Nagasaki: 78th anniversary ceremony of nuclear bombings held amid storm
09.08.2023
Nagasaki, Japan is the second and last city to be hit by an atomic bomb in human history. The city has scaled back its commemoration this year due to the threat of a tropical storm. UN Secretary-General Guterres has called for a world free of nuclear weapons.
(Deutsche Welle Chinese website) On Wednesday (August 9th), Nagasaki City, Japan held an atomic bombing anniversary ceremony. 78 years ago, just days before the end of World War II, the U.S. military dropped an atomic bomb on the city.
The commemorative ceremony was held amidst the heavy rain brought by tropical storm “Kanon” to Japan. The storm prevented Prime Minister Fumio Kishida from attending the commemorative ceremony and forced it to be held indoors for the first time since 1963.
On August 9, 1945, the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb codenamed “Fat Man” on Nagasaki.August 6th three days ago, the U.S. dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima. On August 15, Japan announced its surrender, and World War II in Asia officially ended.
At 11:02 a.m. on Remembrance Day, those present at the ceremony observed a minute of silence. At the same moment 78 years ago, the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki.
According to statistics, as many as 70,000 people were killed in the explosion, and another 75,000 people were injured. The estimated death toll at the scene and subsequent deaths in the two cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was around 400,000. Apart from nuclear tests, Hiroshima and Nagasaki are the only places in human history that have been hit by atomic bombs.
Survivors of the atomic bomb and its radiation attended Wednesday’s ceremony.
Call for a world free of nuclear weapons
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and UN Secretary-General Guterres both spoke on the anniversary.
“There are some divisions in the international community on the issue of nuclear disarmament, especially due to Russia’s nuclear threat,” Kishida said. Non-permanent members must strengthen cooperation with the international community.”
Guterres called for a world free of nuclear weapons.
Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki, who attended the ceremony, called on nuclear-armed nations to “show courage” and abandon their nuclear deterrence.
The only use of nuclear weapons in war: the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
first atomic bomb
On August 6, 1945, the American bomber Enola Gay dropped the first atomic bomb used in war on Hiroshima. The atomic bomb also had the code name “Little Boy” which sounded innocuous. Hiroshima had 350,000 inhabitants at the time, and it is estimated that one in five people died instantly when the atomic bomb fell. The blast wave quickly leveled the inner city.
The only use of nuclear weapons in war: the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
American Bomber Enola Gay
According to the original plan, the attack on Long Island was supposed to take place on August 1, 1945, but the plan was postponed due to the typhoon. Five days later, the American bomber Enola Gay was ordered to take off with 13 airmen on board. The soldiers didn’t know they were going to drop an atomic bomb until they were flying to Hiroshima.
The only use of nuclear weapons in war: the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
second atomic bomb
Just three days after dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, the United States also dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki. According to the original plan, Kyoto was the target of the attack. After some wrangling, the U.S. Department of Defense finally decided to target Nagasaki. The code name of this atomic bomb is “Fat Man”, and the explosive equivalent is equivalent to 22,000 tons of TNT. An estimated 70,000 people were killed in the attack on Nagasaki until December 1945.
The only use of nuclear weapons in war: the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
strategically select targets
In 1945, the headquarters of the Mitsubishi Arms Group was located in Nagasaki. The group owns a huge shipyard in the port, where it produces the torpedoes that Japan used to attack Pearl Harbor. Although only a few Japanese soldiers were stationed in Nagasaki. However, due to the low visibility, a direct attack on the shipyard was impossible.
The only use of nuclear weapons in war: the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
victim
Months after the attack, tens of thousands of people are still dead from the aftermath of the atomic bombing. By the end of 1945, 60,000 people had died in Hiroshima alone from radiation, burns, and other serious injuries. The estimated death toll climbed to 230,000 five years after the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The only use of nuclear weapons in war: the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Violation of the laws of war?
After the U.S. dropped two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, many Japanese feared a third U.S. attack. Japan immediately surrendered, thus ending World War II in Asia. The dropping of the atomic bomb was ordered by then US President Truman. He firmly believed at the time that the war could be ended as soon as possible only by making such a bad move. Many historians consider the attack a crime against the laws of war.
The only use of nuclear weapons in war: the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
rebuild home
Hiroshima’s destroyed inner city has now been completely rebuilt. Only the small island on the Ota River is reserved as a peace park. Now one can see a series of memorial sites here: the Peace Museum, the Children’s Peace Memorial, the site of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The only use of nuclear weapons in war: the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Memorial Culture in Japan
In 1955, the city of Nagasaki built the Atomic Bomb Museum and Peace Park to commemorate the victims of the atomic bomb attack and its aftermath. In Japan, remembering victims has become an important part of the country’s culture, and Japanese people take it for granted. Hiroshima and Nagasaki have also become warning signs to avoid another nuclear war around the world.
The only use of nuclear weapons in war: the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
don’t forget history
Since August 1945, people all over the world have not forgotten the ghosts who died in the atomic bombings. Hiroshima holds a large commemorative event every year. Survivors, families, citizens and politicians gathered here to observe a minute of silence. Many Japanese are committed to the denuclearization movement.
(DPA, EFE)
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2023-08-09 12:49:19
