August 6, 1945

Hiroshima Day

‘Hiroshima Day’ is remembered in many parts of the world as a day of peacemaking. This day is dedicated to increase harmony and the awareness of stopping the global arms race. Peace rallies are commemorated in remembrance of those who lost their lives in the Japanese city of Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945.

The end of World War II witnessed the atomic bombing of Hiroshima against Japan by the US. This attack was implemented at the orders of US President Harry S. Truman.
Hiroshima was targeted subject to the following criteria:
- A large urban area with more than 3 miles in diameter and would cause the utmost damage.
- It had not been attacked till Aug. 1945.
- It was a very important military center.
- It was an industrial area and the adjacent hills would increase the damage.
- Would cause a psychological effect on Japan.
- Importance of the nuclear weapon would be recognized.

The nuclear weapon or the “Little Boy” which dropped on Hiroshima killed 70,000 instantly and another 70,000 people died due to radiation burns, illness and malnutrition. Many more died in the following years from cancers which have been attributed to the radiation emitted from the atomic bombs. It instantly gave rise to fires destroying the city. "Practically all living things, human and animal, were literally seared to death," Japanese radio announcers said in a broadcast captured by Allied sources.

Japan, which had ignored the ultimatum of stopping the war, surrendered to the allied powers after a second bomb was dropped on its city of Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 1945; thereby officially ending the Pacific War and the World War II.