURRENDER only days after the 2 nuclear bombs were dropped on their cities. But - was it really worth the terrible body count? Although - on the other hand - how many more would have died on both sides if the Allies had staged a D-Day style amphibious invasion of Japan, as was planned? Casualty estimates for everyone were much, much worse in that scenario. When Truman did his nightly prayers to God, as he did for 50+ years, what did God say to him? Or, did he say anything at all? A soul-crushing, lose-lose choice no single person should ever have to make....but it was done… It's not up to your Scandal Sheet friends to tell you what's what. Just to present facts that are available to us. You guys call it yourself. I think we all agree that we appreciate that horrible war ended and, while there have been other wars on the planet since, none have reached the size and scale of WW2. Let us know you thoughts at scandalsheetpod.com.

Pour commémorer les 80 ans des bombardements d'Hiroshima et de Nagasaki, 20 minutes pour comprendre vous propose de redécouvrir ce double épisode, enregistré il y a environ 4 ans, dans lequel Simon et Vincent revenaient sur les causes et conséquences des attaques nucléaires sur le Japon.Vers la seconde partie : https://is.gd/hMuKSf Avec Vincent Gabriel et Simon DesplanqueSuivez le podcast ! Il est désormais sur X/Twitter : @20MPC_podcast & LinkedIn !   Générique : Léopold Corbion (15 Years of Reflection)Bibliographie : ALPEROVITZ, G., The Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb: And the Architecture of an American Myth, New York, Alfred A. Knopf, 1995. BERSTEIN, B., “Roosevelt, Truman, and the Atomic Bomb, 1941-1945: A Reinterpretation” in Political Science Quarterly, vol. 90, n°1 (Spring, 1975), p.23-69. BIROLLI, B., “Le Japon a capitulé en raison d'Hiroshima” dans Lopez, J. et Wieviorka, O., Les mythes de la Seconde Guerre mondiale, t. 1, Paris, Perrin, 2018, p. 387-407. BOYER, P., “Some sort of peace” : President Truman, the American people, and the atomic bomb dans LACEY, M.J., The Truman presidency, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1991, p. 174-202. COURMONT, B, Pourquoi Hiroshima ? La décision d'utiliser la bombe atomique, Paris, L'Harmattan, 2007. DONOVAN, R., Conflict and crisis. The Presidency of Harry S. Truman, Columbia, University of Missouri Press, 1996. FERREL, R. H., Harry S. Truman: A life, Columbia, University of Missouri Press, 1994. FERREL, R. H., Off the record. The private paper of Harry S. Truman, New York, Harper and Row, 1980. MCKINNEY, K., SAGAN, S., WEINER, A., “Why the atomic bombing of Hiroshima would be illegal today” dans Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, vol. 76, n°4, p. 157-165. PHILIPP, R. J., “The belief System of Harry S. Truman and Its Effect on Foreign Policy Decision-Making during His Administration” in Presidential Studies Quarterly, vol. 12, n°2, p.226-238. TRUMAN, H. S., Memoirs, vol. 1: Years of decision, New York, New American Library, 1965.WALKER, S., Prompt and Utter Destruction. Truman and the Use of Atomic Bombs against Japan, 3rd ed., UNC Press Books, 2016. WILSON, M., “The winning weapon ? Rethinking nuclear weapons in light of Hiroshima” dans International Security, vol. 31, n°1, 2007, p. 162-179. YAGAMI, K., “Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: Gar Alperovitz and his critics” dans Southeast Review of Asian studies, vol. 31, 2009, p. 301-307. Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

