Title: 1945 - Atomic Bomb Dropped

 

About: As US B-29 bombers flew over the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, they dropped a single devastating bomb, flattening the cities, leading to the end of World War II and introducing mankind to the Atomic Age.

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On the morning of 6 August 1945, the Japanese city of Hiroshima was flattened by the first atomic bomb to be used as a weapon of war. The bomb, nicknamed `Little Boy’, was dropped from the B29 bomber `Enola Gay’ and exploded some 1,800 feet above the city. Delivering the equivalent of around 12.5 kilotons of TNT, the bomb reduced 5 square miles of the city center to ashes and caused the deaths of an estimated 120,000 people within the first four days following the blast. Many were instantly vaporised by the explosion, others died afterwards from the effects of burns and radiation.

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Three days later, on 9 August, a second atomic bomb nicknamed `Fat Man’ exploded above the city of Nagasaki. Although it was even more powerful than `Little Boy’, the destruction caused by this bomb was less than at Hiroshima due to the nature of the terrain. Nonetheless, over 2 square miles of the city were pulverised and some 73,000 people killed.

 

For months after the bombs were dropped, large numbers of people continued to die from the effects of burns, radiation sickness, and injuries, compounded by illness and malnutrition. Most of the dead were civilians, although Hiroshima had a sizable military garrison.

 

The shock and awe of the atomic bomb had the desired effect, as Japan surrendered shortly after on 14 August,  preferring peace to the prospect of utter destruction. 

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Decade: 1940s

Year: 1945

Region: Asia

Country: Japan + USA

Conflict: World War II

Discovery: Invention

Disaster: Man-made

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Type: Historical Event

Impact: 10

Artist: Dmitry Vishnevsky

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Group: Genesis

Number: 45/100

Price: 1 ETH

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