On this day in 1945,

U.S. Drops First Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima

80,000 killed immediately - 60,000 die few months later

Truman announces

U.S. Army film of post-bomb Hiroshima

On this day in 1945, the United States dropped the first atom bomb over the city of Hiroshima.  The bomb exploded 1,900 feet over a hospital.  Approximately 80,000 people were killed immediately, another 35,000 injured, and at least another 60,000 killed by the end of the year from the effects of the fallout.

The Hiroshima city government had put hundreds of schoolgirls to work clearing fire lanes in the event of incendiary bomb attacks. They were out in the open when the Enola Gay dropped its load.

There were 90,000 buildings in Hiroshima before the bomb was dropped; only 28,000 remained after the bombing. Of the city’s 200 doctors before the explosion; only 20 were left alive or capable of working. There were 1,780 nurses before - only 150 remained who were able to tend to the sick and dying.

President Harry Truman made the decision to drop the atomic bomb because Japan refused to surrender and Truman feared a long campaign with many fatalities if the U.S. were forced to invade and fight a land war.  Three days later the U.S. dropped a second atomic bomb on Nagasaki.  Japan announced its surrender on August 15.

Wikipedia

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