Ein Standpunkt von Uwe Froschauer.Hiroshima und Nagasaki„Vor sechzehn Stunden hat ein amerikanisches Flugzeug eine Bombe auf Hiroshima abgeworfen, einen wichtigen japanischen Armeestützpunkt. Diese Bombe hatte mehr Sprengkraft als 20.000 Tonnen TNT. [...] Wir haben zwei Milliarden Dollar für das größte wissenschaftliche Wagnis der Geschichte ausgegeben – und gewonnen.“ (Harry Truman)So die offizielle, in schriftlicher Form veröffentlichte Erklärung vom 6. August 1945, dem Tag des Atombombenabwurfs auf Hiroshima. Wie ein Kriegsverbrechen dieses Ausmaßes ein Gewinn für irgendjemanden sein kann, ist mir als Humanist ein Rätsel.Die Nachricht von diesem „größten wissenschaftlichen Wagnis der Geschichte“ – besser: „größten Verbrechen der Geschichte“ – erhielt der amerikanische Präsident Harry Truman am 6. August 1945 – der Tag des Atombombenabwurfs – an Bord des Kreuzers „Augusta“, auf der Heimfahrt von der Potsdamer Konferenz. Vor Begeisterung über dieses „phänomenale“ Ereignis völlig aus dem Häuschen lief Dirty Harry auf dem Schiff umher, um die „frohe“ Botschaft anderen Menschen an Bord zu verkünden.„Jubilate Deo. Lobet Gott. Wir haben 318.000 Japaner getötet. [...] Wie kann die Welt eine solche Freude überleben? Solche Jubelrufe über solch eine Zerstörung? Ich schreibe dies im Monat der Atombombe, im zwanzigsten Jahr des atomaren Zeitalters.“ (Dorothy Day, The Catholic Worker (August 1945))Dorothy Day – eine tiefgläubige Katholikin – war eine der wenigen katholischen Stimmen, die sich sofort und kompromisslos gegen den Einsatz der Atombombe wandte. Day war nicht politisch motiviert – sie schrieb diese sarkastischen Zeilen aus tiefer religiöser und ethischer Überzeugung. Sie widmete ihr Leben und Wirken dem katholischen Glauben, insbesondere dem Evangelium und der sozialen Lehre der Kirche.Einen Monat später schrieb Dorothy Day:„Herr Truman war jubelnd. Präsident Truman. ‚Wahrer Mensch‘ – welch merkwürdiger Name, wenn man einmal darüber nachdenkt. Wir bezeichnen Jesus Christus als wahren Gott und wahren Menschen. Truman ist ein wahrer Mensch seiner Zeit, insofern war er jubelnd. Er war nicht ein Sohn Gottes, Bruder Christi, Bruder der Japaner, der jubelte, wie er es tat. Er ging von Tisch zu Tisch auf dem Kreuzer, der ihn von der Konferenz der Großen Drei nach Hause brachte, und verkündete die große Nachricht; ‚jubelnd‘, sagten die Zeitungen. Jubilate Deo. Wir haben 318.000 Japaner getötet.“ (The Catholic Worker Response to Hiroshima (September 1945))Harry Truman begriff die Atombombe anscheinend als Gottesgeschenk an die Menschheit. Und weil er die Menschheit weiter beglücken wollte, ließ er drei Tage später, am 9. August 1945, gleich noch eine Plutoniumbombe mit dem Namen „Fat Man“ auf Nagasaki werfen.Die erste, mit angereichertem Uran versehene Bombe auf Hiroshima hieß „Little Boy“. Diesen Namen – und auch den der zweiten Bombe – hat ihr der Physiker Robert Serber verpasst, weil das Design der Uranbombe lang und schlank war. Wie poetisch! In Kontrast zu dem „kleinen Mann“ war die zweite Bombe auf Nagasaki „Fat Man“ runder und dicker. Lustig. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Patriots players Kyle Dugger, Christian Elliss, Truman Jones, Mike Onwenu, Kayshon Boutte, and Jabrill Peppers address the media on Tuesday, August 5, 2025. TIMECODE DUGGER / 00:00-03:50ELLISS / 03:50-09:31TJONES / 09:31-13:23ONWNEU / 13:23-17:32BOUTTE / 17:32-23:02PEPPERS / 23:02-28:06See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last time we spoke about the Siege of Japan. In the summer of 1945, Japan faced its most devastating siege. A pivotal component was the aerial mining campaign entitled "Starvation," masterminded by General Curtis LeMay. B-29 Superfortress bombers were deployed to lay mines in critical waterways, cutting off resources and crippling Japan's industrial capabilities. This silent assault inflicted chaos on Japan's shipping lanes, sinking over 670 vessels and significantly disrupting supply lines. Amid this turmoil, the Allies intensified their firebombing campaigns, targeting urban centers like Tokyo, Osaka, and Kobe, leading to extensive devastation and loss of life. By August, Japan's civilian and military morale crumbled under the weight of destruction. The climax of this siege came with the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, which unleashed unparalleled destruction. As Japan's leadership struggled for options, the nation was effectively brought to its knees. The relentless siege had achieved its goal, Japan was irrevocably broken, marking a profound moment in history. This episode is the Atomic Bombing of Nagasaki Welcome to the Pacific War Podcast Week by Week, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about world war two? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on world war two and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel you can find a few videos all the way from the Opium Wars of the 1800's until the end of the Pacific War in 1945.  Hello there, again like in the previous episode, this one is just going to state what happened, I am not going to delve into the why's just yet. I am currently writing an entire special episode on why exactly Japan surrendered, focused on the actions of Emperor Hirohito, who I will argue prolonged the 15 year war to protect the Kokutai. So a bit of a spoiler there I guess.  The worst has come to pass for the Japanese Empire. An atomic bomb has fallen, devastating an entire city. In a blinding flash, over 140,000 lives were lost or forever altered. But this was merely the beginning. The Americans were poised to unleash destruction from the skies, a scale of devastation never before witnessed on this planet. The choices were grim: surrender or complete annihilation.The Japanese faced not only this overwhelming threat but also another peril. The Soviet Union prepared to invade Manchuria and other crucial territories within its reach. As we last left off, the Americans had been conducting a prolonged and devastating air and naval siege of the Japanese Home Islands in preparation for the invasion of Kyushu. This campaign culminated in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, reducing the once-great city to ruins and leaving a staggering casualty toll that would forever haunt the Japanese people. Survivor accounts recount the haunting experience of wandering through the destruction, disoriented and unsure of where to go. They spoke of hearing the desperate cries of those trapped beneath crushed buildings or suffering from horrific burns. As small fires ignited by the blast began to spread, they coalesced into a firestorm that surged through the rubble, claiming the lives of many still trapped inside. Frightened residents jumped into the rivers of Hiroshima, only to drown in their desperate attempts to escape the flames. Over 90% of the doctors and 93% of the nurses in Hiroshima perished or were injured, and most hospitals were either destroyed or heavily damaged. By early afternoon, police and volunteers worked tirelessly to establish evacuation centers at hospitals, schools, and tram stations. Yet, tragically, many would die before receiving aid, leaving behind grim rings of corpses around these facilities. Some survivors who initially appeared unharmed would succumb within hours or days to what would later be identified as radiation sickness. Most members of General Hata's 2nd General Army headquarters were undergoing physical training on the grounds of Hiroshima Castle, barely 900 yards from the hypocenter. As a result, 3,243 troops lost their lives on the parade ground. Miraculously, Hata himself survived the explosion with only minor injuries, but many of his staff were not so fortunate, including Lieutenant-Colonel Yi U, a prince of the Korean imperial family, who was killed or fatally wounded. In total, the 2nd General Army, 59th Army, 5th Division, and other combat units in the city lost an estimated 20,000 troops. Survivors regrouped at the Ujina Air Base on the outskirts of Hiroshima, where they organized relief efforts and maintained public order once martial law was declared. With Mayor Awaya Senkichi killed at the mayoral residence, Hata assumed control of the city's administration and coordinated relief efforts. The initial reaction of the Japanese government to the devastation in Hiroshima was mixed. The Imperial Japanese Army and Imperial Japanese Navy military leadership received only fragmentary reports about the tragedy, as communications with Hiroshima had been severed. Meanwhile, American and British radio broadcasts promptly informed ordinary Japanese civilians and their government about the atomic bomb attack on August 7. The following day, Tokyo issued a press release confirming the bombing of Hiroshima, but it notably did not state that the United States had dropped an atomic weapon. After technical teams visited the site of the bombing, they concluded that the enemy B-29s had indeed used a nuclear device. At this juncture, the diplomatic situation within Japan was chaotic. Many members of the Japanese cabinet believed that surrender was the only viable option, while others, particularly military figures like Hata, were determined to continue the fight. Looking back, between July 17 and August 2, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and U.S. President Harry Truman convened in Potsdam to negotiate terms for the end of World War II. The Potsdam Conference is perhaps best known for President Truman's conversation with Soviet leader Joseph Stalin on July 24, during which Truman informed Stalin that the United States had successfully detonated the first atomic bomb on July 16. Prior to leaving for the conference, a top-level civilian Interim Committee, led by Secretary of War Henry Stimson, suggested that Truman inform Stalin about America's new nuclear capability. This was intended to prevent the Soviets from learning about the bomb through leaked information, and Truman agreed to share this news. Historians have often interpreted Truman's somewhat firm stance during negotiations as a reflection of the U.S. negotiating team's belief that their nuclear capability would enhance their bargaining power. However, Stalin was already well-informed about the American nuclear program, courtesy of the Soviet intelligence network. This understanding enabled him to hold firm in his positions, complicating the negotiations. In the end, the leaders of the United States, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union, despite their differences, remained allied throughout the war. However, they would never meet again collectively to discuss cooperation in postwar reconstruction. One of the critical topics discussed was how to handle Japan. During the conference, Truman sought and received Stalin's final assurance of entering the war on August 9, in accordance with the agreements made among the Allies during the Yalta Conference in February 1945. On April 5, Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov informed Tokyo of the Soviet Union's unilateral abrogation of the Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Pact. He assured Japan that the treaty would remain in effect until April 1946, even though the Soviets were already planning an offensive in the Far East. A Soviet invasion would prove beneficial for the Americans, as it could prevent the movement of hostile troops from Manchuria, Korea, and North China to the Home Islands of Japan before an invasion of Kyushu was launched. On July 26, the United States, Great Britain, and China released a declaration demanding Japan's immediate surrender. The declaration called for the dismemberment of Japan's remaining empire, the demobilization of all military forces, trials for war criminals, and the elimination of Japan's capacity for future belligerence. While the declaration did not alter the requirement for unconditional surrender, critically it left ambiguous how the Japanese people might shape their future government, as it did not specify a direct end to or continuation of the imperial dynasty. The crux of that matter was the preservation of the Kokutai. The Kokutai was the national essence of Japan. It was all aspects of Japanese polity, derived from history, tradition and customs all focused around the cult of the Emperor. The government run by politicians was secondary, at any given time the kokutai was the belief the Emperor could come in and directly rule. If you are confused, dont worry, I am too haha. Its confusing. The Meiji constitution was extremely ambiguous. It dictated a form of constitutional monarchy with the kokutai sovereign emperor and the “seitai” that being the actual government. Basically on paper the government runs things, but the feeling of the Japanese people was that the wishes of the emperor should be followed. Thus the kokutai was like an extra-judicial structure built into the constitution without real legal framework, its a nightmare I know. Let me make an example, most of you are American I imagine. Your congress and senate actually run the country, wink wink lets forget about lobbyists from raytheon. The president does not have executive powers to override any and all things, but what if all American voters simply felt he did. So the president goes above his jurisdiction, and the American people violently attack Congress and the Senate if they don't abide by the president's wishes. That's kind of how it works for a lack of better words. Again in the specials I will roll out soon, it will make more sense after I blabber about it in roughly 7000 words. Now, in response, Prime Minister Suzuki Kantaro expressed to the Japanese press on July 29 his belief that the Potsdam Declaration was nothing new and held no "significant value." This statement was interpreted by Truman and his administration as a rejection of the declaration. In reality, since the Yalta Conference, Japan had repeatedly approached the Soviet Union in an attempt to extend the Neutrality Pact and to enlist the Russians in negotiating peace with the Allies, offering attractive territorial concessions in return.  The Japanese, therefore, chose not to officially respond to the Potsdam Declaration as they awaited a reply from the Soviet Union. However, this response never materialized. The Soviet Union was preparing for an invasion of Manchuria, fully aware that Japan had become a weakened nation after suffering several defeats in the Pacific. In contrast, the once-inadequate Russian military had transformed into one of the strongest forces of the time. They had successfully absorbed powerful German offensives in 1941, 1942, and 1943, and rebounded with their own offensives in 1944 and 1945, ultimately crushing the military might of Nazi Germany. Motivated by Allied requests for support and the desire to solidify the Soviet Union's post-war position in the Far East, Soviet leaders began planning in March for a final campaign to reclaim Manchuria, northern Korea, southern Sakhalin, and the Kuril Islands from Japan. However, most Soviet troops were stationed more than 10,000 kilometers away in Europe. As a result, forces and equipment designated for deployment to Manchuria had to be transported along a fragile and limited-capacity network over a five-month period from April to August. Initially, they stockpiled equipment in the Far East to re-equip units already present in that region. Then, a massive regrouping of forces to the east commenced in May, with units still arriving even as the campaign opened in August. This shift, involving nearly one million men, effectively doubled the strength of Soviet forces in the Far East from forty to more than eighty divisions. Opposing Valisevsky's Far East Command was General Yamada Otozo's Kwantung Army, along with its Manchukuoan and Inner Mongolian auxiliaries. Once the most prestigious and powerful unit of the Imperial Japanese Army, the Kwantung Army had significantly eroded in strength and quality over the past few years due to the diversion of its main assets to other theaters. Consequently, many experienced units were siphoned off and replaced by formations made up of draft levies, reservists, and smaller, cannibalized units. By August, the Kwantung Army consisted of General Kita Seiichi's 1st Area Army in eastern Manchuria, which included the 3rd and 5th Armies, alongside two divisions under direct area army control. General Ushiroku Jun commanded the 3rd Area Army in central and western Manchuria, encompassing the 30th and 44th Armies, plus two divisions, three independent mixed brigades, and one independent tank brigade under his direct command. In northern Manchuria, Lieutenant-General Uemura Mikio led the 4th Army, which was composed of three divisions and four independent mixed brigades. Additionally, the army of Manchukuo contributed eight infantry and seven cavalry divisions, along with fourteen brigades of infantry and cavalry. Mengjiang added six cavalry formations and other garrison forces from Inner Mongolia. Furthermore, Lieutenant-General Kozuki Yoshio's 17th Area Army was stationed in central and southern Korea, totaling seven divisions and three independent mixed brigades. In northern Korea, Lieutenant-General Kushibuchi Senichi's 34th Army consisted of two divisions and one independent mixed brigade. Recognizing that his forces lacked adequate training and equipment, Yamada's plans called for a delay at the borders, followed by a defense consisting of successive positions culminating in a final stand at a stronghold constructed in the Tunghua area. This strategy would see roughly one-third of the Japanese forces deployed in the border region, while the remaining two-thirds would be concentrated in operational depth to create a series of defensive lines. By July 25, Soviet force deployments to the Far East were virtually complete. The Soviets meticulously tailored all military units, from the front level down to army, corps, division, brigade, and battalion, to effectively achieve specific missions. This tailoring took into account not only the strength and dispositions of enemy forces but also the terrain where the unit would operate and the desired speed of the operation. Each unit was equipped with the necessary artillery, anti-tank, tank, air defense, and engineer support. For instance, the 1st Far Eastern Front received heavy artillery attachments to provide the firepower needed to breach heavily fortified Japanese positions. In contrast, the Transbaikal Front was given heavy vehicular and motorized rifle support, enabling it to conduct rapid, balanced combined arms operations across the broad expanses of western Manchuria and Inner Mongolia. Within each front, armies assigned to assault strong enemy fortified zones had significantly more artillery assets compared to those operating on open axes of advance. Units deployed in difficult terrain were afforded extensive engineer support to facilitate their operations. At the lowest tactical levels, specially tailored forward detachments from rifle divisions and tank and mechanized corps, alongside assault groups from rifle regiments and battalions, ensured the firepower and mobility necessary to execute high-speed operations. However, the final decision to attack would not be made until August 7, when Vasilevsky committed the Transbaikal and 1st Far Eastern Fronts to a simultaneous assault scheduled for August 9. It is believed that the detonation of the atomic bomb the previous day prompted this hasty decision, resulting in the short two-day period between the decision and the planned attack. Vasilevsky's strategy called for a double envelopment conducted by Soviet forces along three axes to secure Manchuria and destroy a significant portion of the Kwantung Army. The Transbaikal Front was tasked with attacking eastward into western Manchuria, while the 1st Far Eastern Front would move westward into eastern Manchuria. Both offensives were to converge in the Mukden, Changchun, Harbin, and Kirin areas of south-central Manchuria. Meanwhile, the 2nd Far Eastern Front would conduct a supporting attack into northern Manchuria, driving southward toward Harbin and Tsitsihar. Moreover, the timing of on-order operations against southern Sakhalin and the Kuriles would depend on the progress of these main attacks. For the western pincer, Malinovsky's plan involved the 17th and 39th Armies and the 6th Guards Tank Army, followed by the 53rd Army, launching the primary assault. Their objective was to bypass the Halung-Arshaan Fortified Region to the south and advance toward Changchun. The success of the Transbaikal Front operation hinged on speed, surprise, and the deployment of mobile forces across virtually every sector, aiming to preempt effective Japanese defenses. To achieve this swiftness and surprise, tank formations were positioned in the first echelon of units at all command levels. The operation required tank-heavy forward detachments at each command level, with the 6th Guards Tank Army designated to spearhead the front's efforts. A tank division would lead the advance of the 39th Army, supported by tank brigades assigned to the first-echelon corps and divisions. Planned rates of advance were ambitious: 23 kilometers per day for combined arms units and an impressive 70 kilometers for tank units. However, the operation involved significant risks. If Japanese units responded quickly to the Soviet attack, or if even nominal forces occupied strategic positions in the Grand Khingan mountain passes, the Soviet advance could be severely hampered. Additionally, the success of the operation relied heavily on logistical units' capability to supply these fast-moving formations deep into Manchuria. Despite these challenges, the Soviets confidently accepted the risks involved. Their mission was to crush the enemy in the border regions, cross the Grand Khingan Mountains, and occupy positions in the central Manchurian plain from Lupei to Solun by the tenth to fifteenth day of the operation.In support, the Soviet-Mongolian Cavalry-Mechanized Group was to attack across the Inner Mongolian desert and southern Grand Khingan Mountains toward Kalgan and Dolonnor. Simultaneously, the 36th Army was set to advance from Duroy and Staro-Tsurukaytuy across the Argun River to secure Hailar. In the next phase, for the second pincer, Meretskov's plan involved the 1st Red Banner Army, the 5th Army, and the 10th Mechanized Corps launching the main attack from the Grodekova area, located northwest of Vladivostok. Their objective was to advance toward Mutanchiang to exploit and secure the Kirin, Changchun, and Harbin regions, while coordinating with Soviet forces from the Transbaikal Front. Additionally, the 35th Army was tasked with attacking from the Lesozavodsk-Iman area, north of Lake Khanka, to capture Mishan, Linkou, and Poli. Meanwhile, the 25th Army would launch an offensive from northwest of Ussurysk to secure the Tungning, Wangching, and Yenchi areas. Once the 1st Far Eastern and Transbaikal Fronts converged in the Changchun area, they would advance together to eliminate the final Japanese resistance on the Liaotung Peninsula and secure the strategic naval base at Port Arthur. Furthermore, Purkayev's 2nd Far Eastern Front was to advance on a broad front across the Amur and Ussuri rivers, extending from Blagoveshchensk to south of Khabarovsk. This movement aimed to exert maximum pressure on Japanese forces in northern Manchuria. The 15th Army would spearhead the main attack across the Amur River in the Leninskoye area, advancing southward into the regions around the Sungari and Ruhe rivers. In support, the 2nd Red Banner Army was designated to attack across the Amur River from the Blagoveshchensk area to Sunwu and then advance southward to Tsitsihar. The 5th Rifle Corps would also be involved, attacking from Bikin to secure Paoching and Poli. This multifront operational plan aimed for the complete destruction of Kwantung Army units in Manchuria with maximum speed, effectively cutting off Japanese troops from reinforcements coming from northern China or Korea. These relentless mobile attacks, deployed across the broadest of fronts, were designed to prevent the Japanese from reallocating forces, leading to their ultimate collapse and piecemeal defeat. As planned, the Japanese were caught completely by surprise when they received the Soviet declaration of war just an hour before midnight on August 8. At the same time, they were facing a critical decision in response to the recent bombing of Hiroshima. After learning about the success of Colonel Tibbets' mission, President Truman released a pre-approved statement that detailed the atomic bomb's destructive capabilities and warned that if Japan did not accept the Potsdam Declaration, "they may expect a rain of ruin from the air, the like of which has never been seen on this earth." Although Truman had only the plutonium Fat Man device remaining for use, he had been informed that a third bomb might be ready sometime in August. Among American military leaders, including Admiral Nimitz and Generals Spaatz, LeMay, and Twining, there was a belief that this third nuclear weapon should be dropped on Tokyo if Japan did not surrender. Conversely, some Japanese senior officials, like Admiral Toyoda, speculated that even if the Allies had used an atomic bomb, they likely would not have many more at their disposal. They argued that the Japanese people should be prepared to defend their home islands to the death if favorable terms of surrender could not be secured. However, on August 8, Prime Minister Suzuki instructed Foreign Minister Togo Shigenori, who advocated for negotiating with the United States, to inform Emperor Hirohito about the devastation caused by the atomic bomb in Hiroshima. Hirohito responded by authorizing foreign minister Togo to notify the world on August 10th that Japan would accept the allied terms of surrender with one condition “that the said declaration does not comprise any demand which prejudices the prerogatives of His Majesty as a Sovereign Ruler.”  In the meantime, to increase pressure on the Japanese, Twinning launched additional conventional B-29 raids. A total of 412 B-29s targeted the Nakajima aircraft plant in Musashino during a daylight attack on August 8. However, the United States also needed to demonstrate to the Japanese government and people that Little Boy was not just an isolated experimental device. As a result, a decision was made to drop the Fat Man plutonium bomb on either the primary target of Kokura or the secondary target of Nagasaki, with this mission scheduled for August 9. For this operation, Tibbets selected Major Charles Sweeney to pilot the B-29 named Bockscar and deliver the device. The leading B-29 would decide the ultimate target based on weather reports from two reconnaissance B-29s, followed by two additional aircraft assigned to scientific and photographic missions. To prepare for takeoff, the bomb was armed by installing three plugs. At 03:49 on August 9, Sweeney departed from Tinian, heading toward Yakushima Island to rendezvous with his escorts. The mission began with complications that only escalated. A typhoon near Iwo Jima forced mission planners to relocate the planned rendezvous between Bockscar and her escorts to Yakushima, an island south of Kyushu. Sweeney took off at 03:49 on August 9 and headed north, but strong headwinds hindered her progress toward Yakushima. A further issue arose when a photographic specialist assigned to the support aircraft Full House was barred from flying due to forgetting his parachute. Consequently, Major Hopkins on Full House had to break radio silence to seek instructions on operating the camera. However, a more critical situation was uncovered when Commander Ashworth and his assistant discovered that an indicator was showing that Fat Man's electronic fusing circuits had closed, indicating that arming was complete. A faulty switch, with incorrectly installed wiring, posed the risk of a premature explosion. As the mission continued over Yakushima, Sweeney successfully met up with Captain Bock, piloting the scientific support B-29, but failed to rendezvous with Major Hopkins. This meant that Bockscar would only have The Great Artiste to accompany it for the final leg of its mission. According to Ashworth's log, they arrived at the rendezvous point at 09:00 and saw Bock at 09:20, while Full House waited south of the arranged position. Sweeney had initially agreed to circle Yakushima for only 15 minutes; however, he ended up waiting approximately 50 minutes for Hopkins to arrive, wasting precious fuel in the process. Due to the weather conditions, Hopkins had lost visual contact with the other B-29s and had to break radio silence again to locate Bockscar, but Sweeney did not respond. Despite reports indicating 30% cloud cover over Kokura, Sweeney chose to proceed there, believing the haze over the city would clear. Bockscar arrived at the initial start point for the bomb run over Kokura at 10:44, but unfortunately, heavy cloud cover had settled over the city, preventing a successful bomb delivery. After three unsuccessful bomb runs, which consumed an additional 45 minutes of fuel, a flight engineer discovered that a fuel pump had malfunctioned, trapping 600 gallons of fuel in the auxiliary bomb bay fuel tanks. Despite fuel concerns, Sweeney chose to proceed with the mission, heading south and then east toward Nagasaki, which he reached at 11:50. Unfortunately, the weather there was as poor as it had been at Kokura, prompting Sweeney to make the controversial decision to drop Fat Man using radar guidance. Due to the fuel shortage, he only conducted a single bomb run. Just before initiating the radar approach, a hole in the clouds opened, revealing the aim point: the Mitsubishi Steel and Arms Works located on the Urakami River. Fat Man was dropped at 11:58 and detonated approximately 1,650 feet above the target after a 50-second descent. Initial reports indicated that the explosion occurred about 500 yards north of the Mitsubishi plant and roughly 0.8 miles south of another Mitsubishi facility. While Fat Man had a more powerful detonation, the damage and casualties were not as extensive as those caused by the lower-yield Little Boy. The topography of Nagasaki, surrounded by hills, confined the explosion to the bowl-shaped center of the city, in stark contrast to Hiroshima's relatively flat landscape. Of the 7,500 Japanese employees at the Mitsubishi plant, 6,200 were killed, with an additional 17,000 to 22,000 employees at other war plants and factories also perishing. Unlike Hiroshima, where the military death toll was high, only about 150 Japanese soldiers were killed instantly, alongside at least 8 prisoners of war. Overall, it is estimated that around 45,000 civilians lost their lives due to the explosion, with between 50,000 and 60,000 sustaining injuries. The radius of total destruction extended about one mile, with fires spreading across the northern portion of the city to two miles south of the impact point. Thankfully, no firestorm developed as it had in Hiroshima. Bomb damage to physical structures in Nagasaki was erratic. Some areas, such as the Nagasaki Arsenal and the Mitsubishi plant, experienced significant destruction, while nearby locations appeared almost untouched. Despite this, Sweeney's mission resulted in an estimated 68.3% loss of pre-existing industrial production, excluding the harbor facilities, without disrupting the critical north-south National Railway track. While Fat Man's debut was historic, its destructive capability was comparable to other B-29 incendiary night raids. After circling Fat Man's expanding mushroom cloud, Sweeney headed toward Okinawa at 12:05, with only 300 gallons of fuel remaining. Fortunately, Bockscar's crew managed to return to Yontan Field with just seven gallons of fuel left, successfully making their way back to Tinian later that same day.  Simultaneously, Vasilevsky's Far East Command began its offensive just ten minutes after midnight on August 9. Reconnaissance units, forward detachments, and advanced guard units of the Transbaikal Front crossed the border into Inner Mongolia and Manchuria. Initially, attacking units faced resistance primarily in the 36th Army zone, where their attack routes passed through fortified Japanese border installations. However, most assault units advanced with little opposition. By 04:30, main force units had begun to follow closely behind the assault troops. Colonel-General Issa Pliyev's Soviet-Mongolian Cavalry-Mechanized Group advanced in two march columns, 200 kilometers apart. By nightfall, they had penetrated 55 miles into the arid expanses of Inner Mongolia, moving southward toward Dolonnor and Kalgan while sweeping aside small detachments of Inner Mongolian cavalry. Meanwhile, Lieutenant-General Aleksei Danilov's 17th Army entered Inner Mongolia virtually unopposed in two columns, advancing approximately 70 kilometers by nightfall. To the left, Colonel-General Andrey Kravchenko's 6th Guards Tank Army led the main attack into Inner Mongolia in two columns, encountering limited opposition and rapidly advancing about 150 kilometers until reaching the foothills of the Grand Khingan Mountains, west and north of Khorokhon Pass, by nightfall. Simultaneously, Colonel-General Ivan Lyudnikov's 39th Army advanced along two divergent axes. The 5th Guards and 113th Rifle Corps gained 60 kilometers as they bypassed the Halung-Arshaan and Wuchakou Fortified Regions to the south. Meanwhile, the 94th Rifle Corps struck northeast towards the rear of the Hailar Fortified Region, swiftly overcoming light resistance. The 124th Rifle Division was also deployed between both axes to probe toward the Halung-Arshaan Fortified Region. Lieutenant-General Alexander Luchinsky's 36th Army advanced on two fronts, with the 2nd and 86th Rifle Corps successfully crossing the rain-swollen Argun River between Staro-Tsurukhaytuy and Duroy and securing key bridges north of Hailar. Additionally, an operational group of two rifle divisions attacked across the border, establishing a foothold in the small fortified post at Manchouli. During the night, Luchinsky sent the 205th Tank Brigade to assault Hailar from the northeast, while the 152nd Rifle Regiment maneuvered to attack from the southeast. This offensive succeeded only in capturing the railroad station in the northern part of Hailar, as the southern and eastern sections of the city fell the following day. However, the 80th Independent Mixed Brigade continued to delay the Soviet advance, while the 119th Division moved eastward to fortify positions in the Grand Khingan Mountains, stretching from Yakoshih to Pokotu. Despite these setbacks, the 36th Army had advanced 60 kilometers into Manchuria and had partially secured Hailar. Meanwhile, to the east, drenched by inundating thunderstorms, the 1st Far Eastern Front advanced under the worst weather conditions during the dark of night. This totally surprised the Japanese defenders and led to the rapid reduction of many unsuspecting border posts. Colonel-General Nikolay Krylov's 5th Army spearheaded the main attack, with the 17th, 65th, and 72nd Rifle Corps quickly breaking through the Volynsk center of resistance. They achieved a penetration of 16 to 22 kilometers toward Laotsaiying and Machiacho. Meanwhile, the 105th Fortified Region and assault engineer units attacked the Suifenho center of resistance, successfully seizing critical railroad tunnels on the main rail line into Manchuria. In support, Colonel-General Afanasy Beloborodov's 1st Red Banner Army to the north launched an assault with the 26th and 59th Rifle Corps over a 16-kilometer sector through heavily wooded, wet terrain. As they advanced, they constructed roads through the forest. By nightfall, forward divisional elements had advanced five to six kilometers deep into Manchuria, crossing the Shitouho River and half of the forested region. At the same time, the 6th Field Fortified Region and the 112th Fortified Region stormed several Japanese border positions and slowly advanced north towards Mishan. This assault supported Lieutenant-General Nikanor Zakhvatayev's 35th Army, which deployed the 66th and 363rd Rifle Divisions to cross the Sungacha River and attack towards Mishan. The 264th Rifle Division and the 109th Fortified Region assaulted across the Ussuri River against Hutou. After securing a crossing over the Sungacha, the 66th Division penetrated deep into the swamps, managing to advance 12 kilometers into Tachiao. Meanwhile, the 363rd Division successfully broke through an enemy strongpoint at Maly Huankang, ultimately reaching the southwest edge of Tachiao. In turn, the 264th Division crossed the Ussuri River and outflanked Hutou to the south, capturing the railroad depot and cutting the highway to Hulin. Lastly, Colonel-General Ivan Chistyakov's 25th Army launched an attack along two principal axes. The 39th Rifle Corps and the 259th Tank Brigade targeted Tungning, while border guard units, along with the 108th and 113th Fortified Regions, crossed the Hunchun and Tumen rivers to engage Japanese defenses in Korea and at Hunchun. Shielded by rain, the Russians swiftly captured or subdued the Japanese forward defenses along the front. By nightfall, the 39th Rifle Corps had advanced ten to twelve kilometers into the Japanese rear along the Pad Sennaya River. Lead elements, reinforced by the 72nd Tank Brigade, began their assault on the town of Tungning and the vital railroad line to Tumen. To the north, the 2nd Far Eastern Front deployed its forces across three separate sectors. Lieutenant-General Stepan Mamonov's 15th Army was tasked with the main attack across the Amur River in the center of the front sector. Lieutenant-General Makar Teryokhin's 2nd Red Banner Army was assigned to conduct a supporting attack against the Aihun and Sunwu Fortified Regions, while Major-General Ivan Pashkov's 5th Rifle Corps aimed to seize the fortified region at Jaoho. Supported by the Amur Naval Flotilla, reconnaissance and advanced detachments of the 15th Army launched assaults without artillery preparation and rapidly secured major islands in the Amur River. Mamonov's rifle divisions then sent reconnaissance units across to the south bank of the river, which was likewise secured against light opposition. Throughout the remainder of the day, reconnaissance units and advanced battalions of the 15th Army consolidated their positions on the islands and the south bank, while main forces concentrated on conducting a challenging river crossing, hampered by heavy rains, high water, and mud. At the same time, assault units and reconnaissance detachments of the 5th Rifle Corps crossed the Ussuri River, successfully securing a beachhead north of Jaoho while the remainder of the corps was transported across the river. From August 9 to 11, the forces of the 2nd Red Banner Army limited their activities to reconnaissance, focusing on seizing islands in the Amur River and harassing Japanese installations. This operation occurred at a critical moment for the Japanese, who were still reeling from the impacts of two atomic bombings. The Soviet Union had successfully initiated its invasion of Manchuria, setting the stage for a campaign that, although brief, was just beginning. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. Two atomic bombs have been dropped and the Soviet Union has invaded Manchuria. For months the Japanese had been working tirelessly to obtain better peace terms through the Soviets, hoping above all else to preserve the Kokutai. It was all for nothing. The Americans offered terms, leaving the Kokutai ambiguous. What would Japan, or better said, the Emperor do?

