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Explore one of the most significant events in world history with Hiroshima & Nagasaki 1945 in Color – The Atomic Bombings That Changed History. This restored and colorized documentary footage offers a powerful look at the final days of World War II and the events that led to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Through rare historical footage and vivid restoration, viewers can gain a deeper understanding of the human impact, historical context, and lasting legacy of these pivotal moments that helped shape the modern world.
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Short filmTranscript
00:00A short time ago an American airplane dropped one bomb on Hiroshima and
00:07destroyed its usefulness to the enemy. That bomb has more power than 20,000
00:13tons of TNT. The Japanese began the war from the air at Pearl Harbor. They have
00:21been repaid many fold and the end is not yet. With this bomb we have now added a
00:28new and revolutionary increase in destruction to supplement the growing
00:34power of our armed forces. In their present form these bombs are now in
00:41production and even more powerful forms are in development. It is an atomic bomb.
00:48It is a harnessing of the basic power of the universe. The force from which the
00:54sun draws its power has been loosed against those who brought war to the Far East.
01:08We are now prepared to destroy more rapidly and completely every productive
01:14enterprise the Japanese have in any city. We shall destroy their docks, their factories,
01:22and their communications. Let there be no mistake. We shall completely destroy
01:28Japan's power to make war. It was to spare the Japanese people from utter destruction
01:35that the ultimatum of July the 26th was issued at Potsdam. Their leaders promptly
01:43rejected that ultimatum. If they do not now accept our terms they may expect a rain of
01:50ruin from the air the like of which has never been seen on this earth. Behind this air attack
01:57will fall a sea and land forces in such numbers and power as they have not yet seen and with
02:05the fighting skill of which they are already well aware.
02:16We have spent more than two billion dollars on the greatest scientific gamble in history and we have won.
02:25But the greatest marvel is not the size of the enterprise, its secrecy, or its cost, but the achievement of
02:34scientific brains in making it work.
02:36And hardly less marvelous has been the capacity of industry to design and of labor to operate the machines and
02:47methods to do things never done before.
02:51Both science and industry work together under the direction of the United States Army, which achieved a unique success in
03:01an amazingly short time.
03:03It is doubtful if such another combination could be got together in the world.
03:10What has been done is the greatest achievement of organized science in history.
03:16might as other impossible made ze Parcecu out there are in an even more beginner room use, and,
03:50Three different cameras recorded from six miles away, these views of the most concentrated
03:55release of explosive energy in the history of mankind.
04:46Two different cameras recorded in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
04:46Oh, my God.
05:19From the time of that first explosion until Hiroshima shuddered beneath the release
05:23of atomic energy, work on the bomb went steadily forward in closely guarded plants in New Mexico,
05:31Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and Hanford, Washington.
05:37For over a hundred years, the city of Hiroshima had garrisoned some of the Japanese Empire's
05:42finest troops. The city had never been subjected to actual bombing, but had been warned repeatedly.
05:48Now its army headquarters, barracks, ordnance, and quartermaster depots, factories, mills,
05:53and shipyards were to feel the weight of the atom's destructive power.
06:01Twenty-one days after the New Mexico experiment, a B-29 was over Hiroshima carrying an atomic bomb.
06:08At 8.15 in the morning of August 6, Japanese time, the first atomic bomb struck an enemy target.
06:19This is zero point on Hiroshima, the exact spot above the city at which the bomb burst over enemy territory,
06:26at the junction of the Matayusu and Oto rivers.
06:30The atomic bomb was intentionally exploded well above its target in order to dissipate its radioactive material.
06:39The devastation you see here was caused by the explosion of the bomb above this zero point.
06:45Only the strongest buildings are left standing, and they are gutted.
06:53Looking north from zero point, this is what was left.
07:01Looking east, the camera records a scene of complete devastation in the immediate area.
07:10To the south, these are the ruins.
07:19Looking west from zero point, the same complete leveling is evident.
07:24The same inability of structures to withstand atomic power.
07:30Just a tenth of a mile from zero point, the effect of the bomb blast can be seen on these
07:35stripped and broken trees.
07:36And on this Russian-Japanese war memorial, lines were literally blasted into the stone of the memorial.
