Truman makes an urgent plea to Japan to surrender after dropping the
A-bomb in the city of Hiroshima (August 6, 1945).
Background
Sixteen hours ago an American airplane dropped
a bomb on Hiroshima, an important Japanese Army base. That bomb had more
power than 20,000 tons of T.N.T. It had more than two thousand times the
blast power of the British "Grand Slam" which is the largest bomb ever
yet used in the history of warfare.
The Japanese began the war from the air at Pearl Harbor. They have
been repaid many fold. And the end is not yet. With this bomb we have now
added a new and revolutionary increase in destruction to supplement the
growing power of our armed forces. In their present form these bombs are
now in production and even more powerful forms are in development.
It is an atomic bomb. It is a harnessing of the basic power of the
universe. The force from which the sun draws its power has been loosed
against those who brought war to the Far East...
We are now prepared to obliterate more rapidly and completely every
productive enterprise the Japanese have above ground in any city. We shall
destroy their docks, their factories, and their communications. Let
there be no mistake; we shall completely destroy Japan's power to make
war.
It was to spare the Japanese people
from utter destruction that the ultimatum of July 26 was issued at Potsdam.
Their leaders promptly rejected that ultimatum. If they do not now accept
our terms they may expect a rain of ruin from the air, the like of which
has never been seen on this earth. (Real Video)
Behind this air attack will follow sea and land forces in such numbers
and power as they have not yet seen and with the fighting skill of which
they are already well aware.
New! Watch a National Award Winning documentary on Truman's decision to drop the Atomic bomb.
Pictures courtesy of White
House.gov and The
American Experience.
Speech courtesy of The
American Experience. All Rights Reserved
©
1997-1999 WGBH Educational Foundation.
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