next year humanity will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, many examples yavivshey unprecedented cruelty, when for a few days or even hours disappeared from the face of the earth entire cities and killed hundreds of thousands of people, including civilians.The most vivid example is the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the ethical justification of which is being questioned by any sane person.
Japan during the final stages of World War II
As you know, Nazi Germany surrendered on the night of May 9, 1945.This meant the end of the war in Europe.And also the fact that the only opponent of the anti-fascist coalition remained imperial Japan, which at that time officially declared war about 6 dozen countries.Already in June 1945 as a result of bloody battles its troops were forced to leave Indonesia and Indochina.But when the United States on July 26, along with Britain and China presented an ultimatum to the Japanese command, he was rejected.Thus even during the Yalta Conference, the Soviet Union had committed itself in August to begin a large-scale offensive against Japan, for that after the war he had to be transferred to southern Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands.
BACKGROUND use of atomic weapons
Long before these events, in the autumn of 1944 at a meeting of the leaders of the US and the UK dealt with the possibility of using new sverhrazrushitelnyh bombs against Japan.Then the famous Manhattan Project, launched the year before, and aims to develop nuclear weapons, began to function with renewed vigor, and work on the creation of its first samples were completed by the end of hostilities in Europe.
Hiroshima and Nagasaki: reasons for the bombing
Thus, by the summer of 1945 the United States became the only owner of nuclear weapons in the world and decided to use it their advantage in order to exert pressure on longtime your opponent and at the same time associate ofanti-Hitler coalition - the USSR.
Thus, despite the defeat, morale Japan was not broken.As evidenced by the fact that every day hundreds of soldiers of its Imperial Army became Kamikaze Kaiten and steered their airplanes and torpedo ships and other military targets of the US Army.This meant that during the ground operation in the territory of Japan the Allied forces expect huge losses.That last reason most often cited today by US officials as a reason justifying the need for such measures, such as the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.It is forgotten that, in the words of Churchill, three weeks before the Potsdam Conference Stalin told him about the attempts of the Japanese to establish a peaceful dialogue.Obviously, such proposals by representatives of this country going to do and the Americans and the British, as the massive bombing of major cities have put their military industry to the brink of collapse, and made surrender inevitable.
Choice purposes
After receiving a basic agreement on the use of atomic weapons against Japan was formed a special committee.His second meeting was held on 10-11 May, and was devoted to the selection of the cities, which were to be bombed.The main criteria that have guided the Commission began:
- obligatory presence around military targets to civilian objects;
- its importance for the Japanese, not only from an economic and strategic point of view, but also from the psychological;
- high degree of significance of the object, the destruction of which would cause a resonance throughout the world;
- goal should not have been damaged by bombing, that the military were able to appreciate the true power of the new weapons.
Which city were seen as targets
Among the "candidates" were:
- Kyoto, which is the largest industrial and cultural center and the ancient capital of Japan;
- Hiroshima as an important military port and the city, where they were concentrated army depots;
- Yokohama, is the center of military industry;
- Kokura - the location of the largest military arsenal.
According to keep the memories of participants in those events, but the most convenient was the purpose of Kyoto, the Minister of War of the United States Mr. Stimson insisted on the exclusion of the city from the list, since he was personally acquainted with its sights and represented their value to the world culture.
Interestingly, the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was originally not breaded.More precisely, as the second target was considered the city of Kokura.This is evidenced by the fact that before August 9 on Nagasaki was made airstrike caused concern and forced residents to evacuate the majority of students in the surrounding villages.A little later, as a result of long discussions were chosen replacement targets in case of emergencies.They were:
- for the first bombing, if not be able to hit Hiroshima - Niigata;
- for the second (instead of Kokura) - Nagasaki.
Preparation
atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki demanded careful preparation.During the second half of May and June on the base on the island of Tinian was relocated 509 th Composite Air Group US Air Force, in connection with what had taken extraordinary security measures.A month later, on July 26, was taken to the island of the atomic bomb "Little Boy" and 28 numbers of the components for the assembly of "Fat Man."On the same day, George Marshall, who at that time held the post of chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, put his signature under the order directing carry nuclear bombardment at any time after August 3 will be appropriate when the weather conditions.
first atomic attack on Japan
Date of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki can not be described unambiguously as nuclear attacks on these cities were committed with a difference of 3 days.
first blow was struck on Hiroshima.And it happened June 6, 1945-year."Honour" drop the bomb "Little Boy" went to the crew of the aircraft B-29, nicknamed "Enola Gay", commanded by Colonel Tibbets.And the pilots before departure, convinced that doing good work and for their "feat" will be followed by the speedy conclusion of the war, visited the church and received a vial of cyanide in the event of falling into captivity.
At the "Enola Gay" in the air rose three reconnaissance aircraft, designed to determine the weather conditions, and 2 boards with photographic equipment and devices for the study of the parameters of the explosion.
bombing itself took quite seamlessly, as the Japanese military did not notice objects flock to Hiroshima, and the weather was more than favorable.What happened next can be seen by looking tape "of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki" - a documentary assembled from newsreels made in the Pacific region at the end of the Second World War.
In particular, it shows a mushroom cloud, which, according to CaptainRobert Lewis, who was a member of the crew of the "Enola Gay" was seen even after their plane flew from place to drop bombs on the 400 miles.
Nagasaki
quite differently proceeded operation to drop the bomb, "Fat Man"implemented on August 9. In general, the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, photos that evoke associations with known descriptions of the Apocalypse, has been prepared carefully, and the only thing that could make adjustments in its implementation, was the weather. This is what happened when the early morning of 9 August, the islandTinian the aircraft flew under the command of Major Charles Sweeney and the atomic bomb, "Fat Man" on board.At 8 hours and 10 minutes aboard arrived to the place where he was to meet with the second - the B-29, but did not find him.After 40 minutes of waiting, it was decided to make a bombing aircraft without a partner, but it turned out that the city of Kokura has been 70% -s cloudy.Moreover, even before the flight was aware of the faults of the fuel pump, and at the time when the board was over Kokura, it became apparent that the only way to reset the "Fat Man" - to do this during the flight over Nagasaki.Then the B-29 went to the city and made a nuke, focusing on the local stadium.Thus, by chance Kokura was saved, and the whole world knew that there was the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.Fortunately, if such a word at all appropriate in this case, the bomb fell away from the original purpose, quite far away from residential areas, slightly reduced the death toll.
consequences of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
According to eyewitnesses, a few minutes all those who are within 800 meters from the epicenter of the explosion, died.Then the fire started in Hiroshima and they soon turned into a tornado because of the wind, the speed of which was about 50-60 km / h.
nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and introduced humanity to such a phenomenon as radiation sickness.The first to notice her doctors.They were surprised that the condition of the survivors first improved and then they died from the disease, the symptoms of which resemble diarrhea.In the first days and months after it was carried out bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, few could have predicted that those who lived through it will be all my life to suffer from various diseases and even beget unhealthy children.
Subsequent events
August 9, immediately after the news of the bombing of Nagasaki and the declaration of war by the Soviet Union, Emperor Hirohito made for immediate surrender, provided that the country of his power.And after 5 days, Japanese media reported his statement on the cessation of hostilities in the English language.And in the text of His Majesty mentioned that one reason for his decision is the presence of the enemy "terrible weapon," the use of which could lead to the destruction of the nation.
