Only three days after Hiroshima was devastated by the first atomic bomb in the world, Nagasaki, a city of Japan, was attacked with another atomic bomb code-named `Fat Man`, by the US. It was stronger than the one that was dropped on Hiroshima, but the level of damage was relatively lower due to the terrain used by Nagasaki being hilly and the bomb not hitting its initial target location by several kilometers. Even then, the losses were tremendous.
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The second target was not originally Nagasaki. The city of Kokura was the intended target of the bomb by the U.S., but there was a thick cloud cover compelling the pilot to use Nagasaki. By this time, Hiroshima had not yet surrendered to Japan. The U.S. thought that confronting Japan with the strength of the second bomb would lead the leaders of Japan to defeat, and it succeeded. Only six days later, on August 15, 1945, Japan surrendered and ended World War II officially. Today, the world remembers 80 years since the bombing of Nagasaki.
Nagasaki, Japan | Destruction After Nukes
Consequences
The pain and the destruction caused by the atomic bomb that was dropped on Nagasaki defy imagination. This caused the lives of 40000 people in a matter of seconds and later totaled approximately 70000 persons, as a result of the burns, wounds, and radiation illness. The entire neighborhoods were leveled, the walls became rubble, and people were burned beyond recognition.
The survivors (called hibakusha) of the explosion suffered serious injuries and intensive burns, as well as fractures, due to unseen rays created when the bomb detonated. The survivors had memories of fire, screams, and devastation. Nevertheless, hibakusha came forward and gave testimonies before the world to enlighten the world about the atrocities of a nuclear war.Their testimonies allowed us to comprehend the world that atomic bombs are not only tools of warfare, they are instruments that kill human lives, families, and futures.
Political and Worldwide Influence
The Nagasaki bombing that immediately followed the bombing on Hiroshima bombing created a colossal impact in Japan as well as the rest of the world. Collectively, the two bombings demonstrated to the world the awful potential of nuclear weaponry and how fast it could terminate a war or eradicate a city. Japan capitulated on August 15, 1945, about the sixth day after the Nagasaki bombing, which officially ended World War II. The second bomb was the ultimate point to awaken Japanese leaders to realize that further fighting would result in the total annihilation of the nation.
The effect of Nagasaki was not restricted to the battlefield as well. It gave a ferocious statement to the rest of the world, particularly to the Soviet Union, which had only declared war on Japan. The Nagasaki bombing in the subsequent years contributed to the creation of a new world order instigated by nuclear power and the power of deterrence. The nations started competing on how to complete their nuclear arms. Meanwhile, the tragedy prompted several countries and individuals to campaign towards the desire of nuclear disarmament. Nagasaki was turned not only into a city but also into a symbol, a reminder of the world that it is possible to repeat its actions unless humans learn their lesson.
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Memories and Activism 80 Years Later
With the world remembering the bombing of Nagasaki 80 years ago, it is clear that the memory of that event is very vivid, more so in Japan. Each August 9, thousands of people congregate in Nagasaki Peace Park in order to have a solemn Peace Ceremony. There is ringing of bells, offering of prayers, and the appeal by the survivors, officials, and citizens to have a world free of nuclear weapons.
The Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum is doing a lot to ensure the memory is not forgotten. It has presented artifacts, personal belongings, photographs, and testimony of the survivors to make new generations know about what occurred and why it should never be repeated. There are several hibakusha who have devoted their lives to recounting their experiences to students, researchers, and the audience across the world. This speech has given life to anti-nuclear activism like the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) that won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017 after working on disarmament.
Even these endeavors have not been able to completely eradicate the existence of major nuclear danger in the world today. Missiles are still tested in countries such as North Korea, and there are tensions between other regions, such as the Middle East and South Asia. Treaties on arms control, such as the INF Treaty and some of the provisions of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), have been pressured or have collapsed in recent years.
Meanwhile, such new disarmament initiatives as the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) have appeared and already entered into force in 2021. The treaty demonstrates that civil society and smaller countries continue to struggle to attain a nuclear-free world, even though not many nuclear powers have signed the document.
