UnitHiroshima.docVIP

PAGE  PAGE 23 Unit 2 Hiroshimathe Liveliest City in Japan I．Background Information Some important dates:1938 Munich Pact, which sacrificed Czechoslovakia to GermanyAug. 1939 Gr. and USSR concluded a non-aggression pactSept.1, 1939 Hitler invaded Poland. France and Britain declared war on Gr. immediately, officially beginning World War II. At the same time, USSR annexed Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.Jun.22, 1941 Gr. invaded USSRDec. 7, 1941 Japan attacked Pearl Harbour, bringing the US into the war Sept. 1943 Italy surrenderedMay. 7, 1945 Gr. surrendered unconditionallyAug. 6, 1945 the first A-bomb exploded in HiroshimaAug. 8, 1945 USSR declared war on Japan and occupied ManchuriaAug. 9, 1945 the dropping of the second A-bomb on NagasakiAug. 14, 1945 Japan announced its surrenderAtomic Bomb: the explosion produces great amounts of heat, a shock wave and intense radiation. The region of the explosion becomes radioactively contaminated and radioactive products may be deposited elsewhere as fallout.At 8:15 a.m. on August 6, 1945, by order of President Truman, the first Atomic bomb, nicknamed Little Boy was exploded over a point near the centre of Hiroshima, destroying almost everything with a radius of 830-1,450 meters. The damage beyond this area was considerable, and over 71,000 people were killed instantly. Many more later died of injuries and the effects of radiation. Casualties numbered nearly 130,000. Survivors are still dying of leukaemia, pernicious anaemia and other diseases induced by radiation. Almost 98% of the buildings were destroyed or severely damaged. The Japanese dedicated post-war Hiroshima to peace. A destroyed area named Peace City has been set aside as a memorial. A peace Park was build. A special hospital built here treats people suffering from exposure to radiation and conducts research into its effects.Psychological background:Beliefs rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition dictate that once one commits a crime, one