July 29 to August 4 This is Summer of Trinity - a daily description of events in the summer of 1945.This episode has daily events for the week ending Saturday August 4, 1945. Sunday, July 29,1945 - 13 Days After Trinity   https://usnhistory.navylive.dodlive.mil/Recent/Article-View/Article/2686164/navy-lessons-learned-from-sinking-of-indianapolis/   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melvin_Mayfield - final MoH for actions before August 15 cessation of hostilities   Pumpkin bomb sorties - 9 aircraft   Monday, July 30,1945 - 14 Days After Trinity   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mochitsura_Hashimoto https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Idaho_(BB-42)   Indianapolis was sunk from an attack at just after midnight local time. (It's still the 29th in Zulu / GMT/UTC time, which might be where some of the confusion comes from.) The moon was waning gibbous and rose at 10:28pm.  It would have been well above the eastern horizon at midnight. (Again, Indianapolis was heading west, Hashimoto attacked the Starboard side, so he was facing south. That would've put the moon to his own starboard side, and about 20 degrees up from the horizon. ) https://phasesmoon.com/moonday29July1945.html Hashimoto notes that the moon was up when he found Indianapolis - and that therefore he dove quickly.  Action report says 450 miles EAST of Leyte gulf, heading 262 so just short of due West (270).  https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/loss-of-uss-indianapolis-ca-35/investigation-and-court-martial/after-action-report-of-mcvay.html   https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/loss-of-uss-indianapolis-ca-35/investigation-and-court-martial/court-martial.html   Tuesday, July 31,1945 - 15 Days After Trinity The submarine USS Bullhead leaves Fremantle, Australia, to commence her third war patrol.  This patrol would be under the command of Lieutenant Commander Edward R. Holt, Jr. The previous captain  of Bullhead, Commander Walter T Griffith, is sent to Guam, where he is to become Assistant Operations Officer to Vice Admiral Lockwood. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_T._Griffith Griffith recieved TWO Navy Crosses - from his previous sub tours, before Bullhead.  Stimson to Truman https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/research-files/henry-stimson-harry-s-truman-attached-draft-press-release?documentid=NA&pagenumber=1 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/greg-mitchell/countdown-to-hiroshima-for-july_b_3663837.html   August 1945   Wednesday, August 1,1945 - 16 Days After Trinity   Thursday, August 2,1945 - 17 Days After Trinity https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Indianapolis_(CA-35) An intersting equivalence, the ship was sunk early Monday, one week before Hiroshima; they are found mid-Thursday, one week before Nagasaki Friday, August 3,1945 - 18 Days After Trinity https://www.csmonitor.com/1995/0802/02101.html Hiroshima's Legacy - by Motoko Sakama Been looking for some pictures of the train station in Kobe, found one of GIs there in January 1946, and this one here. https://www.meijishowa.com/photography/5335/160305-0004-hankyu-railway-kobe-station Saturday, August 4,1945 - 19 Days After Trinity The Soviets gifted a plaque to the U.S. Ambassador to Moscow that was secretly bugged with The Thing, one of the earliest covert listening devices ever invented. It would hang in the Spaso House for seven years until its secret was discovered. Paul Tibbets briefed his crewmates on the bombing mission to Hiroshima, saying the bombs would be immensely powerful and "something new in the history of warfare", but giving no specifics.[   Summer of Trinity is a part of Mapping History here on The Latest Generation.  