07:47Here, looking west from the Sanwa building, the side of a concrete smokestack nearest the blast has been discolored.
07:54The Hiroshima gas company building on the right in this picture has been almost completely demolished by the force of
08:01the explosion from above, as though struck by a giant sledgehammer.
08:05The reinforced concrete Sanwa bank building was wrecked even more completely.
08:13These twisted steel beams once supported the roof.
08:20The direction of the bomb blast can be seen clearly in these scenes of the concrete parapet wall, extending above
08:26the bank building's roof.
08:33Two-tenths of a mile from zero point was a Shinto shrine.
08:37Here, too, the blast stripped the trees and collapsed stonework.
08:41Originally, the base of this statue was polished granite.
08:44But now, the stone is roughened by the force of the blast, which completely removed the polish.
08:49The lighter surfaces, which are being pointed out, indicate the angle of the bomb blast as though painted on the
08:55surface.
09:04The nearby lamppost shows flash burns on the side facing the blast.
09:14The commercial museum was also within two-tenths of a mile of zero point, and the garden wall facing the
09:20blast was bent inward by the push of the explosion.
09:27The downward force of the blast caused the failure of the concrete beams which supported this roof.
09:33And the roof itself has settled so much that it now acts as a reservoir.
09:39Looking east, an area of complete devastation is all that can be seen.
09:51The railing was blown off this bridge, and the steel poles on the bridge show the effects of the atomic
09:56bomb blast,
09:57which hurled grit with such force as to etch the steel.
10:02The front of this school is a quarter of a mile from, and faces zero point.
10:09The sag in the concrete reinforced floor can be seen here in the entrance.
10:14The steel rods, which are now hanging, once supported a suspended ceiling.
10:28This reinforced concrete building was knocked sidewise, causing the lower story to collapse.
10:35This barren area, three-tenths of a mile from zero point, once contained the main Japanese military headquarters.
10:43The barracks were utterly destroyed.
10:45Most of the military personnel of approximately 20,000 were wiped out.
10:53The distorted steel framework is all that remains of a building which stood four-tenths of a mile from zero
10:59point.
11:01Whereas this reinforced concrete building of the Chukulgi Electric Company, one-half mile from zero point, withstood the blast much
11:09better.
11:14Six-tenths of a mile out, destruction was almost as complete as it was at zero point.
11:22Wooden structures were completely collapsed by the blast.
11:25This was Hiroshima Castle.
11:27Its framework was demolished by the force of the blast, but fires of secondary origin did not occur.
11:35Because it happened to be at a 45-degree angle to the direction of the blast, the Hiroshima City Hall,
11:41with its heavily reinforced concrete construction, shows much less damage.
11:46Doors and windows were blown in by the force of the explosion.
11:58Shadows of the posts on Yorozoyo Bridge indicate the direction of the explosion.
12:03Six-tenths of a mile from zero point, the bridge floor is etched except where shielded by the railing.
12:13Outlined in the surface of the bridge is the shadow of a pedestrian which tells its own meaningful story.
12:35One mile from zero point, the blast damage shows lessening force, but the results of fires of secondary origin are
12:42still severe.
12:45On this side of a steel bridge over the Ota River, one mile away from and facing zero point, the
12:52lead paint was almost completely removed by the sandblast effect, resulting from the explosion of the atomic bomb.
12:58The surface of the other side of the bridge, however, the surface of the other side of the same bridge,
13:01however, was not visibly affected.
13:07Also a mile away from zero point is a Red Cross hospital, which, although damaged, never ceased functioning.
13:20On the northwest side of the building, the steel windows and all floors were blown in.
13:29This southwest side of the building again shows windows blown in by the external air pressure caused by the explosion.
13:39Here, however, the windows in the southeast wall were blown out rather than in.
13:49A look inside the hospital shows chairs in the same position as at the time of the blast.
13:56The backs of the chairs, which faced zero point, were flash-burned through the window.
14:01The mohair upholstery fabric was singed down to the base of the nap.
14:05The effect on this wall, which faced zero point, was almost identical with the damage done by the explosion to
14:12the opposite wall.
14:13In addition, interior partitions were knocked down.
14:21Looking toward zero point from the roof of the Red Cross hospital a mile away,
14:26the tremendous destruction created by the first atomic bomb can be seen.
