Figure 18 - Landscape image of Nagasaki before the bombing
Causes
On the 7th of December 1941, Japanese Navy Air Service launched a surprise attack against a US naval base in Pearl Harbour. This strike was in retaliation to US interference with trade and other affairs. In response, on the 8th of December 1941, the United States Congress declared war on the Empire of Japan. After four years of war, the US then bombed Hiroshima with their nuclear bomb Little Boy and planned to bomb two other places before finally deciding on Nagasaki. On the 9th of August, 1945, Nagasaki was bombed.
Nature
On the 6th of August 1945, the US Air Force dropped the world’s first atomic bomb over Hiroshima – wiping out 90% of the city. Only three days later on the 9th of August, at 11:02am, an American B-29 bomber dropped another bomb. It was originally decided to bomb the Japanese city of Kokura, but due to heavy fog, the Air Force turned and attacked Nagasaki instead.
An estimated 40,000 people were initially killed from what was said to be "a new and most cruel bomb," announced by the Japanese Emperor six days after the attack. In his official statement, he also declared the country’s unconditional surrender from the war. The bomb dropped on Nagasaki was stronger than the first – weighing roughly 4,500 kg and being purposely built to erupt in a 22-kiloton blast. As it was never planned to land in Nagasaki, the city's land features (narrow valleys which sit between mountains) were not considered. This meant that the destruction was limited and ended up only affecting 6.5 square kilometres. The scale of the destruction and casualties that were caused from Fat Boy were horrific, although arguably the most damaging were the long-term effects of radiation on the citizens, which caused cancer and birth defects in the years to come.
An estimated 40,000 people were initially killed from what was said to be "a new and most cruel bomb," announced by the Japanese Emperor six days after the attack. In his official statement, he also declared the country’s unconditional surrender from the war. The bomb dropped on Nagasaki was stronger than the first – weighing roughly 4,500 kg and being purposely built to erupt in a 22-kiloton blast. As it was never planned to land in Nagasaki, the city's land features (narrow valleys which sit between mountains) were not considered. This meant that the destruction was limited and ended up only affecting 6.5 square kilometres. The scale of the destruction and casualties that were caused from Fat Boy were horrific, although arguably the most damaging were the long-term effects of radiation on the citizens, which caused cancer and birth defects in the years to come.
Effects
At least 35,000 people were immediately killed and 60,000 injured.
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...saw an increase – such as breast, lung and thyroid cancer. An increased number cases of anaemia, a blood disorder, were recorded as well as common health defects such as cataracts and keloids.
Years after the attacks, the survivors became known as the ‘hibakusha’ and were exposed to wide-spread discrimination. They were regarded with suspicion as radiation poisoning was not a well-researched subject– this meant they were rejected as suitable partners for marriage and their chances of employment were affected. The victims suffered substantial injuries and illnesses and were often steered to the borders of society because of their exposure. |
Behind the Scenes
The photos shown below are declassified pictures of the US’s final preparations on the bombs that were dropped. Figure 19 depicts a photo of soldiers and workers signing their names and small messages on the nose of Fat Man. In Figure 20, we can see a closer view of the words written.
Figure 21 showcases Fat Man being given a final look over and then being loaded onto a transport trailer, to be sent off to a North Field airbase on Tinan, as shown in figure 22. At the air-field, the bomb was lined up over a pit that was designed specifically for it. From here, it was loaded onto the plane which eventually dropped it over Nagasaki.
Both of the pits still exist to this day - measuring roughly 2 by 3 metres. They serve as a memorial among many others. One of the most notable memorials created in commemoration of the atomic bomb is the Monument for Korean Atomic Victims located in the Nagasaki Peace Park In Nagasaki, Japan.
Important Figures
There were many more important people that played a massive role in the Nagasaki bombing, including General Leslie Groves, J. Robert Oppenheimer and Charles Sweeney.
Charles Sweeney was an officer in the United States Army Air Forces. On the 9th of August 1945, Sweeney flew Brockscar, a plane used in the air forces, from Tinian (a Northern Mariana Island) and dropped Fat Man over Nagasaki.
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Figure 25
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Harry S. Truman was America’s 33rd president and within his first months of office, ordered the attack on Japan, which ended World War II. He had previously served as vice president for 82 days to Franklin D. Roosevelt beforehand, until the President's death. By May 1945, when Germany surrendered, Japan had essentially lost the war and both sides knew it. For the US, it was now a matter of waiting for Japan to surrender. Japan instead chose to keep fighting. During July, Truman was notified of the successful test of the atomic bomb – a new development and the first the world had seen. The bomb had been designed to destroy and kill on a mass scale and as president, Truman was given the choice whether to use it with hopes to end the war. The president chose to use the bomb and nominated the target cities carefully. His hopes were not to destroy Japan’s culture and their people, only to destroy Japan’s ability to make war. For this reason, Truman didn’t select a city that was of traditional cultural significance.
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Figure 26
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