LOSING IN KOREA TAUGHT THE US NOTHING OF EITHER COMMUNIST SKILLS OR COUNTERINSURGENCY WARFARE:   1/8: In the Shadow of Fear: America and the World in 1950 by  Nick Bunker  (Author) 1950 KIM IL-SUNG https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Fear-America-World-1950/dp/1541675541/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= In the Shadow of Fear describes the end of one era and the beginning of another. Joseph Stalin tested his first atomic bomb, Mao's army swept through China, and in America the age of FDR gave way to the beginnings of a new conservatism. An aggressive Republican Party, desperate to regain power, seized on rifts among its opponents, and Truman's program for universal health care and civil rights reform went down to defeat. The young Senator Joe McCarthy ambushed Truman and his party with a style of politics that aroused powerful emotions and deepened division. On the eve of the Korean War, a new mood of anger in the nation left many Americans calling in vain for a return to consensus.

LOSING IN KOREA TAUGHT THE US NOTHING OF EITHER COMMUNIST SKILLS OR COUNTERINSURGENCY WARFARE:   7/8: In the Shadow of Fear: America and the World in 1950 by  Nick Bunker  (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Fear-America-World-1950/dp/1541675541/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= In the Shadow of Fear describes the end of one era and the beginning of another. Joseph Stalin tested his first atomic bomb, Mao's army swept through China, and in America the age of FDR gave way to the beginnings of a new conservatism. An aggressive Republican Party, desperate to regain power, seized on rifts among its opponents, and Truman's program for universal health care and civil rights reform went down to defeat. The young Senator Joe McCarthy ambushed Truman and his party with a style of politics that aroused powerful emotions and deepened division. On the eve of the Korean War, a new mood of anger in the nation left many Americans calling in vain for a return to consensus.

LOSING IN KOREA TAUGHT THE US NOTHING OF EITHER COMMUNIST SKILLS OR COUNTERINSURGENCY WARFARE:   2/8: In the Shadow of Fear: America and the World in 1950 by  Nick Bunker  (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Fear-America-World-1950/dp/1541675541/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= In the Shadow of Fear describes the end of one era and the beginning of another. Joseph Stalin tested his first atomic bomb, Mao's army swept through China, and in America the age of FDR gave way to the beginnings of a new conservatism. An aggressive Republican Party, desperate to regain power, seized on rifts among its opponents, and Truman's program for universal health care and civil rights reform went down to defeat. The young Senator Joe McCarthy ambushed Truman and his party with a style of politics that aroused powerful emotions and deepened division. On the eve of the Korean War, a new mood of anger in the nation left many Americans calling in vain for a return to consensus.

LOSING IN KOREA TAUGHT THE US NOTHING OF EITHER COMMUNIST SKILLS OR COUNTERINSURGENCY WARFARE:   3/8: In the Shadow of Fear: America and the World in 1950 by  Nick Bunker  (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Fear-America-World-1950/dp/1541675541/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= In the Shadow of Fear describes the end of one era and the beginning of another. Joseph Stalin tested his first atomic bomb, Mao's army swept through China, and in America the age of FDR gave way to the beginnings of a new conservatism. An aggressive Republican Party, desperate to regain power, seized on rifts among its opponents, and Truman's program for universal health care and civil rights reform went down to defeat. The young Senator Joe McCarthy ambushed Truman and his party with a style of politics that aroused powerful emotions and deepened division. On the eve of the Korean War, a new mood of anger in the nation left many Americans calling in vain for a return to consensus.

LOSING IN KOREA TAUGHT THE US NOTHING OF EITHER COMMUNIST SKILLS OR COUNTERINSURGENCY WARFARE:   4/8: In the Shadow of Fear: America and the World in 1950 by  Nick Bunker  (Author) 1955 KIM IL-SUNG https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Fear-America-World-1950/dp/1541675541/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= In the Shadow of Fear describes the end of one era and the beginning of another. Joseph Stalin tested his first atomic bomb, Mao's army swept through China, and in America the age of FDR gave way to the beginnings of a new conservatism. An aggressive Republican Party, desperate to regain power, seized on rifts among its opponents, and Truman's program for universal health care and civil rights reform went down to defeat. The young Senator Joe McCarthy ambushed Truman and his party with a style of politics that aroused powerful emotions and deepened division. On the eve of the Korean War, a new mood of anger in the nation left many Americans calling in vain for a return to consensus.

LOSING IN KOREA TAUGHT THE US NOTHING OF EITHER COMMUNIST SKILLS OR COUNTERINSURGENCY WARFARE:   5/8: In the Shadow of Fear: America and the World in 1950 by  Nick Bunker  (Author) 1958 KIM IL-SUNG IN BEIJING https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Fear-America-World-1950/dp/1541675541/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= In the Shadow of Fear describes the end of one era and the beginning of another. Joseph Stalin tested his first atomic bomb, Mao's army swept through China, and in America the age of FDR gave way to the beginnings of a new conservatism. An aggressive Republican Party, desperate to regain power, seized on rifts among its opponents, and Truman's program for universal health care and civil rights reform went down to defeat. The young Senator Joe McCarthy ambushed Truman and his party with a style of politics that aroused powerful emotions and deepened division. On the eve of the Korean War, a new mood of anger in the nation left many Americans calling in vain for a return to consensus.

LOSING IN KOREA TAUGHT THE US NOTHING OF EITHER COMMUNIST SKILLS OR COUNTERINSURGENCY WARFARE:   6/8: In the Shadow of Fear: America and the World in 1950 by  Nick Bunker  (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Fear-America-World-1950/dp/1541675541/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= In the Shadow of Fear describes the end of one era and the beginning of another. Joseph Stalin tested his first atomic bomb, Mao's army swept through China, and in America the age of FDR gave way to the beginnings of a new conservatism. An aggressive Republican Party, desperate to regain power, seized on rifts among its opponents, and Truman's program for universal health care and civil rights reform went down to defeat. The young Senator Joe McCarthy ambushed Truman and his party with a style of politics that aroused powerful emotions and deepened division. On the eve of the Korean War, a new mood of anger in the nation left many Americans calling in vain for a return to consensus.

LOSING IN KOREA TAUGHT THE US NOTHING OF EITHER COMMUNIST SKILLS OR COUNTERINSURGENCY WARFARE:   8/8: In the Shadow of Fear: America and the World in 1950 by  Nick Bunker  (Author) 1949 TRUMAN AND CHURCHILL AT BLAIR HOUSE https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Fear-America-World-1950/dp/1541675541/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= In the Shadow of Fear describes the end of one era and the beginning of another. Joseph Stalin tested his first atomic bomb, Mao's army swept through China, and in America the age of FDR gave way to the beginnings of a new conservatism. An aggressive Republican Party, desperate to regain power, seized on rifts among its opponents, and Truman's program for universal health care and civil rights reform went down to defeat. The young Senator Joe McCarthy ambushed Truman and his party with a style of politics that aroused powerful emotions and deepened division. On the eve of the Korean War, a new mood of anger in the nation left many Americans calling in vain for a return to consensus.

We almost had no Harry S. Truman as President, except that he was able to beat a tough opponent, with his typical outworking handshaking and self-driving campaign. Head to https://www.homeaglow.com/MYHIST to get your first 3 hours of cleaning for only $19. Thanks so much to Homeaglow for sponsoring this episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we break down The Truman Show and reveal the terrifying accuracy of its message. We unpack the character of Truman Burbank, the psychological and thematic layers of his world, and how Peter Weir used subtle filmmaking to craft a story about surveillance, media manipulation, and existential dread. We also discuss the genius of Jim Carrey's performance and how the film predicted the influencer age, social media culture, and our obsession with watching others live their lives.Whether you've seen it once or twenty times, there's way more going on in The Truman Show than most people realize.Chapters:00:00:00 The original script was MUCH darker00:19:17 The hard truths of this movie00:29:04 Truman experiences the most brutal betrayal00:34:32 The struggles with the director and Jim Carrie00:37:39 The hints they throw right in your face00:43:42 Breaking down the dads death & the escape00:49:32 Christof and his cruel ways00:55:30 More clues they hide in your face00:57:43 A deep thought about what this movie says01:01:03 Our official rating & review01:05:16 Final thoughts01:07:29 Cue the music

Les 6 et 9 Août 1945, les bombardements d'Hiroshima et de Nagasaki précipitaient la reddition du Japon, mettant fin à la guerre du Pacifique. Un tournant de l'histoire et de la guerre qui a changé la face du monde. La mémoire de cet évènement tragique résonne comme un rappel nécessaire alors que l'actualité nous confronte à la menace de l'arme nucléaire et de sa prolifération dans le monde. Pourquoi Hiroshima, obscure ville moyenne de l'Empire, a-t-elle été choisie pour cible du premier bombardement atomique ? Fallait-il vraiment en passer par la destruction d'une seconde cité, Nagasaki, pour que le Japon accepte de capituler ? Le président Truman voulait-il avant tout impressionner Staline ? Depuis la fin de la Seconde Guerre mondiale, les mêmes questions taraudent historiens et survivants. Invités : Héloïse Fayet, chercheuse à l'Institut français des Relations Internationales et chercheuse associée à l'Institut français de Géopolitique, spécialiste des questions nucléaires Benjamin Hautecouverture, maître de recherche à la Fondation pour la Recherche Stratégique Jean-Marie Colin, directeur d'ICAN France, campagne internationale pour l'abolition des armes nucléaires. Prix Nobel de la Paix 2017.

In this haunting episode of The Guilty Files: Rewired, Dani pulls back the layers of the infamous Clutter family murders—not just to revisit the crime, but to reimagine the emotional and psychological shockwave it left behind.This isn't a retelling of the facts—that's already been done.Instead, Dani dives deep into the psyche of Perry Smith and Richard Hickock, the two drifters whose fractured paths led them to one brutal night in Holcomb, Kansas. What made them tick? How did childhood trauma, cycles of poverty, and a hunger for significance culminate in the cold-blooded execution of a family they'd never met?But the story doesn't end there. Dani also explores the impact of Truman Capote's In Cold Blood—how it blurred the lines between journalism and narrative, empathy and exploitation. Was Capote shining a light on the forgotten corners of the justice system, or was he romanticizing killers for the sake of literary fame?Through speculative storytelling, psychological analysis, and a few chilling “what ifs,” Dani rewires this case with fresh questions:What if someone had intervened in Perry's youth?What if the Clutters had never opened their door that night?What if In Cold Blood had never been written?This episode reimagines the Clutter murders not just as a crime—but as a mirror reflecting the fragility of safety, the failings of society, and the cost of trying to humanize the inhumane.Content Warning: Contains discussion of murder, trauma, and speculative depictions of violence.

In this episode of The Guilty Files: True Crime Uncovered, Brian takes us back to the heartland of America—Holcomb, Kansas—where one of the most chilling and senseless mass murders in U.S. history occurred. On the night of November 15, 1959, four members of the Clutter family were brutally murdered in their own home, sending shockwaves through a tight-knit farming community and eventually capturing the nation's attention.Brian lays out the cold, hard facts of the case—from the meticulous planning by ex-convicts Perry Smith and Richard Hickock, to the terrifying final hours of Herbert, Bonnie, Nancy, and Kenyon Clutter. We follow the timeline of events that led up to the murders, the aftermath that devastated the town, and the cross-country manhunt that brought the killers to justice.You'll hear about the calculated cruelty behind the crime, the seemingly motiveless brutality, and the forensic and investigative work that cracked the case wide open.Brian also touches on how this horrific story caught the eye of author Truman Capote, who would later immortalize it in his genre-defining nonfiction novel In Cold Blood.This episode is a sobering look at the violence that can lurk behind a calm exterior—and a stark reminder that no place, no matter how peaceful, is ever truly safe from evil.Content Warning: This episode contains detailed descriptions of a home invasion and the murder of multiple family members, including a minor.

