on the ground"

70 years of tragedy

Hiroshima and Nagasaki

70 years ago, on August 6 and 9, 1945, the United States atomic bombed the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The total number of victims of the tragedy is over 450 thousand people, and the survivors still suffer from diseases caused by radiation exposure. According to the latest data, their number is 183,519 people.

Initially, the US had the idea to drop 9 atomic bombs on rice fields or at sea in order to achieve a psychological effect in support of the landing operations planned on the Japanese islands at the end of September 1945. But in the end, the decision was made to use new weapons against densely populated cities.

Now the cities have been rebuilt, but their inhabitants still bear the burden of that terrible tragedy. The history of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the memories of the survivors are in a special TASS project.

Hiroshima bombing © AP Photo/USAF

Ideal Target

It was no coincidence that Hiroshima was chosen as the target for the first nuclear strike. This city met all the criteria to achieve the maximum number of victims and destruction: a flat location surrounded by hills, low buildings and flammable wooden buildings.

The city was completely wiped off the face of the earth. Surviving eyewitnesses recalled that they first saw a flash of bright light, followed by a wave that burned everything around. In the area of ​​​​the epicenter of the explosion, everything instantly turned into ashes, and human silhouettes remained on the walls of the surviving houses. Immediately, according to various estimates, from 70 to 100 thousand people died. Tens of thousands more died from the effects of the explosion, bringing the total number of casualties as of August 6, 2014 to 292,325.
Immediately after the bombing, the city did not have enough water not only to extinguish fires, but also to people who were dying of thirst. Therefore, even now the inhabitants of Hiroshima are very careful about water. And during the commemorative ceremony, a special rite "Kensui" (from Japanese - the presentation of water) is performed - it reminds of the fires that engulfed the city and the victims who asked for water. It is believed that even after death, the souls of the dead need water to alleviate suffering.

Director of the Hiroshima Peace Museum with his late father's watch and buckle © EPA/EVERETT KENNEDY BROWN

The hands of the clock have stopped

The hands of almost all clocks in Hiroshima stopped at the moment of the explosion at 08:15 in the morning. Some of them are collected in the World Museum as exhibits.

The museum was opened 60 years ago. Its building consists of two buildings designed by the outstanding Japanese architect Kenzo Tange. One of them houses an exposition about the atomic bombing, where visitors can see the personal belongings of the victims, photographs, various material evidence of what happened in Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. Audio and video materials are also shown there.

Not far from the museum is the "Atomic Dome" - the former building of the Exhibition Center of the Hiroshima Chamber of Commerce and Industry, built in 1915 by Czech architect Jan Letzel. This building was miraculously preserved after the atomic bombing, although it stood only 160 meters from the epicenter of the explosion, which is marked by a regular memorial plaque in an alley near the dome. All the people inside the building died, and its copper dome instantly melted, leaving a bare frame. After the end of World War II, the Japanese authorities decided to keep the building in memory of the victims of the bombing of Hiroshima. Now it is one of the main attractions of the city, reminiscent of the tragic moments of its history.

Statue of Sadako Sasaki at Hiroshima Peace Park © Lisa Norwood/wikipedia.org

paper cranes

The trees near the Atomic Dome are often decorated with colorful paper cranes. They have become an international symbol of peace. People from different countries constantly bring hand-made figurines of birds to Hiroshima as a sign of mourning for the terrible events of the past and in tribute to the memory of Sadako Sasaki, a girl who survived the atomic bombing in Hiroshima at the age of 2. At the age of 11, signs of radiation sickness were found in her, and the girl's health began to deteriorate sharply. Once she heard a legend that whoever folds a thousand paper cranes will definitely recover from any illness. She continued to stack figurines until her death on October 25, 1955. In 1958, a statue of Sadako holding a crane was erected in the Peace Park.

In 1949, a special law was passed, thanks to which large funds were provided for the restoration of Hiroshima. The Peace Park was built and a fund was established in which materials on the atomic bombing are stored. Industry in the city was able to recover after the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950 thanks to the production of weapons for the US Army.

Now Hiroshima is a modern city with a population of approximately 1.2 million people. It is the largest in the Chugoku region.

Zero point of the atomic explosion in Nagasaki. Photo taken in December 1946 © AP Photo

Zero mark

Nagasaki was the second Japanese city after Hiroshima to be bombed by the Americans in August 1945. The initial target of the B-29 bomber under the command of Major Charles Sweeney was the city of Kokura, located in the north of Kyushu. Coincidentally, on the morning of August 9, heavy clouds were observed over Kokura, in connection with which Sweeney decided to turn the plane to the southwest and head to Nagasaki, which was considered as a backup option. Here, the Americans also faced bad weather, but the plutonium bomb, called "Fat Man", was eventually dropped. It was almost twice as powerful as the one used in Hiroshima, but inaccurate aiming and local terrain somewhat reduced the damage from the explosion. Nevertheless, the consequences of the bombing were catastrophic: at the time of the explosion, at 11.02 local time, 70 thousand inhabitants of Nagasaki were killed, and the city was practically wiped off the face of the Earth.

In subsequent years, the list of victims of the disaster continued to grow at the expense of those who died from radiation sickness. This number increases every year, and the numbers are updated every year on August 9th. According to data released in 2014, the number of victims of the Nagasaki bombing increased to 165,409 people.

Years later, in Nagasaki, as in Hiroshima, a museum of atomic bombings was opened. Last July, his collection was replenished with 26 new photographs, which were taken a year and four months after the US dropped two atomic bombs on Japanese cities. The pictures themselves were recently discovered. On them, in particular, the so-called zero mark is imprinted - the place of the direct explosion of the atomic bomb in Nagasaki. The captions on the back of the photographs show that the photographs were taken in December 1946 by American scientists who were visiting the city at the time to study the consequences of a terrible atomic strike. "The photographs are of particular value, as they clearly demonstrate the full extent of the destruction, and, at the same time, make it clear what work has been done to restore the city from scratch," the Nagasaki administration believes.

One of the photos shows a strange arrow-shaped monument set up in the middle of the field, the inscription on which reads: "Zero mark of the atomic explosion." Local experts are at a loss as to who installed the almost 5-meter monument and where it is now. It is noteworthy that it is located exactly in the place where the official monument to the victims of the 1945 atomic bombing now stands.

Hiroshima Peace Museum © AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye

White spots of history

The atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki has become the object of careful study by many historians, but 70 years after the tragedy, there are many blank spots in this story. There is some evidence from individuals who believe that they were born "in the shirt" because, according to them, in the weeks before the atomic bombing, there was information about a possible lethal strike on these Japanese cities. So, one of these people claims that he studied at a school for children of high-ranking military personnel. According to him, a few weeks before the impact, the entire staff of the educational institution and its students were evacuated from Hiroshima, which saved their lives.

