Hiroshima Day 2024 | 06 Aug 2024
Hiroshima Day is observed on August 6th to commemorate the anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan, by the US during World War II on August 6th, 1945.
- On August 6, 1945, during World War II, the US dropped an atomic bomb called "Little Boy,"on Hiroshima using the B-29 bomber Enola Gay.
- Approximately 70,000-80,000 people were killed instantly, with many more dying later from injuries and radiation.
- On August 9, 1945, the US dropped a second atomic bomb, "Fat Man, on Nagasaki, leading to Japan's surrender on August 15, 1945, and ending World War II.
- It marked the first use of nuclear weapons in warfare and led to Japan’s surrender on August 15, 1945, effectively ending World War II.
- General Douglas MacArthur and other top commanders supported continued conventional bombing and a planned massive invasion, “Operation Downfall,” which was estimated to result in up to 1 million US casualties.
- To avoid such high casualties, President Truman decided to use the atomic bomb.
- In December 1941, the US government launched the Manhattan Project to develop the bomb under the leadership of J. Robert Oppenheimer.
- The incident of atomic bombing gave birth to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT),Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Limited Test Ban Treaty, Nuclear Suppliers Group, etc. to restrict proliferation of nuclear weapons.