Germany, an ally of Japan during the Second World War, surrendered on May 8, 1945 to the Allies. The last front is therefore that of the Pacific, where Japan and the United States clash.
August 6 and 9, 1945
Procedure
Even if it is alone, Japan is still a potential danger:Japanese soldiers fight to the end, and each American advance comes at a high price. The A-bomb program, launched in 1942, therefore targeted Japan, which remained the only adversary.
On July 26, an ultimatum was sent to Japan:the Potsdam declaration. It calls for the unconditional surrender of Japan. This statement threatens Japan with grave destruction if it refuses. But the ultimatum is ignored.
The initial targets of the two bombs are Kyoto and Kokura, historical symbols of Japan. But the weather conditions do not allow to hit these targets, and it is therefore the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki which are finally chosen, although they do not shelter any strategic place.
Hiroshima has a population of 400,000 people while 195,000 people live in Nagasaki.
The first bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 at 8:15 am. 80,000 people were killed instantly, by the explosion, fires or heat waves. On August 9, in Nagasaki, 70,000 people were killed.
Consequences
- The number of people killed instantly is only half of those affected, who will be seriously injured or die several years later from direct injuries or radiation; approximately 250,000 people in all will be affected.
- This unprecedented attack had a significant psychological effect and precipitated the capitulation of Japan, which took place on September 2 of the same year.