Today is Hiroshima Day – marking the anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb on the Japanese city – and we’re looking back on its impact on Cumbria and the wider world.
On August 6 and 9, the United States detonated two atomic bombs over the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The bombings killed between 129,000 and 226,000 people, most of whom were civilians, and remain the only use of nuclear weapons in an armed conflict.
Japan surrendered to the Allies on August 15, six days after the bombing of Nagasaki and the Soviet Union’s declaration of war against Japan and invasion of Japanese-occupied Manchuria. The Japanese government signed the instrument of surrender on September 2, effectively ending the war.
The UK’s consent was obtained for the bombing, as was required by the Quebec Agreement, and orders were issued on July 25 by General Thomas Handy, the acting chief of staff of the United States Army, for atomic bombs to be used against Hiroshima, Kokura, Niigata, and Nagasaki.
These targets were chosen because they were large urban areas that also held militarily significant facilities.
Over the next two to four months, the effects of the bombings killed 90,000 to 146,000 people in Hiroshima and 60,000 to 80,000 people in Nagasaki, to which the campaign, in the event, was limited.
For months afterwards, many people continued to die from the effects of burns, radiation sickness, and other injuries, compounded by illness and malnutrition. Though Hiroshima had a sizeable military garrison, most of the dead were civilians.
Scholars have extensively studied the effects of the bombings on world history and popular culture, and there is still much debate concerning their ethical and legal justification.
According to supporters, they were necessary to bring an end to the war with minimal casualties and ultimately prevented a greater loss of life; according to critics, they were unnecessary and a war crime.
Our first five pictures are of a demonstration by the Ulverston Peace Group and steering group of Barrow Peace Coalition calling for an unconditional ceasefire in Lebanon and commemorating the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings.
The sixth is of Win Langton at the war memorial in Ulverston conducting her annual vigil for the Hiroshima dead.
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