Back on this day in 1965, Medicare was signed into law. President Linen B. Johnson signed medicare into law, which is a health insurance program for eledrly Americans. The bill signing ceremony took place at the Truman library in Missouri 

Last time we spoke about Operation Downfall. The Allies, under General Krueger, initiated a decisive campaign to clear the Japanese from Luzon. As they faced the entrenched Shobu Group, challenges included treacherous terrain and a resilient enemy. Simultaneously, Japan braced for an invasion, mobilizing reinforcements and devising defensive strategies to ward off the impending Allied assault. As July approached, General Yamashita's forces prepared to execute a final breakout, but progress was hampered by relentless guerrilla attacks and adverse weather conditions. With Operation Downfall looming, Allied troops focused on strategic landings in Kyushu and Honshu, driven by a relentless determination to defeat the Japanese militarily. The intense battles of Luzon became a precursor to this monumental operation, marking a turning point in the Pacific War.  This episode is The Siege of Japan Welcome to the Pacific War Podcast Week by Week, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about world war two? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on world war two and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel you can find a few videos all the way from the Opium Wars of the 1800's until the end of the Pacific War in 1945.  Boy I have been waiting a long time to come to this point. One of the most significant events in human history that deeply affects us to this very day. Nuclear war is as much a threat today as it was during the cold war. The dropping of the Atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were deeply complicated events fraught with issues of morality. It goes without saying whether or not the bombs needed to be dropped, their actual impact on the surrender of Japan and so forth are still issues hotly debated to this very day. I have spoken on the issue countless times on my personal channel and podcast, but I figure to do this subject justice I will create a full episode for it. Thus in this episode we are going to just cover what happened, but rest assured I will come back to this later on. As we last explored, following the successful invasion of Luzon in the Philippines, along with the fall of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, American forces began preparing for the final invasion of the Japanese Home Islands. This operation was codenamed Operation Downfall. One key initiative leading up to this invasion was a comprehensive air-sea blockade and bombardment campaign against Japan itself. Previously, we detailed the extensive firebombing and precision bombing efforts executed by General LeMay's 21st Bomber Command. However, during this crucial period, the B-29 Superfortress bombers undertook a distinct operation under the codename Starvation. This single operation would be one of the largest factors that contributed to the surrender of Japan and its one most people have never heard of. In July 1944, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz proposed a bold plan to use B-29 Superfortress bombers to mine the waterways surrounding the Japanese Home Islands. Although Generals Henry H. Arnold and Walter Hansell expressed concerns that this mining campaign could distract from the B-29's primary role as a strategic bombardment aircraft, they eventually agreed to assign one bomber group to focus on aerial mining when conditions permitted. On December 22, Hansell's 21st Bomber Command was directed to formulate a naval mining program aimed at executing between 150 to 200 sorties each month, which was set to begin in April 1945. However, by this time, General Curtis LeMay had taken command of the 21st Bomber Command. LeMay was notably enthusiastic about the idea and successfully recommended to Washington an upgraded mining program that aimed to deploy up to 1,500 mines each month using a full B-29 wing. LeMay viewed aerial mining in a different light than Arnold or Hansell, seeing it as a vital extension of strategic bombing. He recognized that most of Japan's war production materials, as well as a significant portion of its food supplies, were imported from regions such as China, Southeast Asia, and the Dutch East Indies. Japan's industrial heartland is primarily found on Honshu, its largest and most industrialized island, while Shikoku, another island, also lacks essential resources such as iron ore and high-quality coal. These crucial materials were sourced from Kyushu and Hokkaido, both of which are other Japanese islands. All these resources were transported by sea, so without easy access to raw materials, Japan's industrial output would come to a grinding halt. The only aircraft capable of deploying mines effectively where they were needed were the B-29s. Areas such as the Inland Sea, the Sea of Japan, and the Korean Peninsula were out of reach for other Allied aircraft. Additionally, Allied submarines could only venture into these perilous waters with great risk. Notably, about 80% of Japan's merchant fleet utilized the Shimonoseki Strait, a critical waterway that separates Kyushu from Honshu. Understanding the strategic advantage of closing this strait, LeMay decided to allocate an entire wing of B-29s specifically to mine this vital route. Brigadier General John Davies commanded the 313th Bombardment Wing, tasked with deploying approximately 2,000 naval mines each month into Japanese waters. The primary goals of this operation were to prevent essential raw materials and food supplies from reaching the Home Islands, hinder the supply and mobilization of Japanese military forces, and disrupt transportation routes in the Inland Sea of Japan. Between March 27 and April 12, Davies' bombers targeted key enemy shipping bases located in Kure, Sasebo, and Hiroshima. They also focused on the Shimonoseki Strait, a narrow and strategically important waterway that links the Inland Sea with the Tsushima Strait. Notably, after these attacks, this strait was successfully closed for two weeks. On May 3 and 5, the 313th Bombardment Wing laid down a total of 1,422 mines in the waters surrounding the Shimonoseki Strait, as well as near major urban centers like Tokyo, Nagoya, Kobe, and Osaka. These efforts aimed to severely disrupt maritime commerce between Japan's major industrial areas. Just a week later, the minefields expanded from the Shimonoseki Strait to include Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan's four main islands, and northwest Honshu, the largest island containing Tokyo. By the end of that month, these mines were proving remarkably effective, accounting for the sinking of more ships than Japanese submarines. In fact, within the Shimonoseki Strait alone, 113 ships had been sunk. Between June 7 and July 8, American forces expanded and fortified minefields along the western coast of Japan while also replenishing the existing minefields in the Shimonoseki Strait and the Inland Sea. During this effort, they successfully laid a total of 3,542 mines across 14 missions. The "total blockade" officially commenced on July 9 and continued until the end of the war. Throughout this period, American forces executed 474 sorties, dropping another 3,746 mines that replenished existing minefields and extended coverage to harbors in Korea. In total, Brigadier General Davies conducted 46 missions that laid down 26 minefields containing 12,135 mines. Remarkably, only 15 B-29s were lost during these operations. In turn, the mines accounted for the sinking or damaging of 670 Japanese ships, with a total loss of 1.25 million tons. This mining campaign effectively strangled Japanese industry, as the denial of essential raw materials to factories proved more disruptive than the direct bombing of the plants themselves.  Despite the clear vulnerability of Japan's economy to disruptions in coastal shipping, Japanese authorities were alarmingly unprepared to address the threat posed by air-dropped mines. By August 1945, Japan had committed 349 ships and 20,000 personnel to counter the Starvation campaign, but these efforts were overwhelmingly ineffective. The shipping crisis escalated to such a degree that searchlights and anti-aircraft batteries were redeployed from urban centers to defend expected mining targets. Additionally, suicide boats were employed in desperate attempts to clear the minefields. Royal Navy historian S.W. Roskill commented on the situation, stating, “The blockade had, in fact, been far more successful than we realized at the time. Although submarines initially played a critical role in enforcing the blockade, it was the air-laid mines that ultimately strangled Japan.” Japanese officials shared this assessment. A director from a Tokyo steel company reflected on the situation, noting that the denial of essential raw materials to factories caused far greater disruption than the direct bombing of the plants themselves. This contradicted the views of US Army Air Forces experts back in Washington. In a striking remark after the war, a Japanese minesweeping officer told American forces, “The result of B-29 mining was so effective against shipping that it eventually starved the country. You could have likely shortened the war by starting this campaign earlier.” Meanwhile, General LeMay continued his firebombing campaign against Japan. By the end of May, urban areas around Tokyo Bay had been devastated, prompting the 21st Bomber Command to shift focus westward toward the densely populated industrial complexes lining Osaka Bay. On June 1, 521 B-29s were dispatched to bomb industrial targets situated along the Yodo River, with an escort of 148 P-51 fighters. Unfortunately, an undetected thunderstorm struck en route, which meant only 27 P-51s reached Osaka, while another 27 crashed, and the remaining fighters had to return to Iwo Jima. Despite these complications, the B-29s bombed from altitudes ranging between 18,000 and 28,500 feet, successfully dropping 2,788 tons of incendiary bombs on Osaka. The attack resulted in the burning of 3.15 square miles, destroying 136,107 houses and 4,222 factories. Four days later, on June 3, 530 unescorted B-29 Superfortresses launched a bombing raid on the city of Kobe. Of those, 473 aircraft targeted the city, resulting in the destruction of 4.35 square miles. This devastating strike led to the demolition of 51,399 buildings, while another 928 suffered significant damage. The raid, however, came with losses, as 11 bombers were downed, and 176 were damaged in the operation. On June 7, 449 B-29s returned to Osaka. Despite facing heavy cloud cover that restricted visibility, they managed to burn an additional 2.21 square miles of the city, destroying another 55,333 buildings.  By the conclusion of General Curtis LeMay's maximum-effort area bombing campaign, the six most significant industrial cities in Japan, Tokyo, Nagoya, Kobe, Osaka, Yokohama, and Kawasaki, had been left in ruins. Major factories were either destroyed or severely damaged, while thousands of smaller household and feeder industrial units were consumed by flames. Casualty figures surged into six figures, leaving millions of people homeless. The evacuation of survivors further complicated efforts to secure labor for the factories that remained operational. Japan's air-raid protection system proved woefully inadequate to withstand a protracted siege by very heavy bombers. The system lacked sufficient organization, trained personnel, shelters, fire-fighting equipment, and facilities for relief and evacuation. Additionally, there was a significant deficiency in civilian indoctrination regarding emergency procedures. Under the relentless pressure of repeated major attacks, local Air Raid Precaution organizations collapsed, adding strain to an already overburdened imperial government. Japanese civilians, who had been conditioned by victory propaganda, displayed little of the discipline that helped German citizens endure years of aerial bombardment. As news of military defeats and the impact of B-29 precision strikes filtered into the great cities, residents began to lose confidence in their leaders' ability to protect them or care for the victims of the attacks. Abe Motoki, the Minister of Home Affairs at the time, later remarked, “I believe that after the raids on Tokyo on May 23-24, 1945, civilian defense measures in that city, as well as in other parts of Japan, were considered a futile effort.” Regarding the operational cost of this campaign for the 21st Bomber Command, it was not considered excessively burdensome. Over the course of 17 maximum-effort incendiary attacks, LeMay dispatched a total of 6,960 B-29s, which dropped 41,592 tons of bombs. The losses amounted to 136 B-29s, averaging only 1.9% of the sorties, a rate significantly lower than what had been endured in earlier months, and quite acceptable by the standards of conventional strategic bombing. Meteorologists predicted that the summer monsoon would keep Japan's skies covered with clouds for most of the upcoming months, from June to August. As a result, LeMay shifted strategies under what became known as the Empire Plan. This approach prioritized targeting industrial and military sites during daylight hours when the weather permitted, while secondary cities that had sufficient industrial capability became targets for nighttime area attacks. This change meant that since no single target warranted a full four-wing maximum effort, multiple missions could be scheduled in a single day. Accordingly, on June 9, 110 B-29s attacked three aircraft factories located in Narao, Atsuta, and Akashi. The strikes successfully destroyed the factories in Narao and Atsuta, but an unfortunate miscalculation led to the bombing of the town near Akashi. The following day, June 10, a force of 280 B-29s, escorted by 107 P-51 Mustang fighters, targeted six distinct sites in the Tokyo Bay area. The mission yielded significant results, with all targets sustaining heavy damage. Finally, on June 15, 516 B-29s were dispatched for one last firebombing raid against Osaka and the neighboring city of Amagasaki. In this combined assault, 444 bombers dropped over 1,350 tons of incendiary bombs, incinerating an additional 1.9 square miles in Osaka and more than half a square mile in Amagasaki. Starting on June 17, General Curtis LeMay's firebombing campaigns began to focus on medium-sized secondary cities across Japan. On that day, 477 B-29 Superfortresses targeted the cities of Omuta, Hamamatsu, Yokkaichi, and Kagoshima, burning a combined total of six square miles in these urban areas. The success of this initial multi-target mission ensured the continuation of the program, establishing an operational pattern that would remain standard during the final weeks of the war. In total, multiple incendiary attacks were conducted on sixteen occasions, averaging about two missions per week. Between June 17 and August 14, American forces carried out 8,014 sorties, dropping a staggering 54,184 tons of incendiaries across 58 secondary cities. On June 22, 446 B-29s were dispatched to strike six targets located in southern Honshu, including the crucial Kure Naval Arsenal. In this mission, 382 bombers released 2,103 tons of bombs, inflicting heavy damage to these essential manufacturing facilities. Just four days later, on June 26, a force of 510 B-29s, accompanied by 148 P-51 Mustang escorts, targeted locations in southern Honshu and the nearby island of Shikoku. However, dense clouds over much of the area complicated assembly and forced many aircraft to attack targets of opportunity individually or in small groups. As a result, adverse weather conditions would delay subsequent daytime raids until July 24.  In the coordinated strike program that commenced in June, the decision to focus on either the Empire Plan or urban industrial targets was largely influenced by weather conditions. As the program took shape, the 315th Bombardment Wing (VH) became available for combat operations. This wing operated somewhat independently from the other bomber units, with its activities significantly guided by the specialized equipment of its aircraft. Authorized for deployment in the Pacific in December 1944, the 315th settled at Northwest Field, Guam, during May and June. Its commander, Brigadier General Frank A. Armstrong, Jr., was a seasoned veteran of the strategic air offensive against Germany. The B-29s of the 315th Wing differed in two key respects from those of other units. They were equipped with the AN/APQ-7 (Eagle) radar, a sophisticated radar system designed for bombing, instead of the conventional AN/APQ-13 radar. The latter had primarily served as a navigational aid. While crews had become adept at using the AN/APQ-13 for night or poor-weather bombing, it lacked the precision necessary for accurate strikes. The Eagle radar, however, offered significantly greater definition and, although it required a long bomb run averaging seventy miles, this was not considered a serious hindrance in the tactical context of Japan. To further enhance its night-bombing capabilities, the Superfortresses had been stripped of all armament except for the tail gun. This modification, along with the Eagle radar, clearly marked the 315th as a dedicated night-bombing unit. There were various proposals for the use of these specially equipped B-29s, including high-altitude bombing, area bombing, and aerial mining. However, by the time the 315th Wing was ready for combat, the 313th Bombardment Wing had already gained proficiency in aerial mining, while all wings had become adept at area bombing using the AN/APQ-13. Training for the 315th had focused heavily on night radar tactics, with less emphasis on visual bombing and daytime formation flights. It was evident that if the Eagle radar was to undergo a thorough scientific evaluation, it should be tested against a specific set of targets that were preferably large in size and located along the coastline. In the view of the 21st Bomber Command, the oil industry met these requirements perfectly. The 315th Bombardment Wing initiated its specialized campaign on June 26 with a targeted strike against the Utsube Oil Refinery in Yokkaichi, the top-priority target. By August 14, the wing had conducted 15 additional missions against a total of 10 targets, which included various petroleum refineries and synthetic plants, such as the Maruzen Oil Company in Wakayama, Mitsubishi Oil Company in Kawasaki, and Nippon Oil Company plants spread across Akita, Kansai, Kudamatsu, and Amagasaki, as well as the Imperial Fuel Industry Company in Ube and Toa Fuel Industry in Wakayama. During the campaign, the 315th Wing dispatched a total of 1,200 B-29s, 1,095 of which successfully bombed their primary targets, dropping 9,084 tons of 500-pound general-purpose bombs deemed particularly effective against the scattered installations. The increase in bomb load capacity was made possible by stripping the planes of unnecessary equipment and conducting bombing missions individually at night. As the crews gained experience, they were able to increase the average weight carried from 14,631 pounds during the first mission to 20,684 pounds by August 9. Despite concerns about safety from removing most of the aircraft's armaments, only four planes were lost and 66 sustained damage throughout the campaign. The 20th Air Force estimated that the B-29 attacks led to the destruction of approximately 6 million barrels of tank storage capacity, and the United States Strategic Bombing Survey (USSBS) reported that refining capacity had been reduced from 90,000 barrels a day in December 1941 to around 17,000 barrels. However, the strategic impact was more apparent than real, as many storage tanks were empty and refinery production had fallen to just 4% of capacity before the very heavy bomber campaign began. The lack of precise intelligence regarding the state of Japan's economy had justified the emphasis on the oil program as a form of reinsurance. Nevertheless, the blockade had effectively severed the nation's oil resources, resulting in tankers remaining idle at the docks. On July 1, Admiral Halsey's 3rd Fleet departed San Pedro Bay to initiate the first preliminary strikes in preparation for Operation Olympic. This operation involved battleships and heavy cruisers conducting surface bombardments of industrial targets in eastern Japan, while lighter forces performed anti-shipping sweeps along the coast. Additionally, a fleet of submarines advanced ahead of Admiral McCain's Task Force 38 to eliminate picket boats and establish lifeguard positions. At 18:15 on July 9, the force began its 25-knot approach toward the Home Islands, launching its first strikes against the Tokyo area at 04:00 on July 10. A total of 1,732 sorties were executed, targeting locations from Koriyama to Hamamatsu, dropping 454 tons of bombs and 1,648 rockets over Honshu with negligible opposition. American airmen reported the destruction of 109 enemy aircraft and damage to 231 during these strikes.   Following this, Halsey's fleet moved north to bombard Hokkaido and northern Honshu, which were beyond the effective range of the B-29s and had previously evaded attack. At 05:59 on July 14, Rear-Admiral John Shafroth's Bombardment Group Able, consisting primarily of three battleships and two heavy cruisers, was tasked with attacking the Kamaishi Works of the Japan Iron Company. By midday, Shafroth's forces had opened fire on Kamaishi, marking the first surface bombardment of Japan by a hostile fleet in over 80 years. Between 12:10 and 14:19, a total of 802 16-inch shells, 728 8-inch shells, and 825 5-inch shells were expended, setting the town ablaze as key industrial and residential targets were hit and resulting in the sinking of one oil tanker, two barges, and one small ship in the harbor. Simultaneously, McCain's carriers closed to within 80 nautical miles of Japan, launching 1,391 sorties against Hokkaido and northern Honshu to target railways, shipping, and airfields, again facing only light resistance. In the ensuing strikes, American planes sank over 50,000 tons of shipping and naval craft, including the destroyer Tachibana, four minesweepers, eight naval auxiliaries, and around 20 merchant vessels, with significant losses occurring at Muroran and Hakodate. In addition, 25 enemy planes were destroyed, while American losses totaled 24 aircraft and 17 airmen, about half of whom were lost in combat. Task Force 38 launched another assault on July 15, executing 966 combat sorties that dropped 355 tons of bombs and expended 2,093 rockets. This operation resulted in the sinking of 65 vessels and damaging 128 others, as well as the destruction of 48 locomotives and damage to 28. Widespread destruction was inflicted on several facilities, particularly the Aomori–Hakodate railcar ferry system, which transported 30% of the coal between Hokkaido and Honshu. The strikes devastated the ferry system, sinking eight ferries, beaching eight more, and damaging two. In total, 70 auxiliary sailing colliers were sunk, and 11 were damaged, along with 10 steel freighters lost and 7 damaged. The ferry strikes were the brainchild of Halsey's operations officer, Captain Ralph “Rollo” Wilson. “When the first action reports began to sift in,” Halsey related: He snatched them up and pored over them; the ferries were not mentioned. Later reports also ignored them. Rollo was sulking and cursing when the final reports arrived. I heard him whistle and saw him beam. “Six ferries sunk!” he said. “Pretty soon we'll have ‘em moving their stuff by oxcarts and skiffs!”  