It all started on August 6, 1945 when, during the WWII, a B-29 American bomb was dropped over Japanese city, Hiroshima, killing 80,000 people immediately and wiping off 90% of the city. Others died later out of radiation exposure. Three days after the first bombing, another bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, killing 40,000 people. This made Hirohito, the Japan’s Emperor, to surrender in the WWII unconditionally.
Here are 10 facts you didn’t know about Hiroshima and Nagasaki after the nuclear attack
10. Hiroshima Inspired Godzilla
In 1954, the first Godzilla film was released in Japan, which was less than 10 years after the bombing. The film was conceived as a metaphor for nuclear weapons. This theme has continued to serve as the thematic nuclear metaphor to present, through the Godzilla history which keeps on being replayed.
9. A bank Vault Survived the Explosion
Though much of Hiroshima was wiped out, there is one thing that did survive the explosion, the vault at Teikoku Bank. It impressed the manager who, five years later, wrote to the safe’s America manufacturer, The Mosler Safe Company, thanking them. The company then turned the note into a promotional boost.
8. The Unusual Effect Of The Thermal Radiation
When the bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki went off, the radiation caused burns on people who weren’t killed by the explosion. The severity of the burns depended upon the type of clothes one was putting on. White clothes reflected the radiation while black clothes absorbed it. This meant that, if one was wearing a stripped clothes when the bomb hit, the burn patterns did match their outfit.
7. There is a Color Footing of The Bombing
There exists a high color footage of the images of the bombing, the explosions and aftermath. After being hidden away by the US military, it was uncovered in 2011. It was shot in weeks later, after the explosion and it even shows some of the damage done to people.
6. The Co Pilot of The Enola Gay Met Hiroshima/Nagasaki Victims on This Is Your Life
Several victims were flown to the USA for plastic surgery in 1955. It was then that the US television network decided that it was a good idea to reunite the victims with the copilot who dropped the bomb. The footage of the rare meeting was documented and it was as awkward as you might expect.
5. Tsutomu Yamaguchi, The Lucky/Unlucky Man In History
Tsutomu worked for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Nagasaki and on 5thAugust 1945, he was visiting Hiroshima on business when the bombing happened, though caught in the blast, he survived. He later on travelling back to Nagasaki the on 6th, and unfortunate for him, on 9th, Nagasaki was bombed and he was caught up in the bombing once more. He survived it too. He died in 2010 at age 93 and he was the only person in Japan who was recognized as having survived both explosions.
4. US Warned The Civilians Before Bombing
Before the two cities were bombed, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, US dropped fliers to warn the civilians of the impending bombing at all military centers of Japan so that they could evacuate and save their lives.
3. Some US Airmen Died In The Bombing
Hiroshima and Nagasaki were a human tragedy which saw among the thousands who were killed, US airmen too. Three airplanes, which were carrying relief food over the area, prior to the bombing, were shot down with the crew being bailed out after surviving the crash. They were captured and imprisoned in a base in Hiroshima, meaning, they perished during the bombing.
2. The Bombing Didn’t End The WWII
Most people believe that, it was the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombing which brought an end to the WWII. Not really. The entry of the Soviet Union to the war did the trick. Before the bombing, the Soviets had been occupied fighting the Germans. After the 9th August bombing, they also declared war on Japan, forcing japan to officially capitulate.
1. The Bomb Was Finally Assembled In The Air
This might have been a nerve wracking experience for the air crew. They had to do the final assembly of the bomb and an arm while in flight. If the plane was to crash on take off or if something was to go amiss, they didn’t want the explosion to wipe out thousands of US soldiers or the US base on the Titian, the Pacific island where the Enola Gay was to take off. The air crew were to sort out things whilst the bomb hung from a hook in a moving plane which was flying over the enemy territory.
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Santosh Kumar is a Professional SEO and Blogger, With the help of this blog he is trying to share top 10 lists, facts, entertainment news from India and all around the world.