There are also completely conspiracy theories, according to which, on the threshold of the end of World War II, Japanese scientists, not without the help of colleagues from Germany, approached the creation of an atomic bomb. Weapons of terrible destructive power allegedly could appear in the imperial army, whose command was going to fight to the end and constantly hurried nuclear scientists. The media claims that records have recently been found containing calculations and descriptions of equipment for enriching uranium with a view to subsequent use in the creation of the Japanese atomic bomb. The scientists received the order to complete the program on August 14, 1945, and apparently were ready to complete it, but did not have time. The American atomic bombings of the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the entry into the war of the Soviet Union did not leave Japan a single chance to continue hostilities.

No more war

Survivors of the bombings in Japan are called by the special word "hibakusha" ("person affected by the bombing").

In the first years after the tragedy, many hibakusha hid that they had survived the bombing and received a high proportion of radiation, because they were afraid of discrimination. Then they were not provided with material assistance and were denied treatment. It took 12 years before the Japanese government passed a law according to which the treatment of victims of the bombing became free.

Some of the hibakusha have devoted their lives to educational work, aimed at ensuring that the terrible tragedy does not happen again.

"About 30 years ago, I accidentally saw my friend on TV, he was among the marchers for the prohibition of nuclear weapons. This prompted me to join this movement. Since then, recalling my experience, I explain that atomic weapons are this is an inhuman weapon. It is completely indiscriminate, unlike conventional weapons. I have dedicated my life to explaining the need for a ban on atomic weapons to those who know nothing about atomic bombings, especially young people," Hibakusha Michimasa Hirata wrote on one of the sites, dedicated to preserving the memory of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Many Hiroshima residents whose families were affected to some extent by the atomic bomb are trying to help others learn more about what happened on August 6, 1945, and to get the message across about the dangers of nuclear weapons and war. Near the Peace Park and the Atomic Dome memorial, you can meet people who are ready to talk about the tragic events.

"August 6, 1945 is a special day for me, this is my second birthday. When the atomic bomb was dropped on us, I was only 9 years old. I was in my house about two kilometers from the epicenter of the explosion in Hiroshima. A sudden brilliant flash struck above my head. She fundamentally changed Hiroshima ... This scene, which then developed, defies description. It is a living hell on earth, "Mitimasa Hirata shares her memories.

Bombing of Hiroshima © EPA/A PEACE MEMORIAL MUSEUM

"The city was enveloped in huge fiery whirlwinds"

“70 years ago I was three years old. On August 6, my father was at work 1 km from the place where the atomic bomb was dropped,” said one of the hibakusha Hiroshi Shimizu. “At the time of the explosion, he was thrown back by a huge shock wave. immediately felt that numerous pieces of glass were pierced into his face, and his body began to bleed. The building where he worked immediately broke out. Everyone who could run out to the nearby pond. Father spent about three hours there. At this time, the city was enveloped in huge fiery whirlwinds.

He was only able to find us the next day. Two months later he died. By that time, his stomach had completely turned black. Within a radius of one kilometer from the explosion, the radiation level was 7 sieverts. Such a dose is capable of destroying the cells of internal organs.

At the time of the explosion, my mother and I were at home about 1.6 km from the epicenter. Since we were inside, we managed to avoid strong exposure. However, the house was destroyed by the shock wave. Mother managed to break through the roof and get out with me into the street. After that, we evacuated to the south, away from the epicenter. As a result, we managed to avoid the real hell that was going on there, because there was nothing left within a radius of 2 km.

For 10 years after the bombing, my mother and I suffered from various diseases caused by the dose of radiation we received. We had problems with the stomach, constantly bleeding from the nose, and there was also a very poor general state of immunity. All this passed at the age of 12, and after that I had no health problems for a long time. However, after 40 years, illnesses began to haunt me one after another, the functioning of the kidneys and heart deteriorated sharply, the spine began to hurt, signs of diabetes and problems with cataracts appeared.

Only later it became clear that it was not only the dose of radiation that we received during the explosion. We continued to live and eat vegetables grown on contaminated land, drank water from contaminated rivers, and ate contaminated seafood."

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (left) and hibakusha Sumiteru Taniguchi in front of photographs of people injured in the bombing. The top photo is Taniguchi himself © EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA

"Kill me!"

A photograph of one of the most famous figures of the hibakusha movement, Sumiteru Taniguchi, taken in January 1946 by an American war photographer, spread around the world. The image, dubbed "Red Back", shows the terrible burns on Taniguchi's back.

“In 1945, I was 16 years old,” he says. “On August 9, I was delivering mail on a bicycle and was about 1.8 km from the epicenter of the bombing. At the time of the explosion, I saw a flash, and the blast wave threw me off the bike. everything in its path. At first, I had the impression that a bomb had exploded near me. The ground under my feet was shaking, as if there had been a strong earthquake. After I came to my senses, I looked at my hands - they literally hung from them skin. However, at that moment I didn’t even feel pain.”

“I don’t know how, but I managed to get to the munitions factory, which was located in an underground tunnel. There I met a woman, and she helped me cut off pieces of skin on my hands and somehow bandage me. I remember how after that they immediately announced evacuation, but I could not walk myself. Other people helped me. They carried me to the top of the hill, where they laid me under a tree. After that, I fell asleep for a while. I woke up from machine-gun bursts of American aircraft. From the fires it was as bright as day ", so the pilots could easily follow the movements of people. I lay under a tree for three days. During this time, everyone who was next to me died. I myself thought that I would die, I could not even call for help. But I was lucky - on On the third day, people came and saved me. Blood oozed from the burns on my back, the pain grew rapidly. In this state, I was sent to the hospital, "recalls Taniguchi.

Only in 1947, the Japanese was able to sit down, and in 1949 he was discharged from the hospital. He underwent 10 operations, and the treatment continued until 1960.

“In the first years after the bombing, I could not even move. The pain was unbearable. I often shouted: “Kill me!” The doctors did everything so that I could live. I remember how they repeated every day that I was alive. During the treatment, I learned on myself everything that radiation is capable of, all the terrible consequences of its effects," Taniguchi said.

Children after the bombing of Nagasaki © AP Photo/United Nations, Yosuke Yamahata

"Then there was silence..."

“When the atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945, I was six years old and I lived with my family in a traditional Japanese house,” recalls Yasuaki Yamashita. cicadas. But that day I was playing at home. Mom was nearby preparing dinner, as usual. Suddenly, at exactly 11.02, we were blinded by a light, as if 1000 lightning flashes simultaneously. Mom pushed me to the ground and covered me. We heard the roar of a strong wind and the rustle of the fragments of the house flying at us. Then there was silence ... ".

