History – Page 2 – SOME GEEK TOLD ME

Oh, you’re back. I wasn’t expecting that, so welcome. I hope your week’s been treating you better than Trump, Putin, Netanyahu, or Luxon’s. Those four precious darlings just can’t catch a break. For this week’s lecture, I want to discuss a sequel of some sort that occurred last week, on 15th August, to be precise.

Sorry, if you were hoping for another fun-filled blog post, you are out of luck today. This one is all about history, baby! In May, I published the 80th VE Day Anniversary, which commemorated the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany, on the 8th May 1945. This event brought the Second World War to a close in Europe, but, as you know, not the war itself. This day became known as Victory in Europe Day or VE Day.

The focus of the war then turned towards Imperial Japan, even though fighting in Asia and the Pacific had been going on since the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931.

On 6th August 1945, the United States dropped a 64 kg uranium-235 core bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. This was the first time an atomic weapon had been used against a population. Three days later, on 9th August, a second bomb, one with a 5 kg plutonium core, was dropped on another Japanese city, Nagasaki. My blog post about the 80th Anniversary of the Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki can be found here. Hopefully.

Imperial Japan surrendered on 15th August 1945, but because of the time zone difference, some countries reported it as the 14th August. However, the official surrender of the Imperial Japanese forces was held on 2nd September 1945, on board the battleship USS Missouri.

Since 8th May was known as VE Day, 15th August was named Victory over Japan Day or VJ Day. An interesting point is that while various nations commemorate VJ Day on 15th August, like us in New Zealand, the United States honours VJ Day on 2nd September, the day of the official surrender.

In Japan, 15th August is known as Memorial Day for the End of the War and/or The Day for Mourning of War Dead and Praying for Peace. Regardless of what day you mark VJ Day, it celebrates the end of the Second World War.

The VE Day celebrations were massive, and filled with happiness, relief and joy. The VJ Day celebrations were similar, but they also signalled the end of the worst conflict the world had ever seen. Over the years, it’s been estimated that 70–85 million people were killed, which worked out to be 3% of the planet’s population at the time.

The horrors and legacies of World War II are still within the living memories of people today. I can’t add anything more to the volumes of literary work that already exist on the subject, other than the dual nature of humans, bringing inhumanity unto ourselves, but also helping each other.

In New Zealand, the 80th anniversary of VJ Day was commemorated with dignity, sharing stories of courage, bravery, and sacrifice while also honouring those who lost their lives.

World War I was supposed to be the war to end all wars. Who would have thought that when the Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919, only 20 years later, an even deadlier war was coming?

I’m uncertain about the lessons that Homo sapiens have learned from World War II. Since its end, we have made strides toward peace and tolerance, yet we continue to struggle with civil wars, genocides, ethnic cleansing, Neo-Nazis, and invasions.

Still, there is hope that one day, as a species, we can finally get it right and educate people about war in history lessons, and not through current affairs.

Just like my 80th anniversary VE Day post, I found various online photographs of people celebrating VJ Day, on 15th August 1945, or as close to that date as I could find. Again, since I’m a New Zealander, I’ve started with the celebrations in New Zealand, then moved around the globe in alphabetical order. I’m very sorry if I have missed your country, so please forgive me.

Relax and enjoy witnessing people expressing joy and relief 80 years ago, when the Second World War finally ended.

New Zealand

Victory Japan Day (VJ Day), Nelson, 1945. Nelson Provincial Museum, Kingsford Collection: 160684

Australia

Canada

V-J Day celebration, Elizabeth Street
August 1945. Credit: City of Toronto Archives

China

India

Kenya

Korea (Before dividing into North and South Korea)

August 15 1945, Korea celebrated its liberation from over 30 years of colonial rule under Imperial Japan. Credit: Unknown.

The Philippines

United Kingdom

Thousands of people descended on the Mall, London, in 1945 to celebrate VJ Day. Credit: Getty Images.

People celebrate in Piccadilly Circus, London on VJ Day. Credit: Getty Images.

Celebrations in London, August 1945 (Image courtesy of IWM)

United States of America

*V-J Day in Times Square*, a photograph by Alfred Eisenstaedt, was published in *Life* in 1945 with the caption, “In New York’s Times Square a white-clad girl clutches her purse and skirt as an uninhibited sailor plants his lips squarely on hers”

750,000 people gathered in “Times Square” to Celebrate Victory over Japan Day (V-J Day), following announcement of Japan’s acceptance of Postdam Declaration of unconditional surrender. Image Credit: **Unknown**. Reprinted with permission.

Crowds at the corner of Hollywood and Vine celebrating surrender of Japan, ending World War II – VJ Day, August 14, 1945

When Seattleites celebrated V-J Day on August 14, 1945 – marking victory over Japan and the end of World War II – it was one of the biggest impromptu parties downtown has ever seen. (MOHAI)

Like I said in the 80th VE Day blog post, we owe them a debt we can never repay. Thanks once again for reading, following, and subscribing to Some Geek Told Me. Remember to walk your dog, read a banned book, Crimea is Ukraine, and I’ll see you next week for the 2025 San Diego Comic-Con catch-up. Sounds exciting. Maybe.

Welcome to a rare occurrence, a Saturday blog from Some Geek Told Me. This is a special one, since this week saw the world commemorate the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Given that the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day (Victory over Japan) is just around the corner, which signalled the end of the Second World War, I thought it would be important to revisit one of my previous blogs, concerning the bombings.

I’ve tidied up some of the old blog post, but the core of the message is the same: the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki changed the world. How it changed remains your decision and judgment.

As a history fan, I find it hard to ignore these events. However, I will not be discussing the following:

The development of the atomic bombs, through the Manhattan Project.
The justification behind the Allies’ decision to drop the bombs.
The Quebec Agreement or The Potsdam Declaration.
The Allies warning the Japanese citizens of the bombings.
Whether Japan had the capability to defend itself, against an Allied invasion.

I’ll be discussing the impact of the two bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as well as their effects on the citizens. While this topic may not be as exciting as Fifty Shades of Grey or The Da Vinci Code, it’s important to understand and remember the lessons of history.

With that in mind, let’s now begin this week’s special lecture.

The gutted Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall – now known as the A-Bomb Dome or the Hiroshima Peace Memorial – after the bombing on 6 August 1945, and the same location near Aioi Bridge in 2015.
Photograph: Toshio Kawamoto/Yoshio Kawamoto/Reuters/Issei Kato

Hiroshima: 6th August 1945

At the time of the bombing, Hiroshima was the headquarters for the Chūgoku Regional Army, as well as the Second General Army. Given Hiroshima’s position for shipping and military resources, it was one of the targets selected to be hit.

Hiroshima’s population was nearly 345,000, which was made up of military personnel, citizens, including children, slave labourers and prisoners of war.

The weapon used on Hiroshima was a bomb with a 64 kg uranium-235 core, nicknamed Little Boy. It had the power of 15 kilotons of TNT.

On 6th August, at 8.15 a.m. (local time), the bomb was dropped from the Enola Gay, an American Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber, at an altitude of 9,400 m. It fell for 44-45 seconds before detonating at 580 m, which was directly above a hospital.

The result of the first nuclear weapon being used in warfare, was nothing short of horrific.

The ground-level temperature surpassed 7,000 °C.
70,000 people were instantly killed by the blast and the resulting firestorm, with under 10% being military personnel.
By the end of 1945, the death toll had risen to over 100,000, mainly through radiation and injuries.
Of the city’s buildings, 70% were destroyed (60,000), with another 7% damaged.
Nuclear shadows or blast shadows of victims were created on the city’s footpaths and walls.
A mushroom cloud was created and rose to more than 12 km high.
The blast radius of the weapon had total destruction for 1.6 km, along with fires stretching across 11 km².
Over 90% of doctors and 93% of nurses in Hiroshima were killed or injured.
For people looking for medical treatment from the weapon, many would die before any medical help could be given to them. This resulted in dead bodies lying around hospitals.

Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hiroshima_aftermath.jpg. Shortly after 6th August 1945 (8:15 a.m. – the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima)

Source: https://www.britannica.com/event/atomic-bombings-of-Hiroshima-and-Nagasaki
Aerial photograph of Hiroshima after it was struck by an atomic bomb on August 6, 1945.

Source: This image is available from the Collection Database of the Australian War Memorial under the ID Number: P05395.013. The two photos taken Yoshito Matsushige, and show examples of nuclear shadows.

Nagasaki: 9th August 1945

During the war, Nagasaki was an important seaport, which was one of the largest in Japan. Nagasaki was also home to four massive companies that were involved in the production of various military technology and machines. These companies employed 90% of the labour force in the city. Because of this, it was selected as a target.

Nagasaki’s population was 263,000, which consisted of Japanese citizens, Korean citizens, Korean and Chinese workers, soldiers and prisoners of war.

The Nagasaki bomb had a 5 kg plutonium core, nicknamed Fat Man. This weapon had the equivalent power of 21 kilotons of TNT.

On 9th August, at 11.01 a.m. (local time), the plutonium bomb was dropped from another American Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber, Bockscar. It fell for 53 seconds, exploding near 500 m, which was directly above a tennis court.

As Japan and the world were still reeling after the Hiroshima bombing, a new nightmare was about to unfold.

40,000 people were instantly killed by the blast, with 60,000 injured.
By the end of 1945, the death toll had risen to an estimated 80,000, mainly through radiation and injuries.
40% of the city’s buildings were destroyed.
The industrial area sustained 68-80% of its production, was destroyed.
A mushroom cloud was created to a height of 16 km.
The blast radius of the weapon had total destruction for 1.6 km, along with fires stretching 3.2 km south of the blast radius.

Image by WikiImages from Pixabay. Photo of Nagasaki after the bombing, from a 1946 US report.

Source: Courtesy of Library of Congress, “Nagasaki, Japan after atomic bombing / U.S. Army A.A.F. photo,” 1945

Source: https://www.britannica.com/event/atomic-bombings-of-Hiroshima-and-Nagasaki/The-bombing-of-Nagasaki#/media/1/2191531/243815. Ruins in Nagasaki, Japan, September 16, 1945, one month after the dropping of an atomic bomb on the city.

Casualties of the bombs could be collected under three main groups: radiation injuries, debris injuries, and burns.

Radiation injuries accounted for 10% of the deaths in Hiroshima and 6% in Nagasaki. Debris injuries accounted for 30% of the deaths in Hiroshima and 14% in Nagasaki, while burns accounted for 60% of the deaths in Hiroshima and about 80% in Nagasaki.

This information does not even touch upon the massive reconstruction effort of Hiroshima and Nagasaki; the aftercare needed for the survivors, named as hibakusha in Japanese; the radiation and cancer research conducted with the survivors; the cultural and historical impact on Japanese society; or even the world’s reaction and response to the bombings.

Over the last few years, I’ve explained what happened to Hiroshima and Nagasaki to UMC1 and UMC2. I haven’t gone into great detail about them, but it’s difficult to explain to children that the nuclear apocalypse of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was real. It’s not fake, this happened; not once, but twice.

The Urakami Cathedral in Nagasaki, which was obliterated on 9 August. The replacement was built in 1959.
Photograph: Shigeo Hayashi/Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum/Reuters/Issei Kato

The bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki changed Japan forever, but also the world. I think the legacy of the two cities is a twisted form of doublethink.

The destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki can show us an example of what the worst of humanity can offer; what terrible things we can do to each other. However, it also shows us how, quite literally and figuratively, humanity can stand up after being knocked down and start to rebuild in the name of peace.

Both statements are true. They can co-exist alongside each other in your mind, and that’s alright. Though I think, just maybe, it’s about what you want to focus more on: hate or hope.

And that’s enough from me today. I hope this was enlightening for you, as I’ll be back on Monday with another thrilling post from New Zealand’s 5th least favourite website. Take care.

SOME GEEK TOLD ME

Tag: History

80th VJ Day Anniversary

80th Anniversary of the Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki