Special Exhibit on the Atomic Bomb and the End of WWII

Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum in Carrabelle is presenting a special exhibit about the Atomic Bomb and the End of WWII. This exhibit will open Tuesday, July 18 and will be on display at the museum until Saturday, August 26. The museum is open every Tuesday through Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm. There is no charge for admission, but donations are gladly accepted.

On May 7, 1945 Karl Donitz, Hitler’s successor, agreed to the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany’s armed forces to take effect the next day. On May 8, people filled the streets in celebration and this day is known as Victory in Europe Day (V-E Day).

In August of 1945, an atomic bomb was dropped on the cities of Hiroshima and then Nagasaki. Much has been debated about the decision to develop and use atomic weapons, but historians generally agree that Germany, Japan, and the Soviet Union were well on their way to developing their own, and both the Allies and the Japanese predicted that the invasion of the Japanese Homeland would have costs millions of lives on both sides.

On August 14, 1945, the Japanese surrendered without qualifications to the U.S. and preparations began for an official surrender and the end of World War II. On September 2, the formal surrender documents were signed. This day is celebrated as Victory over Japan Day (V-J Day) in the U.S.

This special exhibit commemorates the anniversary of the two bombings that brought WWII to a close. It will explore what made these bombs so destructive, and how they were kept secret. In addition, the exhibit will display artifacts relevant to the surrenders and wars end like Soviet Army equipment, Nuremberg trials related documents, occupation souvenirs from Japan, photos of post-war Germany, and more. Visitors can use a Geiger counter to measure the radioactivity of samples of uraninite and trinitite, and see vintage film of the aftermath of the bombs in Japan.

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