“Our house was 2.5 km from the epicenter. My sister, she was in the next room, was badly cut by scattered pieces of glass. One of my friends went to play in the mountains that ill-fated day, and a heat wave from a bomb explosion hit him. "He suffered severe burns and died a few days later. My father was sent to help clean up debris in downtown Nagasaki. At that time, we did not yet know about the danger of radiation that caused his death," he writes.

During World War II, on August 6, 1945, at 8:15 am, a US B-29 Enola Gay bomber dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. Approximately 140,000 people died in the explosion and died over the following months. Three days later, when the United States dropped another atomic bomb on Nagasaki, about 80,000 people were killed. On August 15, Japan capitulated, thus ending World War II. Until now, this bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki remains the only case of the use of nuclear weapons in the history of mankind. The US government decided to drop the bombs, believing that this would hasten the end of the war and there would be no need for prolonged bloody fighting on the main island of Japan. Japan was strenuously trying to control the two islands, Iwo Jima and Okinawa, as the Allies closed in.

1. This wrist watch, found among the ruins, stopped at 8.15 am on August 6, 1945 - during the explosion of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima.

2. The flying fortress "Enola Gay" comes in for landing on August 6, 1945 at the base on the island of Tinian after the bombing of Hiroshima.

3. This photo, released in 1960 by the US government, shows the Little Boy atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. The size of the bomb is 73 cm in diameter, 3.2 m in length. It weighed 4 tons, and the explosion power reached 20,000 tons of TNT.

4. In this image provided by the US Air Force, the main crew of the B-29 Enola Gay bomber, from which the Baby nuclear bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. Pilot Colonel Paul W. Tibbets stands center. The photo was taken in the Mariana Islands. This was the first time in the history of mankind that nuclear weapons were used during military operations.

5. Smoke 20,000 feet high rises over Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 after an atomic bomb was dropped on it during the hostilities.

6. This photograph, taken August 6, 1945 from the city of Yoshiura, located on the other side of the mountains north of Hiroshima, shows smoke rising from the explosion of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima. The picture was taken by an Australian engineer from Kure, Japan. The spots left on the negative by radiation almost destroyed the picture.

7. Survivors of the atomic bomb explosion, first used during hostilities on August 6, 1945, await medical attention in Hiroshima, Japan. As a result of the explosion, 60,000 people died at the same moment, tens of thousands died later due to exposure.

8. August 6, 1945. Pictured: Survivors of Hiroshima are given first aid by military medics shortly after the atomic bomb was dropped on Japan, used in military operations for the first time in history.

9. After the explosion of the atomic bomb on August 6, 1945, only ruins remained in Hiroshima. Nuclear weapons were used to hasten the surrender of Japan and end World War II, for which US President Harry Truman ordered the use of nuclear weapons with a capacity of 20,000 tons of TNT. Japan surrendered on August 14, 1945.

10. August 7, 1945, the day after the explosion of the atomic bomb, smoke spreads over the ruins of Hiroshima, Japan.

11. President Harry Truman (pictured left) at his desk in the White House next to Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson after returning from the Potsdam Conference. They discuss the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan.

13. The survivors of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki people among the ruins, against the backdrop of a raging fire in the background, August 9, 1945.

14. Crew members of the B-29 "The Great Artiste" bomber, which dropped the atomic bomb on Nagasaki, surrounded Major Charles W. Sweeney in North Quincy, Massachusetts. All crew members participated in the historic bombing. Left to right: Sgt. R. Gallagher, Chicago; Staff Sergeant A. M. Spitzer, Bronx, New York; Captain S. D. Albury, Miami, Florida; Captain J.F. Van Pelt Jr., Oak Hill, WV; Lt. F. J. Olivy, Chicago; staff sergeant E.K. Buckley, Lisbon, Ohio; Sgt. A. T. Degart, Plainview, Texas; and Staff Sgt. J. D. Kucharek, Columbus, Nebraska.

15. This photograph of the atomic bomb that exploded over Nagasaki, Japan during World War II was released by the Atomic Energy Commission and the US Department of Defense in Washington on December 6, 1960. The Fat Man bomb was 3.25 m long and 1.54 m in diameter, and weighed 4.6 tons. The power of the explosion reached about 20 kilotons of TNT.

16. A huge column of smoke rises into the air after the explosion of the second atomic bomb in the port city of Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. A US Army Air Force B-29 Bockscar bomber killed more than 70,000 people immediately, and tens of thousands more died later as a result of exposure.

17. A huge nuclear mushroom over Nagasaki, Japan, August 9, 1945, after a US bomber dropped an atomic bomb on the city. The nuclear explosion over Nagasaki occurred three days after the US dropped the first ever atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima.

18. A boy carries his burnt brother on his back on August 10, 1945 in Nagasaki, Japan. Such photos were not made public by the Japanese side, but after the end of the war they were shown to the world media by UN staff.

19. The arrow was installed at the site of the fall of the atomic bomb in Nagasaki on August 10, 1945. Most of the affected area is empty to this day, the trees remained charred and mutilated, and almost no reconstruction was carried out.

20. Japanese workers dismantle the rubble in the affected area in Nagasaki, an industrial city located in the southwest of Kyushu, after an atomic bomb was dropped on it on August 9. A chimney and a lone building can be seen in the background, ruins in the foreground. The picture is taken from the archives of the Japanese news agency Domei.

22. As can be seen in this photo, which was taken on September 5, 1945, several concrete and steel buildings and bridges remained intact after the US dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima during World War II.

23. A month after the first atomic bomb exploded on August 6, 1945, a journalist inspects the ruins in Hiroshima, Japan.

24. Victim of the explosion of the first atomic bomb in the department of the first military hospital in Ujina in September 1945. The thermal radiation generated by the explosion burned the pattern from the kimono fabric on the woman's back.

25. Most of the territory of Hiroshima was wiped off the face of the earth by the explosion of the atomic bomb. This is the first aerial photograph after the explosion, taken on September 1, 1945.

26. The area around the Sanyo-Shorai-Kan (Trade Promotion Center) in Hiroshima was left in ruins after the atomic bomb exploded 100 meters away in 1945.

27. A correspondent stands among the ruins in front of the skeleton of the building that was the city theater in Hiroshima on September 8, 1945, a month after the first atomic bomb was dropped by the United States to hasten the surrender of Japan.

28. The ruins and lone frame of the building after the explosion of the atomic bomb over Hiroshima. The photo was taken on September 8, 1945.

29. Very few buildings remain in the devastated Hiroshima, a Japanese city that was razed to the ground by an atomic bomb, as seen in this photograph taken on September 8, 1945. (AP Photo)

30. September 8, 1945. People walk along a cleared road among the ruins left by the first atomic bomb in Hiroshima on August 6 of the same year.

31. The Japanese found among the ruins of the wreckage of a children's tricycle in Nagasaki, September 17, 1945. The nuclear bomb dropped on the city on August 9 wiped out almost everything within a radius of 6 kilometers from the face of the earth and took the lives of thousands of civilians.

32. This photo, courtesy of the Association of the Photographers of the Atomic (Bomb) Destruction of Hiroshima, is a victim of the atomic explosion. A man is in quarantine on the island of Ninoshima in Hiroshima, Japan, 9 kilometers from the epicenter of the explosion, a day after the US dropped an atomic bomb on the city.

33. Tram (top center) and its dead passengers after the bombing of Nagasaki on August 9. The photo was taken on September 1, 1945.

34. People pass a tram lying on the tracks at the Kamiyasho intersection in Hiroshima some time after the atomic bomb was dropped on the city.

35. In this photo provided by the Japan Association of the Photographers of the Atomic (Bomb) Destruction of Hiroshima, victims of the atomic explosion are in the tent care center of the 2nd Military Hospital in Hiroshima, located on the banks of the Ota River, 1150 meters from the epicenter of the explosion, August 7, 1945. The photo was taken the day after the United States dropped the first ever atomic bomb on the city.

36. View of Hachobori Street in Hiroshima shortly after a bomb was dropped on the Japanese city.

37. The Urakami Catholic Cathedral in Nagasaki, photographed on September 13, 1945, was destroyed by an atomic bomb.

38. A Japanese soldier wanders among the ruins in search of recyclable materials in Nagasaki on September 13, 1945, just over a month after the atomic bomb exploded over the city.

39. A man with a loaded bicycle on a road cleared of ruins in Nagasaki on September 13, 1945, a month after the atomic bomb exploded.

40. September 14, 1945, the Japanese are trying to drive through a ruined street on the outskirts of the city of Nagasaki, over which a nuclear bomb exploded.

41. This area of ​​Nagasaki was once built up with industrial buildings and small residential buildings. In the background are the ruins of the Mitsubishi factory and the concrete school building at the foot of the hill.

42. The top image shows the busy city of Nagasaki before the explosion, and the bottom image shows the wasteland after the atomic bomb. The circles measure the distance from the explosion point.

43. A Japanese family eats rice in a hut built from the rubble left on the site where their house once stood in Nagasaki, September 14, 1945.

44. These huts, photographed on September 14, 1945, were built from the wreckage of buildings that were destroyed as a result of the explosion of the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki.

45. In the Ginza district of Nagasaki, which was an analogue of New York's Fifth Avenue, the owners of shops destroyed by a nuclear bomb sell their goods on the sidewalks, September 30, 1945.

46. ​​Sacred Torii gate at the entrance to the completely destroyed Shinto shrine in Nagasaki in October 1945.

47. Service at the Nagarekawa Protestant Church after the atomic bomb destroyed the church in Hiroshima, 1945.

48. A young man injured after the explosion of the second atomic bomb in the city of Nagasaki.

49. Major Thomas Fereby, left, from Moscowville and Captain Kermit Beahan, right, from Houston, talking in a hotel in Washington, February 6, 1946. Ferebi is the man who dropped the bomb on Hiroshima, and his interlocutor dropped the bomb on Nagasaki.

52. Ikimi Kikkawa shows his keloid scars left after the treatment of burns received during the explosion of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima at the end of World War II. The photo was taken at the Red Cross Hospital on June 5, 1947.

53. Akira Yamaguchi shows his scars left after the treatment of burns received during the explosion of a nuclear bomb in Hiroshima.

54. On the body of Jinpe Terawama, the survivor of the explosion of the first atomic bomb in history, there were numerous burn scars, Hiroshima, June 1947.

55. Pilot Colonel Paul W. Taibbets waves from the cockpit of his bomber at a base located on the island of Tinian, August 6, 1945, before taking off, the purpose of which was to drop the first ever atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. The day before, Tibbets had named the B-29 flying fortress "Enola Gay" after his mother.

On August 6, 1945, the United States of America used the most powerful weapon of mass destruction to date. It was an atomic bomb equivalent to 20,000 tons of TNT. The city of Hiroshima was completely destroyed, tens of thousands of civilians were killed. While Japan was moving away from this devastation, three days later the United States again launched a second nuclear strike on Nagasaki, hiding behind the desire to achieve the surrender of Japan.

Bombing of Hiroshima

On Monday at 2:45 am, the Boeing B-29 Enola Gay took off from Tinian, one of the islands in the North Pacific Ocean, 1500 km from Japan. A team of 12 specialists was on board to make sure the mission went smoothly. The crew was commanded by Colonel Paul Tibbets, who named the aircraft Enola Gay. That was the name of his own mother. Right on the eve of takeoff, the name of the aircraft was written on board.

The Enola Gay was a Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber (aircraft 44-86292), part of a special air group. In order to carry out the delivery of such a heavy load as a nuclear bomb, Enola Gay was modernized: the latest propellers, engines, and quickly opening bomb bay doors were installed. Such modernization was carried out only on a few B-29s. Despite the modernization of the Boeing, he had to drive the entire runway in order to gain the speed necessary for takeoff.

A couple more bombers were flying alongside the Enola Gay. Three more planes took off earlier to determine the weather conditions over possible targets. Hanging from the ceiling of the aircraft was a nuclear bomb "Kid" ten feet (more than 3 meters) long. In the "Manhattan Project" (to develop US nuclear weapons), Navy Captain William Parsons played an important role in the appearance of the atomic bomb. On the Enola Gay plane, he joined the team as the specialist in charge of the bomb. To avoid a possible explosion of a bomb during takeoff, it was decided to put a live charge on it right in flight. Already in the air, Parsons changed bomb plugs for live charges in 15 minutes. As he later recalled: "At the moment when I put the charge, I knew what the" Kid "will bring to the Japanese, but I did not feel much emotion about it."

The "Kid" bomb was created on the basis of uranium-235. It was the result of $2 billion worth of research, but never tested. Not a single nuclear bomb has yet been dropped from an aircraft. The United States chose 4 Japanese cities for the bombing:

• Hiroshima;
• Kokura;
• Nagasaki;
• Niigata.

At first there was also Kyoto, but later it was crossed off the list. These cities were the centers of the military industry, arsenals, military ports. The first bomb was intended to be dropped to advertise the full power and more impressive importance of the weapon, in order to attract international attention and hasten Japan's surrender.

