WWII Timeline: Events leading to the bombing of Hiroshima

By kvrusseth

  • U.S. places restrictions on trade with Japan.

    Septermber 1, 1940—sDue to Japan’s takeover of northern French Indochina, the U.S. places restrictions on what can be exported to Japan. Steel, scrap iron, and aviation fuel are forbidden.
  • Period: to

    WWII Events: Historical Backround for the novel "Hiroshima." Select the + symbols for event information.

  • Soviet–Japanese Neutrality Pact

    April 13, 1941—sThe Japanese sign a neutrality treaty with the Soviet Union to help prevent an attack from that direction if it was to go to war with the United Kingdom or the United States.

  • Japan occupies southern Indochina. Japanese assets are frozen.

    June, 1941—July, 1941: Japan occupies southern Indochina. The U.S., the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands freeze Japanese assets, making it impossible for Japan to buy oil, which would cripple their military.

  • Japan attempts lift of oil embargo; prepares for war.

    Fall 1941—sJapan pursues two simultaneous courses of action:
    • attempts to have the oil embargo lifted on terms that would still let it take the territory it wanted
    • prepares for war

  • Japan attacks Pearl Harbor.

    December 7, 1941: The Day of Infamy—Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, killing 3,500 Americans.

  • War in the Pacific begins.

    1942—s1945: War in the Pacific—Japanese Empire attempts to conquer more territory while the United States and the Allies attempt to stop its efforts.

  • United States drops atomic bomb on Hiroshima

    August 6, 1945—The United States drops the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima.