Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima

The atomic bombing of Hiroshima was the first use of a nuclear weapon in warfare.

The atomic bombing of Hiroshima was the first use of a nuclear weapon in warfare. On 6 August 1945, the United States dropped the bomb 'Little Boy' on Hiroshima, Japan, causing massive destruction and large-scale civilian deaths. The attack remains one of the most consequential events of World War II and the nuclear age.

Background

The bombing took place in the final days of World War II after the United States had issued the Potsdam Declaration demanding Japan's surrender. Hiroshima was selected as a military target and the mission was carried out by the B-29 bomber Enola Gay.

The attack

At 8:15 a.m. on 6 August 1945, the bomb Little Boy was dropped over Hiroshima. The explosion devastated the city and caused immediate and later deaths from blast injuries, burns, and radiation effects.

Casualties and damage

Death toll estimates differ depending on the time period counted and the method used. Sources commonly estimate roughly 70,000 to 80,000 immediate deaths, with total deaths by the end of 1945 often estimated at around 140,000.

Historical significance

The Hiroshima bombing was the first wartime use of an atomic weapon and remains the only use of nuclear weapons in armed conflict. It played a major role in postwar debates about military necessity, surrender, and nuclear ethics.