The atomic age began between heartbeats at 8:15 am on August 6, 1945 when the Japanese
The atomic age began between heartbeats at 8:15 am on August 6, 1945 when the Japanese

city of Hiroshima was leveled by an atomic bomb.
city of Hiroshima was leveled by an atomic bomb.

Three days later, the United States dropped a second bomb on Nagasaki, marking the first
Three days later, the United States dropped a second bomb on Nagasaki, marking the first

time that humanity broke atoms in anger.
time that humanity broke atoms in anger.

For the people of Hiroshima, the day was one of unimaginable suffering.
For the people of Hiroshima, the day was one of unimaginable suffering.

The blast killed 80,000 instantly, and over 100,000 additional people would later succumb
The blast killed 80,000 instantly, and over 100,000 additional people would later succumb

to their injuries, perish in the conflagration that consumed the city, or die from the radiation
to their injuries, perish in the conflagration that consumed the city, or die from the radiation

that fell darkly to the earth in what they called black rain.
that fell darkly to the earth in what they called black rain.

The situation was made worse because the Americans had not previously bombed Hiroshima with conventional
The situation was made worse because the Americans had not previously bombed Hiroshima with conventional

weapons; and this despite the fact that it was a major military base and was designated
weapons; and this despite the fact that it was a major military base and was designated

to be the new capital should Tokyo fall into enemy hands.
to be the new capital should Tokyo fall into enemy hands.

The absence of bombing had convinced tens of thousands to seek refuge in the city's
The absence of bombing had convinced tens of thousands to seek refuge in the city's

illusory safety, unintentionally adding to the death toll.
illusory safety, unintentionally adding to the death toll.

The destruction of Hiroshima marked the culmination of the aerial campaigns of World War II.
The destruction of Hiroshima marked the culmination of the aerial campaigns of World War II.

Although Western Europe and the United States decried Nazi support of the bombings of civilian
Although Western Europe and the United States decried Nazi support of the bombings of civilian

targets in the Spanish Civil War and Japanese attacks on Nanjing and Guangzhou less than
targets in the Spanish Civil War and Japanese attacks on Nanjing and Guangzhou less than

a decade earlier, the Allies had nonetheless fully embraced strategic bombings of civilians
a decade earlier, the Allies had nonetheless fully embraced strategic bombings of civilians

by 1945.
by 1945.

By the end of the war, the Allied bombing campaigns had left dozens of Japanese and
By the end of the war, the Allied bombing campaigns had left dozens of Japanese and

German cities in ruins.
German cities in ruins.

The American firebombing of Tokyo caused much of the city to burn down and killed between
The American firebombing of Tokyo caused much of the city to burn down and killed between

75,000 and 200,000 people.
75,000 and 200,000 people.

Similar Allied attacks in Germany killed upwards of 46,000 in Hamburg and 25,000 in Dresden.
Similar Allied attacks in Germany killed upwards of 46,000 in Hamburg and 25,000 in Dresden.

Although the Japanese people suffered greatly during this bombing campaign, their country
Although the Japanese people suffered greatly during this bombing campaign, their country

was hardly an innocent victim of the war.
was hardly an innocent victim of the war.

It was an aggressor that invaded countries throughout Asia and treated them brutally.
It was an aggressor that invaded countries throughout Asia and treated them brutally.

The terror its citizens experienced through the American bombing campaign was itself a
The terror its citizens experienced through the American bombing campaign was itself a

mirror of the suffering experienced by the victims of Japanese invasions throughout Asia.
mirror of the suffering experienced by the victims of Japanese invasions throughout Asia.

It should not be forgotten that among the dead in Hiroshima were twenty thousand Koreans
It should not be forgotten that among the dead in Hiroshima were twenty thousand Koreans

who the Japanese had forced into slave labor.
who the Japanese had forced into slave labor.

Japan was also a full participant in the international race to develop nuclear weapons and would
Japan was also a full participant in the international race to develop nuclear weapons and would

doubtlessly have used those same weapons had it succeeded in developing them.
doubtlessly have used those same weapons had it succeeded in developing them.

In fact, Japan only abandoned its efforts to build atomic bombs after a series of shortcomings
In fact, Japan only abandoned its efforts to build atomic bombs after a series of shortcomings

and failures convinced its government to focus on a different super weapon program: a death
and failures convinced its government to focus on a different super weapon program: a death

ray that would have used microwaves to kill.
ray that would have used microwaves to kill.

President Harry S. Truman ordered the bombing of Hiroshima with the belief that it would
President Harry S. Truman ordered the bombing of Hiroshima with the belief that it would

shorten the war and save lives, though he was predominantly focused on American lives.
shorten the war and save lives, though he was predominantly focused on American lives.

His commanders predicted upwards of half a million American casualties if a direct assault
His commanders predicted upwards of half a million American casualties if a direct assault

on Japan was necessary and even higher numbers of Japanese.
on Japan was necessary and even higher numbers of Japanese.

The American leadership also considered a swift end to the Pacific War necessary because
The American leadership also considered a swift end to the Pacific War necessary because

the Soviet Union was set to enter the war against Japan on August 8, 1945, three months
the Soviet Union was set to enter the war against Japan on August 8, 1945, three months

to the day after the defeat of Germany.
to the day after the defeat of Germany.

Truman and other American leaders pushed to end the war before the Soviets could earn
Truman and other American leaders pushed to end the war before the Soviets could earn

a zone of occupation in Japan as they had in Germany.
a zone of occupation in Japan as they had in Germany.