14:30Army vehicles of our occupying forces are moving through the city streets.
14:36Here, looking in the opposite direction toward the south, away from zero point,
14:41only a few masonry foundation walls remain, and what is left of one reinforced concrete building.
14:53Looking west, still a mile from zero point, the only sign of a small industrial plant is a lone concrete
15:00smokestack.
15:01Temporary housing facilities built with scrap material have been thrown up in the area.
15:05No matter what kind of construction the Japanese used, whether it consisted of wooden frame and mud plaster walls as
15:13here,
15:13or wooden lav and plaster veneer construction, they made no attempt to zone their various types of buildings.
15:20Barracks, homes, industrial centers of steel and reinforced concrete, factory buildings of brick construction,
15:27all were crowded together with no apparent regard for the safety of the civilian population.
15:35Within an area of a mile to a mile and a half, there was almost complete destruction except for some
15:41reinforced concrete buildings.
15:43From one and a half to two miles, there was severe damage by fire and moderate damage by blast.
15:49From two to six miles, there was minor damage by blast and fire, varying from damaged roofs to broken windows.
15:58These wooden buildings, a mile and a half from the center of the blast, were all subject to fires of
16:04secondary origin.
16:10The Higaski Railroad Station in East Hiroshima, one and a half miles from zero point, although still in use, was
16:17extensively damaged.
16:18The marquee crumbled from the force of the blast and has been removed.
16:23When the marquee fell, it pulled the brick veneer off part of the building.
16:36Inside of the station, steel beams supporting the roof were twisted out of shape,
16:41and the concrete walls, though still standing, show the effects of the tremendous concussion.
16:52This high school building, the same distance from zero point as the railroad station,
16:57had its north wall smashed in by the blast.
17:00The second story of the north wall was especially badly damaged.
17:09Looking through a bombed-out section of the wall to zero point,
17:12notice that not all the buildings in this area were as severely damaged as the schoolhouse.
17:18A portion of the wall of the school was blown in across the desks, and petitions were shifted.
17:30The high school wall farthest from the zero point now bulges in the direction of the blast,
17:35and all glass was blown out of the window frame.
17:43Between zero point and the main building of the novitiate of Jesuits four miles away
17:48was a hill which served to lessen the intensity of the blast.
17:52Yet, despite this protection, all the windows were shattered and part of the wall blown in.
17:58The chapel, which is the left wing of the building, is built of timber with plaster walls.
18:03The glass and the doors of the main entrance foyer were shattered,
18:07and the paneled ceiling was blown loose by the force of the explosion occurring four miles away.
18:15The business of living goes on in the devastated areas of Hiroshima.
18:19In the northeastern section of the city,
18:21temporary homes are constructed of whatever materials can be salvaged from the ruins.
18:27Near the Higashi Railroad Station in eastern Hiroshima,
18:31scrapped lumber, tin, and roof tile are all used in an attempt to build anew,
18:36in no matter how flimsy a fashion.
18:43Immediately following the bombing of Hiroshima,
18:46the President of the United States delivered an ultimatum to the Japanese government.
18:50Surrender or face complete destruction.
18:53The ultimatum was ignored.
18:56At 10.58, the morning of August 9, Japanese time,
18:59the second atomic bomb was exploded over the industrial seaport city of Nagasaki.
19:05Almost the entire population of 230,000 people
19:09was engaged in the manufacture of arms, munitions, and other war products.
19:23Two great Mitsubishi factories were located in the heart of the city.
19:27To the north, one of the world's largest torpedo plants.
19:31And further south, the huge steel and arms works.
19:34The bomb, which was dropped on Nagasaki,
19:37was aimed at a point midway between the two plants
19:40in order to cause the greatest possible industrial damage.
19:43Unlike Hiroshima,
19:45the force of the explosion at Nagasaki
19:47was largely confined to the industrial valley,
19:50which was surrounded by a series of hills
19:52that shielded many other areas of the city.
20:05A great towering mushroom effect
20:08could be seen going higher and higher
20:10and reaching into the stratosphere.
20:12Because the bomb was exploded high above the ground,
20:15the greatest part of its harmful radioactive material
20:17was dissipated in the stratosphere.