First bombing target

On August 6, 1945, clouds broke over Hiroshima. At 8:15 am (local time), the hatch of the Enola Gay aircraft flew open and the Kid flew into the city. The fuse was set at a height of 600 meters from the ground, at an altitude of 1900 feet the device detonated. Gunner George Caron described the sight he saw through the rear window: “The cloud was in the form of a mushroom from a bubbling mass of purple-ash smoke, with a fiery core inside. It looked like lava flows covering the entire city."

Experts estimate that the cloud has risen to 40,000 feet. Robert Lewis recalled: "Where we had a clear view of the city a couple of minutes ago, we could already see only smoke and fire creeping up the sides of the mountain." Almost all of Hiroshima was razed to the ground. Even within three miles of the explosion, out of 90,000 buildings, 60,000 were destroyed. Metal and stone simply melted, clay tiles melted. Unlike many previous bombings, the target of this raid was not a single military facility, but an entire city. The atomic bomb, apart from the military, mostly killed civilians. The population of Hiroshima was 350,000, of which 70,000 died instantly directly from the explosion and another 70,000 died from radioactive contamination over the next five years.

A witness, a survivor of the atomic explosion, described: “The skin of the people turned black from burns, they were completely bald, since their hair had been burned, it was not clear whether it was the face or the back of the head. The skin on the hands, on the faces and bodies hung down. If there were one or two such people, it would not be such a strong shock. But wherever I went, I saw just such people around, many died right along the way - I still remember them as walking ghosts.

Atomic bombing of Nagasaki

When the people of Japan were trying to make sense of the destruction of Hiroshima, the United States was planning a second nuclear strike. It was not delayed so that Japan could surrender, but was inflicted immediately three days after the bombing of Hiroshima. On August 9, 1945, another B-29 "Bokskar" ("Bok's car") took off from Tinian at 3:49 in the morning. The city of Kokura was supposed to be the initial target for the second bombardment, but it was covered with dense clouds. The alternate target was Nagasaki. At 11:02 am, a second atomic bomb was detonated 1,650 feet above the city.

Fujii Urata Matsumoto, a miraculous survivor, recounted the horrific scene: “A field of pumpkins was blown clean by an explosion. Nothing remained of the entire mass of the crop. Instead of a pumpkin, a woman's head lay in the garden. I tried to consider her, maybe I knew her. The head was a woman in her forties, I never saw her here, maybe she was brought from another part of the city. A gold tooth gleamed in his mouth, scorched hair hung down, eyeballs burned out and black holes remained.

Nuclear weapons have been used for combat purposes only twice in the history of mankind. The atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 showed how dangerous it could be. It was the real experience of using nuclear weapons that could keep two mighty powers (USA and USSR) from unleashing a third world war.

Bomb drop on Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Millions of innocent people suffered during World War II. The leaders of the world powers put the lives of soldiers and civilians on the cards without looking, in the hope of achieving superiority in the struggle for world domination. One of the worst disasters in world history was the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as a result of which about 200 thousand people were destroyed, and the total number of people who died during and after the explosion (from radiation) reached 500 thousand.

Until now, there are only assumptions that forced the President of the United States of America to order the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Did he realize, did he know what destruction and consequences would be left after the explosion of a nuclear bomb? Or was this action intended to demonstrate military power in front of the USSR in order to completely kill any thoughts of attacks on the United States?

History has not preserved the motives that moved the 33rd US President Harry Truman when he ordered a nuclear attack on Japan, but only one thing can be said with certainty: it was the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki that forced the Japanese emperor to sign the surrender.

In order to try to understand the motives of the United States, one must carefully consider the situation that arose in the political arena in those years.

Emperor of Japan Hirohito

The Japanese emperor Hirohito was distinguished by good inclinations of a leader. In order to expand his lands, in 1935 he decides to seize all of China, which at that time was a backward agrarian country. Following the example of Hitler (with whom Japan entered into a military alliance in 1941), Hirohito begins to take over China, using methods favored by the Nazis.

In order to cleanse China of indigenous people, Japanese troops used chemical weapons, which were banned. Inhuman experiments were carried out on the Chinese, which aimed to find out the limits of the viability of the human body in various situations. In total, about 25 million Chinese died during the Japanese expansion, most of whom were children and women.

It is possible that the nuclear bombing of Japanese cities could not have taken place if, after the conclusion of a military pact with Nazi Germany, the emperor of Japan would not have given the order to launch an attack on Pearl Harbor, thereby provoking the United States to enter World War II. After this event, the date of the nuclear attack begins to approach with inexorable speed.

When it became clear that the defeat of Germany was inevitable, the question of the surrender of Japan seemed to be a matter of time. However, the Japanese emperor, the embodiment of samurai arrogance and a true God for his subjects, ordered all the inhabitants of the country to fight to the last drop of blood. Everyone, without exception, had to resist the invader, from soldiers to women and children. Knowing the mentality of the Japanese, there was no doubt that the inhabitants would fulfill the will of their emperor.

In order to force Japan to capitulate, drastic measures had to be taken. The atomic explosion that thundered first in Hiroshima, and then in Nagasaki, turned out to be exactly the impetus that convinced the emperor of the futility of resistance.

Why was a nuclear attack chosen?

Although the number of versions why a nuclear attack was chosen to intimidate Japan is quite large, the following versions should be considered the main ones:

1. Most historians (especially American ones) insist that the damage caused by dropped bombs is several times less than a bloody invasion of American troops could bring. According to this version, Hiroshima and Nagasaki were not sacrificed in vain, as it saved the lives of the remaining millions of Japanese;
2. According to the second version, the purpose of the nuclear attack was to show the USSR how perfect the US military weapons were in order to intimidate a possible adversary. In 1945, the US President was informed that the activity of Soviet troops was noticed in the border area with Turkey (which was an ally of England). Perhaps this is why Truman decided to intimidate the Soviet leader;
3. The third version says that the nuclear attack on Japan was the revenge of the Americans for Pearl Harbor.

At the Potsdam Conference, which took place from July 17 to August 2, the fate of Japan was decided. Three states - the USA, England and the USSR, led by their leaders, signed the declaration. It talked about the sphere of post-war influence, although the Second World War was not yet over. One of the points of this declaration spoke of the immediate surrender of Japan.

This document was sent to the Japanese government, which rejected the proposal. Following the example of their emperor, the members of the government decided to continue the war to the end. After that, the fate of Japan was decided. Since the US military command was looking for where to use the latest atomic weapons, the president approved the atomic bombing of Japanese cities.

The coalition against Nazi Germany was on the verge of breaking (due to the fact that one month remained before victory), the allied countries could not agree. The different policies of the USSR and the USA eventually led these states to the Cold War.

The fact that US President Harry Truman was informed about the start of nuclear bomb tests on the eve of the meeting in Potsdam played an important role in the decision of the head of state. Wanting to scare Stalin, Truman hinted to the Generalissimo that he had a new weapon ready, which could leave huge casualties after the explosion.

