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Images reveal Hiroshima & Nagasaki 70 years on from atomic bomb : PICTURED: 'Then and now' : HIROSHIMA DAY
Images reveal Hiroshima & Nagasaki 70 years on from atomic bomb : PICTURED: 'Then and now' : HIROSHIMA DAY
6 August marks 70 years to the day since the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, bringing about the end of the Second World War but causing devastation on a colassal scale.
By OLI SMITH
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Japan will commemorate the anniversary of the atomic bomb being dropped on both Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which remains the only instance of nuclear weapons being used in war.
The Allied bombings were a last-ditch attempt to put an end to hostilities with Japan in August 1945.
The Hiroshima attack almost immediately levelled the city and killed approximately 70,000 people on the same day.
The Allied bombings were a last-ditch attempt to put an end to hostilities with Japan in August 1945.
The Hiroshima attack almost immediately levelled the city and killed approximately 70,000 people on the same day.
Another 70,000 people died weeks and months later from severe radiation poisoning, an unknown condition at the time.
Three days later, on 9 August, another American bomber plane dropped a nuclear weapon on the city of Nagasaki, killing up to 80,000 people.
Both Hiroshima and Nagasaki have since rebuilt their cities but reminders of the deadly nuclear blast remain today.
Three days later, on 9 August, another American bomber plane dropped a nuclear weapon on the city of Nagasaki, killing up to 80,000 people.
Both Hiroshima and Nagasaki have since rebuilt their cities but reminders of the deadly nuclear blast remain today.
The Atomic Bomb Dome at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park commemorates those killed.
Survivors of the attack continue to tell their story in order to remind today's generation of the horrific atomic strike.
Yasuhiko Taketa was a nine-year-old on his way to school when he saw a "dazzling flash of light, brighter than even the Sun" and then "an earsplitting roar" followed by a seismic explosion that shattered glass everywhere.
He added: "My forehead felt hot. When I looked at the sky over Hiroshima, I saw a tiny, glittering, white object, about the size of a grain of rice, tinged with yellow, and red, which soon grew into a monstrous fireball.
"It was travelling in my direction, and I felt as though it was going to envelop me."
Survivors of the attack continue to tell their story in order to remind today's generation of the horrific atomic strike.
Yasuhiko Taketa was a nine-year-old on his way to school when he saw a "dazzling flash of light, brighter than even the Sun" and then "an earsplitting roar" followed by a seismic explosion that shattered glass everywhere.
He added: "My forehead felt hot. When I looked at the sky over Hiroshima, I saw a tiny, glittering, white object, about the size of a grain of rice, tinged with yellow, and red, which soon grew into a monstrous fireball.
"It was travelling in my direction, and I felt as though it was going to envelop me."
Mr Taketa lost his mother, sister and best friend to the bombing.
Akiko Takakura, who was 20 years old at the time, experienced the blast at its 'ground zero', near what is today's Hiroshima Peace Memorial.
She said: "All I remember is red, black and brown, but nothing else.
"Those who found shelter after the explosion entered a strange, hideous world, where everyone's hair was literally fried and human shadows were etched onto stone."
Akiko Takakura, who was 20 years old at the time, experienced the blast at its 'ground zero', near what is today's Hiroshima Peace Memorial.
She said: "All I remember is red, black and brown, but nothing else.
"Those who found shelter after the explosion entered a strange, hideous world, where everyone's hair was literally fried and human shadows were etched onto stone."
GETTY
Michiko Hachiya was a director of a hospital in Hiroshima.
He said: "There were the shadowy forms of people, some of whom looked like walking ghosts. Others moved as though in pain, like scarecrows."
The incredible power of the atomic bomb and the rapid post-war development of ever more devastating nuclear weapons shaped geopolitics for the rest of the 20th century during the Cold War.
Opinion remains split in the West on the atomic bomb strikes.
Although the human cost was devastating, many argue it was a 'necessary evil' to end the Second World War.
He said: "There were the shadowy forms of people, some of whom looked like walking ghosts. Others moved as though in pain, like scarecrows."
The incredible power of the atomic bomb and the rapid post-war development of ever more devastating nuclear weapons shaped geopolitics for the rest of the 20th century during the Cold War.
Opinion remains split in the West on the atomic bomb strikes.
Although the human cost was devastating, many argue it was a 'necessary evil' to end the Second World War.
GETTY
GETTY
In recent polling this year, support for the 1945 bombing of Japan dropped significantly among Americans.
Despite having an 85 per cent approval rating at the time, only around 70 per cent of Americans over 65 years and older now claim the bombing was justified.
This number drops to 47 per cent for those below the age of 29.
In the same Pew Research poll, a surprising 14 per cent of those in Japan believed the bombing was justified.
Despite having an 85 per cent approval rating at the time, only around 70 per cent of Americans over 65 years and older now claim the bombing was justified.
This number drops to 47 per cent for those below the age of 29.
In the same Pew Research poll, a surprising 14 per cent of those in Japan believed the bombing was justified.
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USMILITARY
Nuclear Facts:
The United States tested the world's first nuclear bomb on July 16, 1945 in New Mexico - three weeks before Hiroshima.
The US nuclear weapons research team, the Manhattan Project, was set up in 1942 and ended up costing nearly £16 billion.
On August 6, 1945 an uranium atomic bomb nicknamed Little Boy was dropped on Hiroshima.
It was the first time a nuclear bomb had been used in warfare.
It exploded 2,000 feet above the city with a blast equal to 15,000 tons of TNT.
The US nuclear weapons research team, the Manhattan Project, was set up in 1942 and ended up costing nearly £16 billion.
On August 6, 1945 an uranium atomic bomb nicknamed Little Boy was dropped on Hiroshima.
It was the first time a nuclear bomb had been used in warfare.
It exploded 2,000 feet above the city with a blast equal to 15,000 tons of TNT.
Three days later a plutonium bomb, labelled Fat Man, landed on Nagasaki.
The number of active weapons peaked at 68,000 active weapons in 1985.
In 2015, there are some 4,100 active nuclear warheads and some 17,300 total nuclear warheads in the world.
In January 1946 the UN called for elimination of atomic weapons in their first resolution.
However, just three years later Soviet Union tested its first nuclear bomb.
The number of active weapons peaked at 68,000 active weapons in 1985.
In 2015, there are some 4,100 active nuclear warheads and some 17,300 total nuclear warheads in the world.
In January 1946 the UN called for elimination of atomic weapons in their first resolution.
However, just three years later Soviet Union tested its first nuclear bomb.
GETTY
GETTY
In October 1952 the UK became the third country to test a nuclear weapon.
Today, nine countries are believed to hold nuclear weapons: the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel.
In 1961, the Soviet Union tested the most powerful bomb ever, a 58-megaton atmospheric nuclear weapon nicknamed the Tsar Bomba.
It remains the most powerful artificial explosion in human history.
However, following years of protests and calls for disarmament, the US and Soviet leaders agreed to work towards abolition in 1985.
In 1996, China, France, the UK, Russia and the US all signed the UN's Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
Today, nine countries are believed to hold nuclear weapons: the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel.
In 1961, the Soviet Union tested the most powerful bomb ever, a 58-megaton atmospheric nuclear weapon nicknamed the Tsar Bomba.
It remains the most powerful artificial explosion in human history.
However, following years of protests and calls for disarmament, the US and Soviet leaders agreed to work towards abolition in 1985.
In 1996, China, France, the UK, Russia and the US all signed the UN's Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
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