Additionally, 20 city blocks in Kushiro were razed. The most significant outcome of these operations was the virtual severance of Hokkaido from Honshu. By the end of the raids, Halsey's 3rd Fleet had achieved the sinking of 140 ships and small craft, damaging 235 others, and destroying 38 planes while damaging 46. Meanwhile, Rear-Admiral Oscar Badger's Bombardment Group Baker, composed of three battleships, two light cruisers, and eight destroyers, was assigned to bombard Muroran. Between 09:36 and 10:25, this group fired 860 16-inch shells at the Nihon Steel Company and the Wanishi Ironworks, targeting both the coal liquefaction plant and coke ovens. This bombardment inflicted severe damage on those facilities and resulted in the destruction or damage of 2,541 houses in Muroran. As Hasley recalled “These sweeps and bombardments accomplished more than destruction. they showed the enemy that we made no bones about playing in his front yard. From now on, we patrolled his channels and shelled his coast almost every night that the weather permitted.” Additionally, Rear-Admiral James Cary Jones' four light cruisers conducted a sweep along the east coast of Honshu to hunt for Japanese shipping; however, they reported no contacts during their mission. Early on July 16, Task Force 38 retired east of Honshu to begin refueling and rendezvoused with Admiral Rawlings' Task Force 37, which agreed to operate closely as an additional task group for Admiral Halsey. At 03:50 on July 17, the two task forces began launching strikes against central Honshu despite adverse weather conditions. The American forces executed 205 sorties targeting the Mito area, while British aircraft flew 87 sorties against airfields and railyards along the northwest coast of Honshu. Despite the bad weather, several small craft and locomotives were destroyed, though the operation resulted in the loss of nine aircraft and four airmen. Later that afternoon, Halsey detached Badger's augmented Bombardment Group to attack Hitachi, a significant industrial and electronics-producing city. The 53-minute bombardment commenced in fog and rain at 23:14, during which 1,207 16-inch shells, 267 14-inch shells, and 292 6-inch rounds were expended against the Tago and Mito Works of the Hitachi Manufacturing Company, as well as the Yamate Plant and copper refining facilities of Hitachi Mine, resulting in severe devastation. On July 18, McCain's two leading carriers launched a total of 592 sorties against Yokosuka, specifically targeting the heavily camouflaged battleship Nagato at the naval base. The attacks resulted in the sinking of one old cruiser, one minesweeper, one submarine, one incomplete destroyer, and three patrol vessels, in addition to damaging one subchaser, one old destroyer, and one old battleship. Although Nagato was hit multiple times and suffered heavy damage, it managed to stay afloat. Meanwhile, three carriers also targeted airfields and other opportunities in Tokyo, while Task Force 37 attacked a seaplane base at Kitaura and airfields at Nobara, Naruto, Chosi, Kanoike, Natori, and Kitakawa. The recent raids resulted in the destruction of 43 enemy planes and damage to 77 others on the ground, along with the destruction of three locomotives and the derailing of four electrified train cars by rockets. However, the American forces incurred losses of 14 aircraft and 18 aircrew, as the 3rd Fleet flyers reported encountering the fiercest anti-aircraft fire they had yet experienced. Additionally, Rear-Admiral Carl Holden's four light cruisers were detached during the night to sweep shipping off Sagami Bay and to target the radar site at Cape Nojima. On July 21, Captain Thomas Hederman's Destroyer Squadron 61, consisting of nine destroyers, was assigned to conduct another anti-shipping sweep off Sagami Bay. Pursuing four radar contacts, the destroyers engaged targets at midnight on July 22, firing guns and torpedoes from 7,000 yards. This action resulted in the sinking of the 800-ton freighter No.5 Hakutetsu Maru and damaging the 6,919-ton Enbun Maru. In response, Japanese coastal artillery, the minesweeper W-1, and subchaser Ch-42 returned fire, but Hederman's squadron successfully retired without damage. Although minor in scale, the Battle of Sagami Bay would ultimately be the last surface action of the war. Meanwhile, as part of Operation Barney, a planned submarine penetration of the Sea of Japan, nine submarines succeeded in sinking 27 Japanese merchant vessels and one submarine, totaling 54,786 tons.  On June 8, the submarine Barb commenced her twelfth patrol, tasked with terrorizing the Sea of Okhotsk using her newly installed 5-inch rocket launchers. Over the following weeks, Skipper Commander Eugene “Luckey” Fluckey executed successful rocket bombardments on Shari, Hokkaido, and targets in Shikuka, Kashiho, and Shiritoru on Karafuto (southern Sakhalin), also employing the submarine's deck guns to destroy 35 sampans in the town of Kaihyo To. Observing Karafuto trains transporting military supplies to ports, Fluckey devised a plan to intercept these trains. Engineman Third Class Billy Hatfield recalled how, as a child, he had placed nuts on railroad ties and watched as the weight of passing trains cracked them between rail and tie. Realizing this principle could be adapted, he suggested rigging an automatic detonator. Fluckey had many volunteers for the mission, including a Japanese POW, and carefully selected Hatfield and seven others, deciding against leading the shore party himself. Just after midnight on July 23, 1945, Fluckey maneuvered Barb to within 950 yards of the Karafuto coast. Led by Lieutenant William Walker, the team launched two rubber rafts at 00:30. Before they left, Fluckey instructed them, “Boys, if you get stuck, head for Siberia, 130 miles north, following the mountain ranges. Good luck.” Upon reaching the shore, the Americans located the tracks and buried a 55-pound scuttling charge and battery beneath the rails, positioning it under a water tower they planned to use as a lookout. As Motor Machinist's Mate First Class John Markuson climbed up, he unexpectedly found he was scaling a sentry tower, causing him to retreat without alerting the sleeping guard. When a train passed, the team dove for cover before resuming their work after it had gone by. Shortly after 01:30, Walker's team signaled their return to Barb, which was now just 600 yards offshore. Fifteen minutes later, while the boats were halfway back, Fluckey heard the rumble of an approaching train. He hoisted a megaphone and urged the crew to “Paddle like the devil, boys!” At 01:47, a 16-car Japanese train struck Hatfield's detonator, resulting in a massive explosion that sent debris soaring 200 feet into the air and reportedly killed 150 Japanese. Minutes later, all eight Americans were safely aboard Barb, which then slipped back into the night, having successfully executed the only amphibious invasion of Japan during World War II. Returning to the main action, Halsey aimed to eliminate the remnants of the Combined Fleet at the heavily fortified Kure Naval Base. Consequently, Task Force 38 began launching the first of 1,363 sorties against ships and airfields in Kyushu, Shikoku, and Honshu, ringing the Inland Sea at 04:40 on July 24. A total of 599 tons of bombs and 1,615 rockets were unleashed over Kure, resulting in the sinking or damaging of 22 warships, which totaled 258,000 tons. Among the affected vessels were the battleships Hyuga, Ise, and Haruna; fleet carriers Amagi and Katsuragi; the escort carrier Kaiyo; heavy cruisers Tone and Aoba; as well as light cruisers Oyodo and Kitakami. In addition, another 53 vessels amounting to 17,000 tons were sunk at various locations, including Hiroshima Bay, Niihama, Bungo Channel, and Kii Channel. At Kobe, the incomplete fleet carrier Aso was also attacked and damaged. American Hellcats and Corsairs effectively swept aside Japanese aerial opposition, shooting down 18 enemy planes while destroying 40 aircraft and damaging another 80 on the ground. Furthermore, around the Inland Sea, 16 locomotives were destroyed and five were damaged, while 20 hangars sustained damage. Three oil tanks were set ablaze at Kure and one at Tano. Additionally, four electric trains and a roundhouse were strafed at Hamamatsu, and various military installations, including barracks, warehouses, power plants, and factories around the airfields, received significant damage. Simultaneously, Rear-Admiral Rawlings' Task Force 37 conducted 257 sorties against targets in Japan and the surrounding offshore areas, sinking the escort carrier Shimane Maru in Shido Bay, along with a number of destroyers, small escorts, and coasters. Meanwhile, Jones' light cruisers swept through the Kii Channel before bombarding the Kushimoto seaplane base and airfields at Cape Shionomisaki during the night. Supporting these efforts, General LeMay dispatched 625 B-29s against seven targets in the Nagoya and Osaka areas, successfully inflicting heavy damage on all of them despite the spotty weather, marking this as the last major attack on the Japanese mainland during the war, as two weeks of cloudy weather ensued. In the early hours of July 25, McCain's aircraft carriers resumed launching strikes against airfields and shipping in the Inland Sea and the Nagoya-Osaka areas. During this operation, they executed a total of 655 sorties, expending 185 tons of bombs and 1,162 rockets, successfully sinking nine ships totaling 8,000 tons and damaging another 35 vessels. The strikes also resulted in the downing of 21 Japanese planes, with an additional 61 aircraft destroyed on the ground and 68 damaged. After refueling on July 27, Halsey's carrier forces moved to launch points located 96 nautical miles off Shikoku. At 04:43 on July 28, they resumed strikes over the Inland Sea, focusing on targets from northern Kyushu to Nagoya, as well as airfields across Honshu along the Sea of Japan. This resulted in McCain flying a total of 1,602 sorties, dropping 605 tons of bombs and expending 2,050 rockets. These attacks sank 27 ships, amounting to 43,000 tons, including the battleships Ise and Haruna, the fleet carrier Amagi, and the Combined Fleet flagship Oyodo. Additionally, 78 vessels totaling 216,000 tons were reported damaged, among them the fleet carrier Katsuragi, heavy cruiser Tone, and light cruiser Kitakami. American pilots reported the destruction of 21 Japanese aircraft in the air and claimed 115 destroyed on the ground across 30 area airfields. They also successfully destroyed 14 locomotives, four oil cars, two roundhouses, three oil tanks, three warehouses, one hangar, and a transformer station. In support of these efforts, Task Force 37 conducted 260 sorties against the eastern Inland Sea, targeting the dockyard at Harima and sinking or severely damaging four corvettes at Maizuru. Meanwhile, the 7th Air Force's 11th and 494th Bombardment Groups carried out a day-long raid on Kure, successfully sinking the heavy cruiser Aoba. By sunset that evening, the Imperial Japanese Navy had effectively ceased to exist, though the cost for the Americans was steep, with losses amounting to 101 planes and 88 men since July 24. As Halsey moved east to target the Osaka-Nagoya area, Shafroth's reinforced Bombardment Group was detached on July 29 to bombard Hamamatsu. During the night, they successfully unloaded 810 16-inch shells, 265 14-inch shells, and 1,035 8-inch shells, damaging the Imperial Government Railway locomotive works, igniting a blaze at the Japanese Musical Instrument Company, and wreaking havoc on infrastructure along the critical Tokaido main line. The following day, McCain's carriers conducted 1,224 sorties against airfields in Osaka, Kobe, Maizuru, and Nagoya, expending 397 tons of bombs and 2,532 rockets. These strikes resulted in the sinking of 20 vessels totaling 6,000 tons and damaging another 56 ships. The pilots also claimed destruction of 115 enemy aircraft on the ground, while inflicting severe damage on numerous industrial targets, including aircraft factories and naval docks in Maizuru. In Miyazu Bay, the destroyer Hatsushino struck an air-dropped naval mine, marking the final loss of 129 Japanese destroyers sunk during the war. That night, seven destroyers advanced deep into Suruga Bay, unleashing 1,100 5-inch shells on Shimizu within seven minutes, successfully destroying or damaging 118 industrial buildings. Typhoon weather would impede the operations of the 3rd Fleet for the next two weeks, as Admiral Nimitz ordered Halsey to steer clear of southern Japan, which was set to become the target of a new and deadly weapon: the atomic bomb. The U.S. Army had begun its project to develop an atomic bomb on August 16, 1942, under the auspices of the Manhattan Project. The project was directed by Major-General Leslie Groves and involved renowned scientists such as Robert Oppenheimer, Enrico Fermi, Niels Bohr, Richard Feynman, and Albert Einstein. Over time, it expanded to include a design center at Los Alamos and two production facilities at Hanford and Clinton. By August 1945, the teams at Los Alamos had successfully designed, developed, and built a gun-type atomic bomb capable of forcing five pounds of uranium-235 against another 17 pounds at high speed, thereby achieving critical mass and releasing immense heat, light, blast, and radiation. The team was also experimenting with an even more powerful device: the plutonium bomb, which utilized an implosion method whereby a sphere of plutonium was compressed by conventional explosives to reach criticality. By early August, scientists had managed to produce enough nuclear material to create only one uranium device, known as Little Boy, and one plutonium bomb, referred to as Fat Man. Each weapon had the potential to annihilate an entire city, and American leaders were prepared to use them if it could compel the Japanese Empire to surrender without necessitating an invasion of Japan. A Targeting Committee led by Groves, consisting of Manhattan Project and Air Force personnel, recommended Hiroshima, Niigata, Kokura, and Nagasaki as primary targets.  Groves' Targeting Committee employed several criteria to select sites for atomic bomb targets. The chosen targets had to possess strategic value to the Japanese and be situated between Tokyo and Nagasaki. Additionally, the target needed to feature a large urban area with a minimum diameter of three miles and must be relatively untouched by previous bombings, ironically spared for potential atomic destruction at a later stage. A crucial condition was that, to the best of their knowledge, these areas should harbor no concentrations of Allied prisoners of war. However, this requirement was challenging to ascertain accurately due to a lack of reliable information about the locations of prisoners. Initially, the committee considered 17 candidates and selected five primary targets: Hiroshima, Yokohama, Kokura, Niigata, and Kyoto. On May 28, they narrowed the list to three: Kyoto, Niigata, and Hiroshima. Hiroshima was significant as it housed Hata's 2nd General Army headquarters and featured a large shipyard, while Niigata was a major industrial city with an important port. Moreover, Kyoto held considerable cultural and religious significance for the Japanese. Secretary of War Stimson, having previously cautioned General Arnold about the humanitarian consequences of targeting cities with incendiary bombings, insisted on removing Kyoto from the list after intense discussions with Groves. On July 21, President Truman concurred with Stimson during their meetings in Potsdam, deciding that Kyoto should be spared. Subsequently, Kokura, known for its large arsenal and ordnance works, replaced Kyoto. Additionally, LeMay's staff reportedly included Nagasaki as an alternate target due to potential weather issues, as it was home to Mitsubishi's arms factories, electric production facilities, ordnance works, and extensive dockyards, making it a valuable target. Meanwhile, a high-level civilian Interim Committee, under Secretary of War Henry Stimson, ultimately advised President Truman on the use of nuclear weapons, reasoning that their deployment would be no worse than the current incendiary bombing campaigns against Japan. The committee also recommended that an atomic bomb be deployed as soon as possible, without warning, to maximize shock value and target a "war plant… surrounded by workers' houses." Following a successful operational test of the experimental plutonium bomb conducted at Trinity on July 16, President Truman authorized General Spaatz to prepare for the bomb drops before August 3. Colonel Paul Tibbets' 509th Composite Group had been specially organized in secret since September 1944 to deliver nuclear weapons, and by June, it had arrived at Tinian under the command of LeMay's 21st Bomber Command. General Twinning replaced LeMay as commander of the 21st on August 1, and he would ultimately issue the direct orders for Tibbets to drop the atomic bomb. The atomic bomb mission had a convoluted command structure. The Joint Chiefs of Staff were largely left out of the chain of command. LeMay was Tibbet's nominal commander; however, Groves still had extensive control over the operation through his deputy Brigadier General Thomas Farrell on Tinian. The 21st Bomber Command would determine when the atomic bomb mission was launched, based on suitable weather conditions. Even at this stage, General of the Air Force Henry "Hap" Arnold and LeMay were still skeptical about the Manhattan Project; they thought B-29 incendiary and high-explosive bombing operations would suffice to end the war soon. LeMay even questioned the 509th CG pilots' ability to conduct the mission; he wanted seasoned Pacific B-29 veteran crews to drop the nuclear cargo. While the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) and Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) prepared for an impending invasion, the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) continued its bombing campaign against Japan. The crews of the 509th Composite Group needed to acclimate to the navigational challenges, varied weather conditions, extensive distances, and the geography of the region, all while becoming accustomed to combat situations. Training commenced at Tinian on June 30, with conventional operational missions over Japan beginning on July 20. To prepare for their atomic missions, the crews trained with "pumpkins," which were specially constructed bombs designed to mimic the appearance and weight of nuclear weapons. This allowed them to practice handling and releasing the bombs. They also rehearsed navigational procedures, visual bomb release techniques, and dropping the weapon at an altitude of approximately 30,000 feet. Following the drop, the crew conducted high-speed, radical turns to evade the nuclear effects after detonation. During their first mission, a B-29 from the 509th sought an alternative target in Tokyo. The crew aimed to drop their 10,000-pound "pumpkin" on the Imperial Palace, but unfortunately, they missed their target. Had they succeeded in killing the emperor, it could have significantly impacted Japan's decision-making process, potentially fortifying the Japanese people's resolve to continue the war. Military leaders might have seized control in the aftermath, pushing their forces to keep fighting. Throughout their training, the units of the 21st Bomber Command intentionally avoided targeting Hiroshima, Niigata, Kokura, and Nagasaki during these practice runs. In total, Tibbets directed his crews on numerous combat missions that targeted 28 cities and involved the dropping of 49 "pumpkins." Remarkably, the 509th lost no aircraft during these operations. While Tibbets focused on perfecting the delivery method, the weapons Little Boy and Fat Man were being transported to Tinian. Some weapon assemblies were delivered by C-54 and B-29 aircraft from Kirtland Field near Albuquerque, while the cruiser Indianapolis delivered the fissionable material for Little Boy from San Francisco on July 26. Four days later, the submarine I-58 unexpectedly attacked the Indianapolis with six torpedoes while the cruiser was en route to Guam, successfully sinking it. Of the crew, 850 Americans survived the sinking, and another 316 were belatedly rescued by August 8. By July 31, most of the assembly of Little Boy had been completed. However, a detonation expert would need to emplace the cordite charges to fire the uranium "bullet" through the gun device to the uranium core after take-off, minimizing the risk of an inadvertent nuclear explosion in the event of a B-29 crash. Additionally, the crew carrying the atomic bomb had to exercise caution when descending once Little Boy was armed because the primary radar or a backup barometric fuse could potentially trigger an explosion if the aircraft descended too rapidly with the fuses in place. On August 2, B-29 crews arrived at Tinian with the assemblies for Fat Man. On that same day, General Twinning and President Truman approved the plan to bomb Hiroshima. Two days later, Colonel Tibbets briefed the crews about the mission, confirming that he would pilot the aircraft carrying the atomic bomb. Tibbets' B-29 No. 82, later named Enola Gay, was supported by three weather reconnaissance aircraft that reported conditions at Hiroshima, Kokura, and Nagasaki, as well as two additional B-29s assigned to conduct scientific and photographic missions. At 02:45 on August 6, Enola Gay took off from Tinian, with diversionary attacks by 604 B-29s throughout Japan also scheduled for that day, as coordinated by Twinning. After passing through Iwo Jima at approximately 05:55, Captain William Parsons and Second-Lieutenant Morris Jeppson armed the bomb at 07:30. Throughout the journey, the B-29s ascended slowly, reaching an altitude of over 30,000 feet as they crossed Shikoku and Honshu, finally reaching Hiroshima at 31,060 feet. At 09:12, Tibbets executed his final approach from the 'initial point', flying east-west over the city towards the intersection of the Ota and Motoyasu Rivers. Approximately at 09:15, Little Boy was released, and Enola Gay immediately began its turn away to escape the impending explosion. However, the bomb mistakenly descended towards the Shima Surgical Hospital rather than the intended target, the Aioi Bridge. At 09:16, Little Boy detonated at an altitude of 1,890 feet, just as Tibbets was about six miles away from the blast point. As a result of the atomic blast, the immediate area around the epicenter was heated to an astonishing 1 million degrees Celsius, instantly incinerating or vaporizing all people, animals, buildings, and other items within that zone. Hiroshima police officials estimated that immediate casualties amounted to 71,379 individuals who were either killed or reported missing. In the surrounding areas, the blast effects crushed unreinforced structures before igniting them, resulting in an additional 68,023 wounded, with 19,691 of those injuries classified as serious. Subsequent assessments, potentially incorporating the impacts of radiation sickness or more precise accounting, recorded 30,524 individuals as seriously wounded and 48,606 as slightly wounded. Just two minutes after detonation, a growing mushroom cloud of highly radioactive dust and debris soared to a height of 20,000 feet. Within eight minutes, Tibbets' crew could observe the mushroom cloud from 390 miles away. Ultimately, the dust cloud peaked at approximately 60,000 feet in altitude. Soon after, a thick, black, radioactive rain fell upon the areas beneath the cloud. The center of the city was utterly devastated; over four square miles of the urban center, which encompassed seven square miles in total, were completely flattened, resulting in about 60% of the city's area being destroyed. An additional 0.6 square miles suffered damage, while more than 75% of the city's 90,000 buildings were obliterated. The ensuing fires compounded the devastation, contributing to countless deaths and injuries. Tragically, some American prisoners of war were present in Hiroshima and lost their lives in the explosion. Meanwhile, Enola Gay safely returned to Tinian at 14:58, where Tibbets was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, while the rest of the crew received Distinguished Flying Crosses for their participation in the mission. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. Japan was broken. To be perfectly honest she had been broken long ago. Her leadership had been spending months trying to figure out the best possible way to surrender, while the civilians and troops were suffering horribly. Aerial mining strangled her of food, high explosive and incendiary bombs, killed untold scores of people, and then the Atomic weapons were let loose upon her. It was over.