Stalin ignored this statement, although he soon called Kurchatov and ordered the completion of work on the development of Soviet nuclear weapons.

Having received no answer from Stalin, the American president decides to start the atomic bombing at his own peril and risk.

Why were Hiroshima and Nagasaki chosen for the nuclear attack?

In the spring of 1945, the US military had to select suitable sites for full-scale nuclear bomb tests. Even then, it was possible to notice the prerequisites for the fact that the last test of the American nuclear bomb was planned to be carried out at a civilian facility. The list of requirements for the last test of a nuclear bomb, created by scientists, looked like this:

1. The object had to be on a plain so that the blast wave was not interfered with by uneven terrain;
2. Urban development should be as wooden as possible so that fire damage is maximized;
3. The object must have a maximum building density;
4. The size of the object must exceed 3 kilometers in diameter;
5. The selected city should be located as far as possible from the enemy's military bases in order to exclude the interference of the enemy's military forces;
6. For a blow to bring maximum benefit, it must be delivered to a large industrial center.

These requirements indicate that the nuclear strike was most likely a long-planned affair, and Germany could well have been in the place of Japan.

The intended targets were 4 Japanese cities. These are Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Kyoto and Kokura. Of these, it was only necessary to choose two real targets, since there were only two bombs. An American expert on Japan, Professor Reisshauer, begged to be struck off the list of the city of Kyoto, as it was of great historical value. It is unlikely that this request could affect the decision, but then the Minister of Defense intervened, who was on a honeymoon in Kyoto with his wife. The minister went to a meeting and Kyoto was saved from a nuclear attack.

The place of Kyoto in the list was taken by the city of Kokura, which was chosen as a target along with Hiroshima (although later the weather conditions made their own adjustments, and Nagasaki had to be bombed instead of Kokura). The cities had to be big, and the destruction large-scale, so that the Japanese people were horrified and stopped resisting. Of course, the main thing was to influence the position of the emperor.

Studies conducted by historians from various countries of the world show that the American side was not at all concerned about the moral side of the issue. Dozens and hundreds of potential civilian casualties were of no concern to either the government or the military.

After reviewing entire volumes of classified materials, historians have come to the conclusion that Hiroshima and Nagasaki were doomed in advance. There were only two bombs, and these cities had a convenient geographical location. In addition, Hiroshima was a very densely built-up city, and an attack on it could unleash the full potential of a nuclear bomb. The city of Nagasaki was the largest industrial center working for the defense industry. A large number of guns and military equipment were produced there.

Details of the bombing of Hiroshima

The combat strike on the Japanese city of Hiroshima was pre-planned and carried out in accordance with a clear plan. Each item of this plan was clearly executed, which indicates the careful preparation of this operation.

On July 26, 1945, a nuclear bomb bearing the name "Baby" was delivered to the island of Tinian. By the end of the month, all preparations were completed, and the bomb was ready for combat. After consulting the meteorological indications, the date of the bombardment was set - August 6th. On this day the weather was excellent and the bomber, with a nuclear bomb on board, soared into the air. Its name (Enola Gay) was remembered for a long time not only by the victims of a nuclear attack, but throughout Japan.

In flight, the death-carrying plane was escorted by three planes whose task was to determine the direction of the wind so that the atomic bomb hit the target as accurately as possible. Behind the bomber, an aircraft was flying, which was supposed to record all the data of the explosion using sensitive equipment. A bomber was flying at a safe distance with a photographer on board. Several planes flying towards the city did not cause any concern to either the Japanese air defense forces or the civilian population.

Although Japanese radars detected the approaching enemy, they did not raise the alarm because of a small group of military aircraft. Residents were warned of a possible bombardment, but they continued to work quietly. Since the nuclear strike was not like a conventional air raid, not a single Japanese fighter took to the air to intercept. Even the artillery paid no attention to the approaching planes.

At 8:15 a.m., the Enola Gay bomber dropped a nuclear bomb. This drop was made using a parachute to allow a group of attacking aircraft to retire to a safe distance. After dropping a bomb at an altitude of 9,000 meters, the battle group turned around and withdrew.

Having flown about 8,500 meters, the bomb exploded at an altitude of 576 meters from the ground. A deafening explosion covered the city with an avalanche of fire that destroyed everything in its path. Directly at the epicenter, people simply disappeared, leaving behind only the so-called "shadows of Hiroshima." All that was left of the man was a dark silhouette imprinted on the floor or walls. At a distance from the epicenter, people burned alive, turning into black firebrands. Those who were on the outskirts of the city were a little more fortunate, many of them survived, having received only terrible burns.

This day has become a day of mourning not only in Japan, but throughout the world. About 100,000 people died that day, and the following years claimed the lives of several hundred thousand more. All of them died from radiation burns and radiation sickness. According to the official statistics of the Japanese authorities as of January 2017, the number of deaths and injuries from the American uranium bomb is 308,724 people.

Hiroshima is today the largest city in the Chugoku region. The city has a commemorative memorial dedicated to the victims of the American atomic bombing.

What happened in Hiroshima on the day of the tragedy

The first Japanese official sources said that the city of Hiroshima was attacked by new bombs that were dropped from several American aircraft. People did not yet know that the new bombs destroyed tens of thousands of lives in an instant, and the consequences of a nuclear explosion would last for decades.

It is possible that even the American scientists who created the atomic weapon did not anticipate the consequences of radiation for people. For 16 hours after the explosion, no signal was received from Hiroshima. Noticing this, the operator of the Broadcasting Station began to make attempts to contact the city, but the city remained silent.

After a short period of time, strange and confusing information came from the railway station, which was located near the city, from which the Japanese authorities understood only one thing, an enemy raid was made on the city. It was decided to send the aircraft for reconnaissance, since the authorities knew for sure that no serious enemy combat air groups broke through the front line.

Having approached the city at a distance of about 160 kilometers, the pilot and the officer accompanying him saw a huge dusty cloud. Flying closer, they saw a terrible picture of destruction: the whole city was ablaze with fires, and smoke and dust made it difficult to see the details of the tragedy.

Landing in a safe place, the Japanese officer reported to the command that the city of Hiroshima had been destroyed by US aircraft. After that, the military began selflessly to help the wounded and shell-shocked from the bomb explosion compatriots.

This catastrophe rallied all the surviving people into one big family. Wounded, barely standing people dismantled the rubble and put out fires, trying to save as many of their compatriots as possible.

Washington made an official statement about the successful operation only 16 hours after the bombing.

Dropping the atomic bomb on Nagasaki

The city of Nagasaki, which was an industrial center, has never been subjected to massive air strikes. They tried to save it to demonstrate the enormous power of the atomic bomb. Just a few high-explosive bombs damaged weapons factories, shipyards and medical hospitals in the week before the terrible tragedy.

