Hiroshima and Nagasaki

The atomic bombings at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan during World War II were instrumental in shaping the themes and narratives in the film Godzilla. 

 Hiroshima

On August 6, 1945 a United States B-29 bomber named ‘Enola Gay’ set out from the U.S. base at Tinian Island and headed toward the city of Hiroshima, carrying with it a 9,000 pound uranium 235 bomb. At approximately 8:15 a.m. the world’s first ever atomic bomb was deployed 2,000 feet over the city. The bomb instantly killed 80,00o people, with an additional 60,000 people to die due to radiation exposure in the near and distant future.

Nagasaki

Just three days later, on August 9, 1945 the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb over the city of Nagasaki. This bomb was even larger than that dropped on Hiroshima. A total of 50,000 people died at Nagasaki.

Following the two bombings, Japan surrendered to the Allied forces on August 14, 1945 (History.com, 2009).

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After the bombing of Hiroshima, President Harry Truman gave a speech during which he issued the following statement to Japan:

“If they do not now accept our terms they may expect a rain of ruin from the air, the like of which has never been seen on this earth.”

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