To this day, scholars hotly debate whether it was the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
To this day, scholars hotly debate whether it was the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

or the Soviet entry into the war that brought the war in the Pacific to a close, but, as
or the Soviet entry into the war that brought the war in the Pacific to a close, but, as

Japanese officials observed at the time, it was a combination of both.
Japanese officials observed at the time, it was a combination of both.

The Japanese strategy, however, was incompatible with the Americans' haste to end the war.
The Japanese strategy, however, was incompatible with the Americans' haste to end the war.

Most Japanese leaders recognized that their cause was lost in 1945, but hoped to force
Most Japanese leaders recognized that their cause was lost in 1945, but hoped to force

a decisive battle that would leave them in a position to surrender while maintaining
a decisive battle that would leave them in a position to surrender while maintaining

their government.
their government.

Over and over the Japanese fought desperate battles not to win the war, but to win a seat
Over and over the Japanese fought desperate battles not to win the war, but to win a seat

at the negotiating table.
at the negotiating table.

The Allies held to their demand for unconditional surrender, which was intended to avoid the
The Allies held to their demand for unconditional surrender, which was intended to avoid the

repeat of the stab in the back myth that emerged in Germany after the end of World War I. Regardless
repeat of the stab in the back myth that emerged in Germany after the end of World War I. Regardless

of its purpose, this demand did not give the Allies any flexibility to negotiate with the
of its purpose, this demand did not give the Allies any flexibility to negotiate with the

Japanese.
Japanese.

Despite utter devastation, the effects of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima were not as severe
Despite utter devastation, the effects of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima were not as severe

as one might think.
as one might think.

Unlike the nuclear disasters at Chernobyl and Fukushima, the city was never evacuated,
Unlike the nuclear disasters at Chernobyl and Fukushima, the city was never evacuated,

though that was largely due to a lack of information and the logistical near impossibility of doing
though that was largely due to a lack of information and the logistical near impossibility of doing

so.
so.

The Americans detonated the Hiroshima bomb nearly 2,000 feet above the city, which somewhat
The Americans detonated the Hiroshima bomb nearly 2,000 feet above the city, which somewhat

limited the damage caused by radiation.
limited the damage caused by radiation.

In fact, in his memo predicting the effects of the bomb, Manhattan Project lead scientist
In fact, in his memo predicting the effects of the bomb, Manhattan Project lead scientist

Robert Oppenheimer argued that the radioactive byproducts would go into the upper atmosphere
Robert Oppenheimer argued that the radioactive byproducts would go into the upper atmosphere

and be dispersed throughout the world.
and be dispersed throughout the world.

This process did occur, but the detonation caused a rainstorm that brought many radioactive
This process did occur, but the detonation caused a rainstorm that brought many radioactive

byproducts back to earth.
byproducts back to earth.

This black rain exposed the survivors of Hiroshima to radiation that caused a host of health
This black rain exposed the survivors of Hiroshima to radiation that caused a host of health

problems, such as damage to internal organs and an increased rate of cancer.
problems, such as damage to internal organs and an increased rate of cancer.

However, the black rain would have been hard for Oppenheimer and others who developed the
However, the black rain would have been hard for Oppenheimer and others who developed the

atomic bomb to predict because the only test detonation was done in the Nevada desert where
atomic bomb to predict because the only test detonation was done in the Nevada desert where

there was not enough moisture for rain.
there was not enough moisture for rain.

Hiroshima is indelibly linked with its destruction, but the city and its people are also intimately
Hiroshima is indelibly linked with its destruction, but the city and its people are also intimately

connected with the peace movement.
connected with the peace movement.

During their Occupation, the Americans wrote a new constitution for the Japanese, which
During their Occupation, the Americans wrote a new constitution for the Japanese, which

included the famous Article 9, a provision that all but makes war illegal.
included the famous Article 9, a provision that all but makes war illegal.

Hiroshima emerged as the spiritual center of both the antinuclear and the peace movements
Hiroshima emerged as the spiritual center of both the antinuclear and the peace movements

in Japan.
in Japan.

In the aftermath of the war, it constructed the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum that has
In the aftermath of the war, it constructed the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum that has

been dedicated to commemorating the bombing of Hiroshima and to eliminating nuclear weapons.
been dedicated to commemorating the bombing of Hiroshima and to eliminating nuclear weapons.

The museum is housed in the Peace Memorial Park, which includes an eternal flame that
The museum is housed in the Peace Memorial Park, which includes an eternal flame that

will burn until all nuclear weapons are eliminated.
will burn until all nuclear weapons are eliminated.

The Park serves as a gathering ground for tens of thousands to commemorate the bombing
The Park serves as a gathering ground for tens of thousands to commemorate the bombing

and to demonstrate for peace.
and to demonstrate for peace.

Today, Hiroshima's level of radioactivity has reverted to the world background level.
Today, Hiroshima's level of radioactivity has reverted to the world background level.

The residents of Denver, Colorado, for example, experience a higher level of radioactivity
The residents of Denver, Colorado, for example, experience a higher level of radioactivity

than those of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
than those of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The residents of Hiroshima do report elevated levels of some cancers, with the highest rate
The residents of Hiroshima do report elevated levels of some cancers, with the highest rate

of liver cancer in the world, but other forms of cancer occur at average or even low rates
of liver cancer in the world, but other forms of cancer occur at average or even low rates

comparably.
comparably.

Hiroshima is an exquisite, complicated city known for its food, the stunning natural beauty
Hiroshima is an exquisite, complicated city known for its food, the stunning natural beauty

of its bay, and an incident decades ago that will forever connect it with nuclear weapons
of its bay, and an incident decades ago that will forever connect it with nuclear weapons

and peace.
and peace.