Now it seems incredible, but Nagasaki became the second Japanese city to be nuked by chance. The original target was the city of Kokura.

The second bomb was delivered and loaded onto the plane, according to the same plan as in the case of Hiroshima. The plane with a nuclear bomb took off and flew towards the city of Kokura. On approaching the island, three American planes were supposed to meet to record the explosion of an atomic bomb.

Two planes met, but they did not wait for the third. Contrary to the forecast of meteorologists, the sky over Kokura was covered with clouds, and the visual release of the bomb became impossible. After circling for 45 minutes over the island and not waiting for the third aircraft, the commander of the aircraft that carried the nuclear bomb on board noticed a malfunction in the fuel supply system. Since the weather finally deteriorated, it was decided to fly to the reserve target area - the city of Nagasaki. A group consisting of two aircraft flew to the alternate target.

On August 9, 1945, at 7:50 am, the inhabitants of Nagasaki woke up from an air raid signal and descended into shelters and bomb shelters. After 40 minutes, considering the alarm not worthy of attention, and classifying two aircraft as reconnaissance, the military canceled it. People went about their usual business, not suspecting that an atomic explosion would now thunder.

The Nagasaki attack went exactly the same way as the Hiroshima attack, only high cloud cover almost spoiled the Americans' bomb release. Literally in the last minutes, when the fuel supply was at the limit, the pilot noticed a “window” in the clouds and dropped a nuclear bomb at an altitude of 8,800 meters.

The carelessness of the Japanese air defense forces, which, despite the news of a similar attack on Hiroshima, is striking, did not take any measures to neutralize American military aircraft.

The atomic bomb, called "Fat Man", exploded at 11 hours 2 minutes, within a few seconds turned a beautiful city into a kind of hell on earth. 40,000 people died in an instant, and another 70,000 received terrible burns and injuries.

Consequences of nuclear bombings of Japanese cities

The consequences of a nuclear attack on Japanese cities were unpredictable. In addition to those who died at the time of the explosion and during the first year after it, radiation continued to kill people for many years to come. As a result, the number of victims has doubled.

Thus, the nuclear attack brought the United States a long-awaited victory, and Japan had to make concessions. The consequences of the nuclear bombing shocked Emperor Hirohito so much that he unconditionally accepted the terms of the Potsdam Conference. According to the official version, the nuclear attack carried out by the US military brought exactly what the American government wanted.

In addition, the troops of the USSR, which had accumulated on the border with Turkey, were urgently transferred to Japan, on which the USSR declared war. According to members of the Soviet Politburo, after learning about the consequences caused by nuclear explosions, Stalin said that the Turks were lucky, as the Japanese sacrificed themselves for them.

Only two weeks had passed since the entry of Soviet troops into Japan, and Emperor Hirohito had already signed an act of unconditional surrender. This day (September 2, 1945) went down in history as the day the Second World War ended.

Was there an urgent need to bomb Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Even in modern Japan, there is an ongoing debate about whether it was necessary to carry out a nuclear bombing or not. Scientists from all over the world are painstakingly studying secret documents and archives from the Second World War. Most researchers agree that Hiroshima and Nagasaki were sacrificed for the sake of ending the world war.

The well-known Japanese historian Tsuyoshi Hasegawa believes that the atomic bombing was started in order to prevent the expansion of the Soviet Union into Asian countries. It also allowed the United States to assert itself as a leader militarily, which they succeeded brilliantly. After the nuclear explosion, arguing with the United States was very dangerous.

If you stick to this theory, then Hiroshima and Nagasaki were simply sacrificed to the political ambitions of the superpowers. Tens of thousands of victims were completely ignored.

One can guess what could have happened if the USSR had time to complete the development of its nuclear bomb before the United States. It is possible that the atomic bombing would not have happened then.

Modern nuclear weapons are thousands of times more powerful than the bombs dropped on Japanese cities. It is difficult even to imagine what could happen if the two largest powers in the world started a nuclear war.

The most little-known facts about the tragedy in Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Although the tragedy in Hiroshima and Nagasaki is known to the whole world, there are facts that only a few know:

1. The man who managed to survive in hell. Although everyone who was close to the epicenter of the explosion died during the explosion of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima, one person who was in the basement 200 meters from the epicenter managed to survive;
   
2. War is war, and the tournament must go on. At a distance of less than 5 kilometers from the epicenter of the explosion in Hiroshima, a tournament was held in the ancient Chinese game "Go". Although the explosion destroyed the building and many of the competitors were injured, the tournament continued on the same day;
3. Able to withstand even a nuclear explosion. Although the explosion in Hiroshima destroyed most of the buildings, the safe in one of the banks was not damaged. After the end of the war, the American company that produced these safes received a letter of thanks from a bank manager in Hiroshima;
4. Extraordinary luck. Tsutomu Yamaguchi was the only person on earth who officially survived two atomic explosions. After the explosion in Hiroshima, he went to work in Nagasaki, where he again managed to survive;
5. "Pumpkin" bombs. Before starting the atomic bombing, the United States dropped 50 Pumpkin bombs on Japan, so named for their resemblance to a pumpkin;
6. An attempt to overthrow the emperor. The Emperor of Japan mobilized all the citizens of the country for "total war". This meant that every Japanese, including women and children, must defend their country to the last drop of blood. After the emperor, frightened by atomic explosions, accepted all the conditions of the Potsdam Conference and later capitulated, the Japanese generals tried to carry out a coup d'état, which failed;
7. Met a nuclear explosion and survived. Japanese Gingko biloba trees are remarkably resilient. After the nuclear attack on Hiroshima, 6 of these trees survived and continue to grow to this day;
   
8. People who dreamed of salvation. After the explosion in Hiroshima, hundreds of survivors fled to Nagasaki. Of these, 164 people managed to survive, although only Tsutomu Yamaguchi is considered the official survivor;
9. Not a single policeman died in the atomic explosion in Nagasaki. The surviving law enforcement officers from Hiroshima were sent to Nagasaki in order to teach colleagues the basics of behavior after a nuclear explosion. As a result of these actions, not a single policeman was killed in the Nagasaki bombing;
10. 25 percent of those who died in Japan were Koreans. Although it is believed that all of those who died in the atomic explosions were Japanese, in fact a quarter of them were Koreans, who were mobilized by the Japanese government to participate in the war;
11. Radiation is a fairy tale for children. After the atomic explosion, the American government for a long time concealed the fact of the presence of radioactive contamination;
12. "Meetinghouse". Few people know that the US authorities did not limit themselves to nuclear bombing of two Japanese cities. Before that, using the tactics of carpet bombing, they destroyed several Japanese cities. During Operation Meetinghouse, the city of Tokyo was virtually destroyed, and 300,000 of its inhabitants died;
13. They didn't know what they were doing. The crew of the plane that dropped the nuclear bomb on Hiroshima was 12 people. Of these, only three knew what a nuclear bomb was;
14. On one of the anniversaries of the tragedy (in 1964), an eternal flame was lit in Hiroshima, which should burn as long as at least one nuclear warhead remains in the world;
    
