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September 1, 1939

Germany invades Poland: beginning of WWII.

September 23, 1942

The U.S. begins its effort to develop a nuclear weapon. This is code-named the "Manhattan Project," and Colonel Leslie Groves is put in charge.

December 7, 1941

Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor.

December 8, 1941

U.S. enters WWII.

November 1942

Los Alamos, New Mexico selected as bomb development site, and J. Robert Oppenheimer is made director. Listen to newsreel [MP3, 506 KB].

May 5, 1943

Japan becomes the primary target for any future atomic bomb, according to the Military Policy Committee of the Manhattan Project.

May 8, 1945

Nazi Germany surrenders to the Allies.

July 16, 1945

The first atomic bomb is exploded at 5:29 AM Mountain War Time in the New Mexico desert. This is known as the "Trinity Test." Listen to newsreel [MP3, 506 KB].

July 21, 1945

President Truman authorizes use of atomic bombs.

 July 26, 1945

The U.S., Great Britain, and China issue the Potsdam Declaration, calling for the complete surrender of Japan. Listen to newsreel [MP3, 300 KB].

August 6, 1945

The atomic bomb, nicknamed "Little Boy," is dropped on Hiroshima, Japan.

August 9, 1945

A second atomic bomb, nicknamed "Fat Man," is dropped on Nagasaki, Japan.

August 14, 1945

Japan surrenders.

Information for time-line courtesy of the Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Los Alamos Historical Museum.

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