Fat Man, the codename for the second atomic bomb ever used in warfare, played a critical role in the concluding chapters of World War II. Dropped on the Japanese city of Nagasaki on August 9, 1945, at precisely 11:01 a.m., this bomb followed the first atomic attack on Hiroshima just three days earlier. Fat Man was developed under the top-secret Manhattan Project, a research and development undertaking during World War II that produced the first nuclear weapons. It was a complex implosion-type bomb that used plutonium-239 as its core material, differing in design from the uranium-235 gun-type bomb ("Little Boy") that was dropped on Hiroshima.
The decision to drop an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, which followed shortly after Hiroshima, came from President Harry S. Truman and his advisers, who believed that doing so would hasten the end of the war and minimize further casualties. By this time, Japan was heavily weakened and had suffered massive destruction from continuous air raids over its cities. However, its leaders had not surrendered, and the Allies were bracing for what was anticipated to be a protracted and devastating invasion of mainland Japan.
At the time of its detonation, Fat Man released an explosion equivalent to about 21 kilotons of TNT, causing widespread devastation. The bomb was dropped over Nagasaki's industrial valley, which was surrounded by hills, enhancing the bomb’s destructive force. Approximately 35,000 to 40,000 people died immediately from the explosion, with total casualties estimated at 70,000 including those who succumbed to injuries and radiation exposure in the following months.
The aftermath of the bombing significantly contributed to Japan’s unconditional surrender on August 15, 1945, which effectively marked the end of World War II. However, the use of atomic bombs has since been a subject of intense ethical debate. The destruction in Nagasaki, coupled with that in Hiroshima, showcased the devastating human and environmental costs of nuclear weapons and led to worldwide calls for disarmament. The bombings remain a profoundly potent example of the destructive power of nuclear technologies and have had a lasting impact on nuclear policies and global politics.
In the years following, Nagasaki became a site of memory and a symbol for peace and disarmament campaigning. Annual commemorations are held to honor the lives lost, and the city hosts various monuments and museums dedicated to promoting peace and understanding the grave implications of nuclear warfare. These acts of remembrance play a crucial role in ensuring that the horrors of nuclear attacks are not forgotten and continue to influence discussions on nuclear ethics and international policy.
