Seventy years ago this month, on Monday 6 August 1945, the nuclear bomb known as ‘Little Boy’ was dropped on Hiroshima by an American B-29 bomber, immediately killing an estimated 80,000 people. Three days later a second bomb, the equally appallingly nick-named ‘Fat Man’, was dropped on Nagasaki, killing between 60-70,000 people. On 15 August Japan surrendered, marking the end of the Second World War. It has been argued that President Truman’s decision to drop the A-bombs on these two Japanese cities saved more lives than were lost by ending the war so much earlier than any alternative course of action. As usual the truth is more complex. Truman’s primary objectives were certainly American lives and the earliest possible end to the war, but other pertinent considerations included impressing the Soviets as the Cold War approached, the lasting need to respond to Pearl Harbour, and the pressure to justify the development costs of the atomic project. In this war, sides of very different motivations and experiences all committed atrocities and suffered from traumatising war crimes. I don’t seek to suggest equivalence. Nevertheless, it is still difficult understand the detonation of two separate…
Source: The History Girls: Hiroshima: City of Peace, by Clare Mulley
First Night History 
A thoughtful and very moving article, about a personal journey to the city. It is important to keep the memories of these events alive, as a warning to future generations, and a memory of those lost.
My 26 year old step-daughters had never heard of either Hiroshima or Nagasaki, and didn’t even realise that atomic bombs had been dropped there. Watching a news item about WW1 commemorations, they asked me if I had been in that war. I would have had to be at least 118 years old, and they are aware that I am 63.
Something is lacking in our education system, undoubtedly.
Perhaps we need to put a link on Facebook? Then it might get more attention.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I remember you saying. It is atrocious. Incidentally, my blog posts are automatically shared on FNH’s Facebook page.
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Let’s hope the younger Facebookers read some of them. x
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