20:19As a result,
20:20the area under the explosion
20:22was relatively free from radioactivity.
20:25Persons entering Nagasaki shortly after the explosion
20:28to do rescue work
20:29sustained no ill effect or injury.
20:52In an area of a little more than three square miles,
20:55there was very severe damage by blast and fire.
20:58Most buildings were reduced to rubble.
21:01Still recognizable from the air
21:03are the skeleton remainders of the Mitsubishi plants,
21:05the large steel and arms works,
21:08and the ordnance factory devoted
21:09to the manufacture of torpedoes.
21:17The Mitsubishi steel and arms works
21:20extended almost a mile in length.
21:22Its buildings were modern
21:23and typical of American industrial construction,
21:26having steel frames
21:27and roof and siding
21:29of corrugated metal or asbestos.
21:33Buildings of reinforced concrete
21:35still stand amid the wreckage of steel frames.
21:38Some smokestacks survived.
21:40They offered comparatively little resistance
21:42to the blast.
21:44But as in Hiroshima,
21:46the directional force bent steel
21:48and stripped corrugated metal
21:49from the framework of the building.
21:54Where corrugated metal remained,
21:56it was pushed in like tissue paper.
22:03These buildings show a varying degree of destruction
22:06depending upon proximity to zero point
22:09and building strength.
22:11This foundry,
22:12three-tenths of a mile away from zero point,
22:14shows considerable damage
22:16in spite of fairly good construction.
22:20Other buildings were stronger,
22:22some being constructed
22:23to support heavy overhead cranes.
22:25Damage to equipment inside
22:27was nevertheless serious.
22:29This machinery had been used
22:31in the manufacture of naval rifles,
22:33anti-aircraft guns,
22:34weapons, and heavy artillery.
22:46In the valley,
22:48homes were scattered
22:49through factory areas.
22:50On machinery in many of these homes,
22:53piecework was carried on
22:54to help the Japanese war effort.
22:56Blast and secondary fire
22:58destroyed the lightly constructed buildings,
23:00in many cases leaving damaged equipment.
23:04Photographed from zero point,
23:06this area of three-and-a-tenths square miles
23:08shows almost utter devastation
23:10by blast and fire.
23:12Note how hills in the south
23:14interrupted the blast.
23:15In the second area
23:17of five-and-a-half square miles,
23:18there was moderate damage from blast
23:20and severe damage from fires.
23:23The total area of damage
23:24covered almost 42-and-a-half square miles,
23:27ranging from complete destruction
23:29to damaged roofs and broken windows.
23:32The greatest distance
23:33at which damage was measured
23:35was 12 miles,
23:37where, through a peculiar focusing of concussion,
23:39workers' barracks were knocked down.
23:57One-half mile from zero point,
24:00a cracked smokestack.
24:02A prison of concrete and masonry
24:05two-tenths of a mile from zero point
24:07was almost totally destroyed.
24:09The walls left standing
24:10were parallel to the direction of the blast.
24:23This area was completely wiped out
24:26from zero point up to the church
24:27at the foot of the hills
24:29about a mile away.
24:42In the bed of the creek
24:43rests the dome
24:45which was blown from its place
24:46at the top of the church.
24:51The gas works was blown
24:53into a mass of twisted steel.
24:58Two concrete walls,
24:59the remains of two factory buildings.
25:03Bridges showed greater destruction
25:04in Nagasaki than in Hiroshima.
25:10But even close to zero point,
25:12the downward force of the blast
25:14failed to damage roads and railroads
25:16due to the height
25:17at which the bomb was detonated.
25:19The main north-south street of Nagasaki
25:21was in use shortly after the disaster occurred.
25:25A typical residence
25:26on the outskirts of Nagasaki,
25:28a mile and a half from zero point.
25:31Six weeks after the explosion
25:32of the atomic bomb over Nagasaki,
25:35the survivors are busy working
25:36at the restoration of their homes.
25:44This is the record.
25:46Endless man-hours of work.
25:49Two B-29s.
25:51Two atomic bombs
25:52three days apart.
25:54Two cities.
25:56The tabulation of that record
25:59speaks for itself.
26:01One is nowhere far from the attack.
26:03...
26:09...
26:09...
26:09...
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