Hiroshima

As World War II erupted in 1939, a group of American scientists became concerned about nuclear weapon research that Nazi Germany was conducting. The group of scientists had been amassed from many countries, some of them refugees from fascist regimes in Europe.

In 1940, the US government decided to fund a weapons development program. They called the initiative "The Manhattan Project." The operation was carried out in vast facilities, all labelled top secret.

Over the next few years, scientists worked on producing the key materials for nuclear fission. When they succeeded, this was sent to Los Alamos, New Mexico. There, a team led by J. Robert Oppenheimer worked to transform these materials into a functional atomic bomb.

The First Atomic Test

It was the morning of 16th July 1945 when the Manhattan Project held its first successful test of an atomic device. The plutonium bomb was detonated at the Trinity test site in Alamogordo, New Mexico.

The Allied powers had already defeated Germany in Europe, but Japan remained steadfast in its determination to fight. Despite clear indications as early as 1944 that Japan had little chance of victory, its militarist government rejected the Allied demand for surrender. They were warned that this could lead to prompt and utter destruction, but they were still not moved to surrender.

General Douglas MacArthur was one of the top military commanders. He and his colleagues favoured the ongoing conventional bombing of Japan to be followed by a massive invasion codenamed Operation Downfall.

However, President Harry Truman did not share this view. Along with Secretary of War Henry Stimson, General Dwight Eisenhower, and some Manhattan Project scientists, the decision was made to use the atomic bomb. Truman's Secretary of State believed its devastating power would end the war and position the U.S. as the dominant force in shaping the postwar world.

The Bombing of Hiroshima

On the early morning of August 6, 1945, a B-29 bomber named Enola Gay took off from the island of Tinian, heading toward Japan. Its target: Hiroshima, a manufacturing centre with a civilian population of nearly 300,000 and a significant military presence of about 43,000 soldiers.

The Americans had suspected that Japan was expecting a significant attack, and rumours had circulated in Hiroshima that something catastrophic was coming.

At 8:15 AM, the Enola Gay dropped the bomb, nicknamed "Little Boy", by parachute. It detonated approximately 2,000 feet above the city with an explosion equivalent to 12-15,000 tons of TNT.

Total Destruction

A blinding white light flashed across the sky, followed by an immense blast wave and an intense firestorm. Nearly every structure within a mile of ground zero was obliterated, while almost every building within three miles suffered damage.

The bomb instantly killed an estimated 80,000 people, many of whom were vaporised by the heat. Those near the epicentre were turned to black char, while birds ignited mid-flight, and paper burned as far as 6,400 feet away.

Survivors described the flash as a giant flashbulb that seared dark clothing patterns onto skin and burned shadows of people onto walls. The explosion created a second shock wave that reflected off the ground and struck the Enola Gay in midair; it returned to base to a hero's welcome. Fires erupted throughout the city, merging into a firestorm that consumed 4.4 square miles of Hiroshima.

By the end of the year, radiation exposure had increased the death toll to between 90,000 and 166,000. Medical staff, unaware of the long-term effects of radiation, only realised days later that survivors were developing radiation sickness. Symptoms peaked between three and four weeks after the attack and continued for months. Long-term health effects, such as cancer, plagued survivors for the rest of their lives.

The Bombing of Nagasaki

The attack on Hiroshima did not gain the desired result, and still, the Japanese government stood firm, refusing to surrender.

Three days later, on August 9, 1945, another B-29 bomber dropped a second atomic bomb on Nagasaki. This bomb, nicknamed "Fat Man," exploded over the city, killing an estimated 40,000 people instantly.

The total death toll in Nagasaki ranged between 60,000 and 80,000, including both immediate casualties and those who later succumbed to radiation exposure. Like Hiroshima, Nagasaki's infrastructure was decimated, and the sheer scale of destruction severely hampered relief efforts.

Following this second bomb, on 15th August 1945, Emperor Hirohito addressed Japan by radio, announcing the country's unconditional surrender. He cited the overwhelming power of "a new and most cruel bomb" as the reason for surrender.

The formal surrender agreement was signed on September 2 aboard the U.S. battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay, officially ending World War II.

The Aftermath and Legacy

The devastation and human suffering caused by the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were unprecedented. Because much of the cities' infrastructure was obliterated, exact death tolls remain uncertain.

Estimates suggest that between 70,000 and 135,000 people died in Hiroshima, while Nagasaki saw 60,000 to 80,000 casualties. Beyond the immediate destruction, survivors, known as hibakusha, faced lifelong health issues due to radiation exposure, along with profound psychological trauma.

In the months following the bombings, American officials, including President Truman, addressed the world, describing the use of the atomic bomb as a necessary step to end the war and save lives. However, the morality and necessity of the bombings remain subjects of debate to this day.

The events of August 1945 changed the course of history, ushering in the nuclear age and altering global warfare forever. The horrors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki serve as a powerful reminder of the devastating consequences of nuclear weapons and the enduring need for peace.

It also shows us that there are villains and heroes within all wars, who is who depends on your perspective and the country you live in. The Japanese who had decided to carry on fighting were safely hidden in bunkers. Instead, the act resulted in thousands of civilians dying in horrific scenes.

Hiroshima and Nagasaki remain one of the most horrific acts of terror by any country during the war.

One man, Tsutomu Yamaguchi, survived both bombings and went on to lead a long life. His story is in my latest book, Warriors of War.