At Potsdam, the victorious Allies finalise the future of a shattered Europe while the terrifying secret of the atomic bomb forces a decision that will forever redefine warfare. In this episode of Battleground '45 Patrick and Saul discuss the momentous decisions of Summer 1945. Firstly they delve into the Potsdam conference with the uneasy alliance, already strained, are at odds over post-war Europe. Simultaneously, President Truman grapples with an unthinkable power: the atomic bomb. As Japan refuses to surrender, the brutal choice between a costly invasion and unleashing the ultimate weapon looms. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com Producer: James Hodgson X (Twitter): @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The New York Red Bulls predictably lost to Inter Miami. Can the boys turn it around and get a 2nd road win when they travel to Chicago before the Leagues Cup break? Jason & Truman discuss. Musical Credit: True Believers by Bouncing Souls Help fund the Red Bull Rant by visiting our Patreon page and donating to the show on a monthly basis. https://www.patreon.com/RedBullRant WARNING: The Red Bull Rant is a free flowing conversation about soccer that may include adult language or topics. Listener discretion is advised. Follow Red Bull Rant on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/redbullrant.bsky.social Follow Red Bull Rant on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redbullrant/ Follow Red Bull Rant on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RedBullRant/ Follow Red Bull Rant on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/red-bull-rant/id988617582 Follow Red Bull Rant on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/0RRsHC7U09nGQnJRQAseoz Follow Red Bull Rant on Google Play: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Ibdbqq7z4cbsgqqvvjhmquon47a

