Atomic Bomb Targets in WWII: Hiroshima & Nagasaki Only
The only two atomic bombs used in warfare were dropped on Japan in August 1945:
| City | Date | Bomb Name | Type | Yield | Deaths (by Dec 1945) |
|---|
| Hiroshima | Aug 6, 1945 | Little Boy | Uranium gun-type | 15 kt | ~140,000 |
| Nagasaki | Aug 9, 1945 | Fat Man | Plutonium implosion | 21 kt | ~74,000 |
Why Not Berlin or Tokyo?
- Germany surrendered May 8, 1945 — before Trinity test (Jul 16).
- Tokyo was firebombed (Mar 9–10, 1945) — 100k+ dead; reserved for atomic target list but removed due to prior destruction.
- Kyoto was top target; removed by Stimson (cultural significance).
- Kokura was primary for Fat Man; obscured by clouds/smoke → Nagasaki (secondary).
No other nuclear weapons have been used in conflict since.
Wanderlust World