Table of Contents
Hiroshima Day History
On August 6, 1945, Hiroshima Day marks the day when the American B-29 bomber, carrying the nuclear weapon “Little Boy,” flew over Hiroshima. This bomb, containing 64 kilograms of enriched uranium, was designed to trigger a nuclear fission chain reaction. The survivors of the bombing, known as Hibakusha—a Japanese term for those affected by the atomic bombings—recall that they recognized the aircraft as American because no Japanese plane could reach that altitude at the time. Brigadier General Paul Tibbets, piloting the B-29, released the bomb at 7:30 AM. The bomb descended for 45 seconds, reaching 6,000 feet above the city before detonation. At 8:15 AM, the chain reaction ignited, unleashing a devastating explosion that obliterated Hiroshima. The impact was catastrophic, killing approximately 140,000 people and leaving lasting effects from nuclear radiation. Even today, the remnants of Hiroshima’s shattered buildings stand as solemn memorials to this dark chapter in history, serving as a poignant reminder on Hiroshima Day of the enduring legacy of nuclear warfare.
Why Hiroshima Bombings?
1: Who was the first woman President of India?
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Start Learning!Why they Selected Hiroshima?
Reflecting on the events of World War II, the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki reveal the profound cruelty and inhumanity of the conflict. While wars typically involve military forces and strategies, the bombings of these Japanese cities starkly deviated from this norm by targeting civilian populations. Hiroshima, chosen as the site for the first atomic bomb, was not only a densely populated city but also a crucial military and trade hub with significant strategic importance. At the time, Hiroshima was considered the heart of Japan, integral to its economic and military infrastructure.
The decision to bomb Hiroshima was driven by the desire to induce a swift surrender from Japan by creating immense devastation and chaos. The impact of the Hiroshima bombing was intended to demonstrate the overwhelming power of the United States and compel Japan to capitulate. Despite the devastating effects of the Hiroshima attack, the U.S. proceeded to bomb Nagasaki just three days later. This second bombing further pressured Japan, leading to its eventual surrender and the conclusion of World War II.
The Consequences and Impact of the Hiroshima Bombings.
The devastation caused by the atomic bombings of Hiroshima was immense, with around 140,000 people killed instantly. However, the impact extended far beyond this figure, as survivors, known as Hibakusha, endured severe health issues due to radiation exposure, including various diseases and genetic disorders.
Hiroshima, once a thriving, highly developed city, was left in ruins. Yet, after 75 years, the city has remarkably rebuilt itself and regained its development. Today, Hiroshima stands as a symbol of resilience and peace. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park now commemorates the tragic events of the atomic bombing. Among its notable landmarks is the Genbaku Dome, also known as the Atomic Bomb Dome. Originally built in 1915, this building was remarkably resilient, with its dome designed to withstand natural disasters. Despite its proximity to the bomb’s hypocenter—just 200 meters away—the Genbaku Dome survived the explosion in a partially intact state. Its preservation serves as a poignant reminder of the devastation. In 1996, UNESCO recognized the Atomic Bomb Dome as a World Heritage Site, acknowledging its historical significance.
While the Peace Memorial Park solemnly preserves the memory of the bombings, the rest of Hiroshima has flourished and developed in modern times, reflecting the city’s remarkable recovery and commitment to peace.
The Historical impact was different. It created two sections in the world. One, the people who realise the dangerous and devastating effect of nuclear bombs on humanity. Two, the possibilities of destruction by atomic bombs for capturing power. The first category was the normal civilian people and the second category was the power enjoying people. The nations in the world started creating nuclear weapons secretly and publicly. After the second world war when the cold war began most of the nations were busy in equipping themselves with nuclear weapons if another war sprouted. The cold war prevailed in the world for a period of 1947 to 1991. At this time the nations were busy in building their own nuclear weapons. On the other side peace enforcing organizations like the United Nations Organization started their mission to stop all the nations from producing and storing nuclear weapons. In 1970 a treaty named Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) came into force between the nations banning them to produce nuclear weapons further. Another treaty named Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) came into force in 1996 as part of the conference of Disarmament forcing nations not to test nuclear weapons. The other major treaty is Nuclear Ban Treaty or rather expanded as Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear weapons which is the first ever legally binding agreement to comprehensively prohibit nuclear weapons, with the goal of leading towards their total elimination. It was passed on 7 July 2017.
NPT is the treaty signed by most of the nations. But India has not signed NPT yet. Because India believes that the treaty is a pseudo peace making treaty because of the provisions. The countries who produced nuclear weapons are allowed to store the weapons according to NPT but prohibited to produce more. But the countries who have not produced yet don’t have the right to produce thereafter. The countries who were at the head of the drafting of the policy and the countries who produced more weapons are the same and it shows their military diplomacy. So India doesn’t believe in the NPT.
World Hiroshima Day 2024 Quotes
“Everything, save our ways of thinking, has changed as a result of the atom’s unleashed power, and we are now heading for an unprecedented catastrophe.”
Although the atomic attack gave the allied forces a hollow triumph, it did, for the time being, destroy Japan’s soul.
At a time when the Japanese were pleading for peace fervently, Hiroshima and Nagasaki were destroyed by atomic bombs.
“I would have destroyed my formula in 1905 if I had known about the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.” ~ A. Einstein
As Hiroshima’s history reveals, the only way to stop war is to prevent it with such overwhelming force that it becomes a suicide act.
“People are still bearing the scars of history; we are still experiencing the aftershock of Hiroshima.”
“It was a war crime to drop those nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.”
The nuclear bombings taught Japan that mankind and nuclear weapons cannot coexist.
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Start Learning!World Hiroshima Day 2024 Messages
Warm greetings on the occasion of Hiroshima Day to everyone. We have to come together to protect the world peace so that history does not repeat itself.
Together we must work towards world peace and happiness so that there is no Hiroshima Day to celebrate for the coming generations.
We must come together and celebrate the occasion of Hiroshima Day by making everyone aware of what happened to this city in Japan.
The occasion of Hiroshima Day will always remind us of one of the most dreadful attacks in the history of this world. Warm greetings on this day.
The amount of damage the atomic attack of Hiroshima did is beyond imagination and we must make sure that this does not happen again.
World Hiroshima Day Quiz 2024
1) What was the name of the top secret project to develop the atom bomb?
Answer: The Manhattan Project
2) Who was the central figure in the development of the atomic bomb?
Answer: JR Oppenheimer
3) Who was the president of the USA when the world’s first atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
Answer: Harry Truman
4) What was the local time when the first atomic bomb exploded on Hiroshima?
Answer: 8:15 am
5) Where did the atomic bomb actually explode?
Answer: Shima Hospital
6) What nuclear material was used in the construction of the Hiroshima bomb?
Answer: Uranium
7) What was the playful name given to the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima, killing 200,000 people in a city of 3,50,000?
Answer: Little Boy
8) What does the Japanese word hibakusha mean?
Answer: Survivors of the atomic bombing
9) Who are the Hiroshima Maidens?
Answer:
10) What sudden change in Hiroshima gives Miss Sasaki the creeps?
Answer:
Conclusion
There is no doubt that the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6th August 1945 and 9th August 1945 was the largest killings of the innocent people using the most ever deadliest weapon ever made. Hiroshima Day is a remembrance of the cruellest face of war in the history of world war. Hiroshima Day is a signboard of the devastation of humanity for power. Hiroshima Day stands still as a metaphor for the phrases of saving humanity and world peace. Every Hiroshima Day urges us to submit ourselves to protect and conserve humanity and world peace.
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