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On this day in 1945, the US committed one the worst atrocious in human history when it dropped a nuclear weapon on the center of the Japanese city of Hiroshima, killing over 140,000 people.
The bomb detonated directly over Shima Surgical Clinic and destroyed 1 square mile and set fires for 4.7 square miles, annihilating 70,000 people immediately leaving another 70,000 wounded. The bombing killed 90% of all medical personnel in the city and destroyed 70% of the city.
Survivors described the wounded as living pieces of charcoal, wandering mindlessly as their skin fell off, until they collapsed and died. Many of the survivors would fall victim of radiation poisoning, some dying violently while vomiting out their insides.
Akiko Takakura, a 20-year old survivor described the bombing,
"Many died instantly. The fingertips of the dead bodies caught fire and the fire gradually spread over their entire bodies from their fingers. A light gray liquid dripped down their hands, scorching their fingers.”
"Many died instantly. The fingertips of the dead bodies caught fire and the fire gradually spread over their entire bodies from their fingers. A light gray liquid dripped down their hands, scorching their fingers.”
Survivor Miyoko Watanabe reminds us that many people died in the years after the bombing from exposure to radiation:
Upon hearing the news of the nuclear bomb and its destruction of Hiroshima, US President Truman said, “This is the greatest thing in history!"
A few days later, a Protestant clergyman begged Truman to end his nuclear bombing of Japan. Truman replied, “The only language they seem to understand is the one we have been using to bombard them. When you have to deal with a beast you have to treat him as a beast.”
One of the most dangerous myths surrounding the bombings is the idea that they were necessary to save lives. Serious historical work has shown this narrative to be nothing more than propaganda.
Here-> https://www.thenation.com/article/why-the-us-really-bombed-hiroshima/
And here-> https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/five-myths-about-the-atomic-bomb/2015/07/31/32dbc15c-3620-11e5-b673-1df005a0fb28_story.html
Here-> https://www.thenation.com/article/why-the-us-really-bombed-hiroshima/
And here-> https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/five-myths-about-the-atomic-bomb/2015/07/31/32dbc15c-3620-11e5-b673-1df005a0fb28_story.html
Astonishingly, the US continued to bomb Japan even after it dropped 2 nuclear weapons. On August 15, 1945, the US launched a 1000 plane “grande finale” bombing run on the day Japan officially announced its unconditional surrender.
