Attack on Hiroshima

I watched a BBC documentary on the attack upon “Hiroshima” and I could not remain without having a Google search in this matter. So, I did some research on it, a micro research.

Hiroshima, this name will be remembered forever and ever in the history of not only Japan but of the whole world. It was the first place which was made the victim of the nuclear weapon. US had dropped the bomb upon Japan, which was said to be dropped to stop the WWII. However, the debate still continues about the ethics of the American Government in this regard.

Second World War with advanced military and advanced weapon is considered to be the most devastating war that has been fought ever. There were mainly two groups, namely axis and allies. Axis consisted of the collaboration of mainly three countries; they are Germany, Japan and Italy. The allies consist of UK, US, France and some other countries. Most of the countries in the world were fighting either in favour or against these groups. In the early years of the war, axis was in the forefront and was powerful. US had maintained its neutrality and were not participating in the war but was supporting the allies with some weapons. I was mostly surprised by Japan and its people during that time. I have some Japanese friends still and I think they are the most humble people I have ever seen in the world. So, how can they be so aggressive in the Second World War.? Japan forced US to join the world war with its invasion on the Pearl Harbour. The spirits of Japanese were high. There was no clue of surrender by the Japanese Military. Even the school children were taught how to attack American soldiers with the local weapons. The people were very much devoted to the Emperor and they didn’t want to surrender but rather die for the Emperor.

In the mean time, the atomic bombs were dropped in Hiroshima on August 6th, 1945. The next bomb was dropped in Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. Six days after the invasion upon Nagasaki, Japan finally surrendered on August 15th, 1945 and the war was over.

The atom bomb was developed under the project called “Manhattem” and was successfully tested in the desert of Mexico, which was named as “Trinity test”. It was prepared after the three years of research and after spending 2 billion dollars. It was first prepared to test upon the Nazi Germany but later on it was the fate of Japan. It is said that US had bombed many cities of Japan and Hiroshima was left untouched deliberately in order to know the precise effect of bomb. The scientists and researchers knew about the massive destructions that the bomb will bring but were not aware of the radioactive effect later on. Hiroshima with live people on it became an open laboratory for the researchers.

WAR is a very cruel thing and maybe realising its effect, someone had truly said that “everything is fair in war”. Its been true that every time the war has been fought in the history, the civilians have suffered a lot. The war should be fought between the army in the battlefield but the target has been the civilian areas. Hiroshima was a military point and Nagasaki was the industrial hub and this was the reason why they were targeted. In fact, Nagasaki was not targeted before, Kokura was targeted. However, on the day of invasion as the city was very cloudy, the target area changed to Nagasaki and the bomb was dropped over there, though it was also cloudy that day!!

The bomb was loaded in the bomber named Engola Gay and the bomb was called “Little Man” for Hiroshima and “Fat Man” for Ngasaki. The bomb had the power to blow the area of 3 miles at once. The temperature of the time was nearly 4000 degree Celsius. The people who were in the open air either vaporised or were turned to carbon at once. The wave blew away the houses and windows and all the glass pieces were stuck into the body of people. The people were burnt furiously.

“Within the first two to four months of the bombings, the acute effects killed 90,000–166,000 people in Hiroshima and 60,000–80,000 in Nagasaki, with roughly half of the deaths in each city occurring on the first day. The Hiroshima prefectural health department estimates that, of the people who died on the day of the explosion, 60% died from flash or flame burns, 30% from falling debris and 10% from other causes. During the following months, large numbers died from the effect of burns, radiation sickness, and other injuries, compounded by illness. A plausible estimate of the total immediate and short term cause of death, 15–20% died from radiation sickness, 20–30% from flash burns, and 50–60% from other injuries, compounded by illness.” – Source –Wikipedia.

The atmosphere was dark and it was like a night in the early morning. Later there was rainfall and the rain was a black liquid. The people were so thirsty that they drank those black and highly radioactive liquid whose effects were severe later on. The documentary has mentioned that the hair of people were falling and there were purple rashes all over their body. There was one experience of a soldier who had participated in the rescue team. “There were people all around who were asking for water. Though we had water, we were ordered not to give them as they would die immediately.” He said. “Now I think I should have given them water because a lot of people died later.”

This was a very pathetic scene and a nuclear bomb tested for the first time in the history upon human. However, in contradict to it; the American soldier and government were celebrating the success of the bombs. While watching the documentary, you feel the loss of humanity, people being inhuman, but may be while going to war, the one and only aim becomes the loss of the enemy and of course it was the huge loss.

It is said that these two cities took a long time to recover it. Even after many years, there was this radioactive effect. Birth of abnormal children was common and the land was not productive at all. Japan now has no military. It has determined not to go to war at all and does not want to spend on these unnecessary items.

Now I remember a moment, while I was showing the army barrack to one of my Japanese friends, he had asked me, “America protects Japan and what you feel about it?”. I said, “it’s better not to spend on these unnecessary items. But maybe there is question in your independency.” I don’t know either it’s the answer I should have given to him or not. But I really appreciate Japanese, the way they have recovered their loss and have been one of the developed countries of the world. May be it’s the unfathomable patriotism they have inside them, that has made the impossible to possible each time.
HATS OFF TO THEM!!!!!