If the Japanese insist on continuing resistance beyond the point of reason, their country will suffer the same destruction as Germany.

Our blows will destroy their whole modern industrial plant and organization, which they have built up during the past century,

and which they are now devoting to a hopeless cause. We have no desire or

intention to destroy or enslave the Japanese people, but only surrender can prevent the

kind of ruin which they have seen come to Germany as a result of continued useless resistance.

President Truman was at Potsdam, awaiting the results of the test so that the allies could plan their attack on Japan

and hoping that a successful test would give him some leverage over the increasingly grasping Stalin.

Scientists were working with components and

instruments delivered just barely in time. It was ready or not. They had to commit themselves

and their experiments to the test. July 13th, they began the final assembly. The bomb was hooked up

to a crane which would lift it to the tower.

July 14th, finally the ride to the top.

Cables, detonators, informer, initiator hookup.

July 15th, final dry runs, tension, everything ready.

July 16th, a rainstorm with spectacular lightning delayed the test

from 2 a.m. to 5.29 a.m. just before dawn. Dignitaries from the scientific world watched from the hills.

Participants and watchers were instructed to lie on the ground, facing away from the tower.

Only after the initial flash could they look at the developing fireball through welders' goggles.

A flare in the sky signaled the final countdown.

The last countdown. 17 17

14

40

...