15. Lost connection. After the destruction of Hiroshima, communication with the city was completely lost. Only three hours later did the capital learn that Hiroshima had been destroyed;
16. Deadly poison. The crew of the Enola Gay were given ampoules of potassium cyanide, which they had to take in case they failed to complete the task;
17. radioactive mutants. The famous Japanese monster "Godzilla" was invented as a mutation for radioactive contamination after a nuclear bombing;
18. Shadows of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The explosions of nuclear bombs had such tremendous power that people literally evaporated, leaving only dark prints on the walls and floor as a memory of themselves;
19. Hiroshima symbol. The first plant to bloom after the Hiroshima nuclear attack was the oleander. It is he who is now the official symbol of the city of Hiroshima;
20. Warning before a nuclear attack. Before the nuclear attack began, US aircraft dropped millions of leaflets on 33 Japanese cities warning of an impending bombardment;
21. Radio signals. An American radio station in Saipan broadcast warnings of a nuclear attack throughout Japan until the very last moment. The signals were repeated every 15 minutes.

The tragedy in Hiroshima and Nagasaki happened 72 years ago, but it still serves as a reminder that humanity should not thoughtlessly destroy its own kind.

Hiroshima and Nagasaki are some of the most famous Japanese cities in the world. Of course, the reason for their fame is very sad - these are the only two cities on Earth where atomic bombs were detonated to purposefully destroy the enemy. Two cities were completely destroyed, thousands of people died, and the world changed completely. Here are 25 little-known facts about Hiroshima and Nagasaki that you should know so that the tragedy never happens again anywhere.

1. Survive in the epicenter

The man who survived closest to the epicenter of the explosion in Hiroshima was less than 200 meters from the epicenter of the explosion in the basement.

2. An explosion is not a hindrance to a tournament

Less than 5 kilometers from the epicenter of the explosion, a go tournament was taking place. Although the building was destroyed and many people were injured, the tournament ended later that day.

3. Made to last

A safe in a bank in Hiroshima survived the explosion. After the war, a bank manager wrote to Mosler Safe in Ohio expressing "his admiration for a product that survived the atomic bomb."

4. Doubtful luck

Tsutomu Yamaguchi is one of the luckiest people in the world. He survived the Hiroshima bombing in a bomb shelter and took the first train to Nagasaki for work the next morning. During the bombing of Nagasaki three days later, Yamaguchi managed to survive again.

5. 50 Pumpkin Bombs

The United States dropped about 50 Pumpkin bombs on Japan before "Fat Man" and "Baby" (they were named so for their resemblance to a pumpkin). "Pumpkins" were not atomic.

6. Coup attempt

The Japanese army was mobilized for "total war". This meant that every man, woman and child must resist the invasion until their death. When the emperor ordered surrender after the atomic bombing, the army attempted a coup d'état.

7. Six survivors

Gingko biloba trees are known for their amazing resilience. After the bombing of Hiroshima, 6 such trees survived and are still growing today.

8. From the fire to the frying pan

After the bombing of Hiroshima, hundreds of survivors fled to Nagasaki, where an atomic bomb was also dropped. In addition to Tsutomu Yamaguchi, 164 other people survived both bombings.

9. Not a single police officer died in Nagasaki

After the bombing of Hiroshima, the surviving police officers were sent to Nagasaki to teach the local police how to behave after the atomic flash. As a result, not a single policeman died in Nagasaki.

10. A quarter of the dead are Koreans

Almost a quarter of all those who died in Hiroshima and Nagasaki were actually Koreans who were mobilized to participate in the war.

11. Radioactive contamination is cancelled. USA.

Initially, the United States denied that nuclear explosions would leave radioactive contamination behind.

12. Operation Meetinghouse

During World War II, it was not Hiroshima and Nagasaki that suffered the most from the bombing. During Operation Meetinghouse, the allied forces almost destroyed Tokyo.

13. Only three out of twelve

Only three of the twelve men on the Enola Gay bomber knew the real purpose of their mission.

14. "Fire of the world"

In 1964, the "Fire of the World" was lit in Hiroshima, which will burn until nuclear weapons are destroyed throughout the world.

15. Kyoto narrowly escaped the bombing

Kyoto narrowly escaped the bombing. It was crossed off the list because former US Secretary of War Henry Stimson admired the city during his honeymoon in 1929. Instead of Kyoto, Nagasaki was chosen.

16. Only after 3 hours

In Tokyo, only 3 hours later they learned that Hiroshima had been destroyed. It was not until 16 hours later, when Washington announced the bombing, that exactly how it happened was known.

17. Air defense carelessness

Prior to the bombing, Japanese radar operators spotted three American bombers flying at high altitude. They decided not to intercept them, as they considered that such a small number of aircraft did not pose a threat.

18 Enola Gay

The crew of the Enola Gay bomber had 12 potassium cyanide tablets, which the pilots were to take in the event of a mission failure.

19. Peace Memorial City

After World War II, Hiroshima changed its status to a "Peace Memorial City" as a reminder to the world of the destructive power of nuclear weapons. When Japan conducted nuclear tests, the mayor of Hiroshima bombarded the government with letters of protest.

20. Mutant Monster

Godzilla was invented in Japan as a reaction to the atomic bombing. It was assumed that the monster mutated due to radioactive contamination.

21. Apology to Japan

Although during the war Dr. Seuss advocated the necessity of occupying Japan, his post-war book Horton is an allegory for the events in Hiroshima and an apology to Japan for what happened. He dedicated the book to his Japanese friend.

22. Shadows on the remains of the walls

The explosions in Hiroshima and Nagasaki were so strong that they literally evaporated people, leaving their shadows forever on the remains of the walls, on the ground.

23. The official symbol of Hiroshima

Since the oleander was the first plant to bloom in Hiroshima after the nuclear explosion, it is the city's official flower.

24. Bombardment Warning

Before launching nuclear strikes, the US Air Force dropped millions of leaflets over Hiroshima, Nagasaki and 33 other potential targets warning of the upcoming bombing.

25. Radio alert

The American radio station in Saipan also broadcast a message about the impending bombardment throughout Japan every 15 minutes until the bombs were dropped.

A modern person should know and. This knowledge will help protect yourself and your loved ones.