Send us a textRaffy is a stand up comedian and clothing designer. Honestly, we really just talked shit for almost two hours and covered so many topics. From superhero movies and Creed to skateboarding and pro wrestling. Tune in for so much more!Follow Raffy on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pretty_raffy_truman/Buy me a coffee! - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antoniob06p Follow The Smoking Simian on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thesmokingsimian/ Follow me on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/antoniothecomical/ Follow Billy on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/23dollarbill/ Share, like, comment and subscribe on The Smoking Simian YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFn3FPnTegakyd9YpoYfsQg Audio platforms - https://smokingsimian.buzzsprout.comSupport the show

Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky. Links to assorted local theater & book venues   Gore Vidal (1925-2012): “The Golden Age” Gore Vidal, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky and Richard A. Lupoff, recorded on October 5, 2000 in San Francisco, California. Over a period of sixteen years from 1990 to 2006, Richard Wolinsky conducted four interviews with Gore Vidal, two of which involved co-host Richard A. Lupoff. This is the third chronologically of those interviews, conducted on October 5, 2000 while Gore Vidal was on tour for his novel The Golden Age, the final in his series of seven novels exploring American history and titled “Narratives of Empire.” The other novels in the series are Burr, 1876, Lincoln, Empire, Hollywood and Washington D.C. This conversation mostly concerns the period of The Golden Age, which encompasses the World War II and post-war era, focusing on the war itself, Roosevelt and Truman, Stalin, and the institution of the Cold War and the National Security State. The interview also tackles the Bush v Gore election season, and was conducted a month before Election Day. Digitized, remastered and re-edited in August, 2017 by Richard Wolinsky. The complete interview can be found as a Radio Wolinsky podcast. The post July 24, 2025: Gore Vidal Fund Drive Special appeared first on KPFA.

Send us a textJoin us on Average Joe Finances as our guest Brian Truman, a seasoned professional with an intriguing career trajectory. From starting as a sports broadcaster, transitioning to a 22-year-long career in government contracting, to owning the largest business brokerage in Nashville, Brian shares his journey. He emphasizes the importance of relationships over transactions in the real estate business, discusses the thriving multifamily market in Nashville, and offers advice for newcomers looking to delve into multifamily real estate investing. Brian's insights on the significance of networking, continuous learning, and taking action in real estate investing provide valuable takeaways for both novice and experienced investors.In this episode:Discover how transitioning from business ownership to real estate can accelerate your path to financial freedom.Learn why Nashville's booming, diversified economy makes it a prime location for real estate investing.Understand the value of building authentic relationships over chasing short-term transactions.Gain practical tips on how new investors can start small, build confidence, and scale into multifamily deals.And so much more!Key Moments:00:54 Guest Introduction: Brian Truman's Background01:26 Transition to Real Estate: From Broadcasting to Brokerage01:58 Selling the Business and Moving into Real Estate02:56 Commercial Real Estate and Business Brokerage06:43 Multifamily Real Estate Focus15:56 Why Nashville?21:07 The Importance of Relationships in Real Estate25:08 Straight Shooter Broker Insights26:45 Multifamily Real Estate for Everyone27:30 Getting Started in Real Estate Investing30:13 The Importance of Due Diligence39:12 Final Round: Personal Insights44:15 Contact Information and Final ThoughtsFind Brian Truman:Website: https://accelcre.comLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-truman-1164418/ Average Joe Finances®All of our social media links and more: https://averagejoefinances.com/linksAbout Mike: https://mikecavaggioni.comShow Notes add-on continued here: https://averagejoefinances.com/show-notes/*DISCLAIMER* https://averagejoefinances.com/disclaimerSee our full episode transcripts here: https://podcast.averagejoefinances.com/episodesSupport the show

Después de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, el mundo quedó dividido no solo por ruinas, sino por ideologías. De un lado, Estados Unidos y sus aliados; del otro, la Unión Soviética y sus satélites. Así nacieron dos alianzas militares que marcaron la historia del siglo XX: la OTAN y el Pacto de Varsovia. No se enfrentaron en batallas directas, pero libraron una guerra invisible, constante, tensa, que convirtió al planeta entero en un tablero de ajedrez. Esta es la historia de esa rivalidad, de los pactos, de los miedos, de las promesas de defensa… y de las decisiones que moldearon el equilibrio del mundo durante décadas. Notas del episodio:  Este episodio fue traído a ustedes gracias a Boston Scientific La doctrina Truman, el comienzo de una nueva geopolítica de los Estados Unidos El bloqueo a Berlín de 1948 La creación de la OTAN La reacción de la URSS a la creación de la OTAN: el Pacto de Varsovia Un orden militar en un mapa: la OTAN vs el Pacto de Varsovia Los hechos de la OTAN en nuestros días Sigue mis proyectos en otros lugares:  YouTube ➔ youtube.com/@DianaUribefm  Instagram ➔ instagram.com/dianauribe.fm Facebook ➔ facebook.com/dianauribe.fm Sitio web ➔ dianauribe.fm Twitter ➔ x.com/DianaUribefm  LinkedIn ➔ www.linkedin.com/in/diana-uribe    Gracias de nuevo a nuestra comunidad de Patreons por apoyar la producción de este episodio. Si quieres unirte, visita www.dianauribe.fm/comunidad

It's been a while for Jason & Truman but the boys are back to discuss the lackluster (minus 45 minutes) few matches for the New York Red Bulls. Will the last half against the New England Revolution carry them through with Inter Miami? Musical Credit: True Believers by Bouncing Souls Help fund the Red Bull Rant by visiting our Patreon page and donating to the show on a monthly basis. https://www.patreon.com/RedBullRant WARNING: The Red Bull Rant is a free flowing conversation about soccer that may include adult language or topics. Listener discretion is advised. Follow Red Bull Rant on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/redbullrant.bsky.social Follow Red Bull Rant on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redbullrant/ Follow Red Bull Rant on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RedBullRant/ Follow Red Bull Rant on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/red-bull-rant/id988617582 Follow Red Bull Rant on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/0RRsHC7U09nGQnJRQAseoz Follow Red Bull Rant on Google Play: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Ibdbqq7z4cbsgqqvvjhmquon47a

Hey HBs! We're back with part 2 of DRAMA! by AJ Truman! It's time to get to this rest stop oral and then ON TO THE WEDDING! Lady Loves: Sabrina: Minecraft with friends! Mel: pressure washing, y'all. I'M A WIZARD WITH MY PRESSURE WASHER! Want more of us? Check out our PATREON! This Friday Patrons and Apple Podcast subscribers are getting a Quickie on books 12-15 of the FATED MATES OF THE SEA SAND WARLORDS series by Ursa Dax!  Credits: Theme Music: Brittany Pfantz  Art: Author Kate Prior Want to tell us a story, ask about advertising, or anything else? Email: heavingbosomspodcast (at) gmail  Follow our socials:  Instagram @heavingbosoms Tiktok @heaving_bosoms  Facebook group: the Heaving Bosoms Geriatric Friendship Cult The above contains affiliate links, which means that when purchasing through them, the podcast gets a small percentage without costing you a penny more.

Hey HBs! Mel's recapping a book for Sabrina this week; DRAMA! by AJ Truman. Sometimes snap decisions can be super fun and this time it comes in the form of a fluffy, MM, enemies-to-lovers romance between a theater teacher and a football coach. Fake dating! Golden retriever & black cat! Terrible Ex! Found family! Fish out of water! It's a fun one and soooo swoony. Want more of us? Check out our PATREON! This Friday Patrons and Apple Podcast subscribers are getting a Quickie on books 12-15 of the FATED MATES OF THE SEA SAND WARLORDS series by Ursa Dax!  Credits: Theme Music: Brittany Pfantz  Art: Author Kate Prior Want to tell us a story, ask about advertising, or anything else? Email: heavingbosomspodcast (at) gmail  Follow our socials:  Instagram @heavingbosoms Tiktok @heaving_bosoms  Facebook group: the Heaving Bosoms Geriatric Friendship Cult The above contains affiliate links, which means that when purchasing through them, the podcast gets a small percentage without costing you a penny more.

May 26, 1946 - The Fred Allen Show with special guest star Jack Benny. In this episode they spoof the radio program "Queen for a Day".  Other references include The Lone Ranger, Ralph Edwards, Mary Margaret McBride, The Street Singer, Duncan Phyfe, Marconi, Sidney Greenstreet, "The Postman Always Rings Twice", President Truman, Camels cigarettes, and the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe.

How did President Truman help America become the leader of the free world? In what ways did Stalin's Communist USSR win WW2? When did Atlee replace Churchill at the Potsdam Conference? Join James Holland, Al Murray, and guest Giles Milton in Part 1 on this exploration of the Potsdam Conference, as they discuss the superpowers at the end of World War Two, and how dictators like Stalin set the stage for the Cold War. PART 2 IS AVAILABLE FOR MEMBERS AD-FREE NOW - SIGN UP AT patreon.com/wehaveways A Goalhanger Production Produced by James Regan Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Social: @WeHaveWaysPod Email: wehavewayspodcast@gmail.com Join our ‘Independent Company' with an introductory offer to watch exclusive live shows, get presale ticket events, and our weekly newsletter - packed with book and model discounts. Membership Club: patreon.com/wehaveways Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this special episode of Inside the Epicenter, Joel Rosenberg interviews Israeli President Isaac Herzog mere hours after President Trump’s historic decision to bomb Iranian nuclear sites, an unprecedented escalation in the Israel-Iran conflict. Recorded at the official residence in Jerusalem, they discuss the decision’s effects, Israel’s unity during crisis, and Herzog’s unique views on faith, Bible prophecy, and the realization of ancient visions in today’s Israel. 5:52 Interview: Israel's President Insight 09:01 Support for Iran Military Action 10:54 Nuclear Threats and Radical Ideologies 16:37 Isaac Herzog Exclusive Interview 18:25 "Prayers for Hostages and Peace" 23:05 Israel's Rebirth: A Prophetic Vision? 26:22 Evangelicals Support Trump’s Leadership 27:49 Truman's Israel Recognition Conflict 32:56 Herzog Discusses Mideast Peace Prospects Learn more about The Joshua Fund: JoshuaFund.com Make a tax-deductible donation: Donate | The Joshua Fund Stock Media provided by DimmySad / Pond5 Bible Verse Psalm 121:1-4 "I will lift up my eyes to the mountains or to the hills, from where shall my help come?My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.He will not allow your foot to slip. He who keeps you will not slumber.Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep." Related Episodes:Joel at Refuge Church Pt.2 God Shaking Israel: A Biblical Perspective on Recent Events #296SPECIAL EPISODE: Trump SHOCKS world by ordering B-2 bombers to ATTACK Iranian nuclear sites #295SPECIAL EPISODE: Fmr VP Mike Pence "Trump & Israel must FINISH THE JOB of crushing Iran" #294Israel at War: Urgent Updates and The Humanitarian Response in the Epicenter #293Donate a generous monthly gift to The Joshua Fund to bless Israel and Her Neighbors now and for the long haul. Become an Epicenter Ally today! Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.