War Photos From The Past You Would Never Find In History Books

By Jack Ripley | March 15, 2023

Hiroshima was obliterated by the United States

Amidst the noise and glamour of Hollywood and pop culture, it's easy to forget that history is replete with brutal and horrific moments of conflict and war. These moments are documented through photographs that capture the heart-wrenching stories of those who have witnessed the worst of humanity. As you scroll through this gallery of war photos, you will encounter images that show the human cost of war, the devastation it causes, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

These photos offer a glimpse into a different side of history, one that is often forgotten or ignored in mainstream narratives. They serve as a reminder that war is not just about battles and tactics, but about the lives of ordinary people caught in the crossfire. We invite you to take a moment to view these images with empathy and understanding, to acknowledge the sacrifices of those who have been impacted by war, and to reflect on what we can do to prevent future conflicts. Keep reading to bear witness to the raw reality of war through the eyes of those who have captured it with their cameras.

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Source: USA Social Condition

So you got this B-29 bomber, Enola Gay, taking off from Tinian, headed straight for Japan in the early hours of August 6, 1945. Their target? Hiroshima, the city nestled on the southwestern Honshu Island, home to nearly 300,000 civilians and an army of about 43,000 soldiers.

The bomber flies low to the ground on automatic pilot, until they finally reach 31,000 feet. Then, at about 8:15 a.m. Hiroshima time, they drop the bomb. They call it "Little Boy," but don't let the name fool you. That thing weighed almost 10,000 pounds, and it was made of uranium.

The bomb detonated about 1,900 feet above the city, right over a parade field where Japanese soldiers were doing calisthenics. And let me tell you, that explosion was something else. It lit up the whole damn sky, and you could feel it for miles.

The aftermath was devastating. 140,000 people killed. 70% of all buildings destroyed. Survivors left to suffer, not just from the physical burns, but from the generational after-effects of radiation.

And the worst part? We'll never know for sure how many people died as a result of that attack. Some 70,000 people probably died from the initial blast and radiation effects. And you know what? About twenty American airmen were held as prisoners in that city. By the end of 1945, because of the fallout and other after-effects, the death toll was probably over 100,000. And the death toll kept climbing. Cancer and other long-term effects took hold, and the five-year death total may have reached or even exceeded 200,000.

 There were some pretty impressive lady-snipers in WWII


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Source: Pinterest

So let me tell you, during WWII, you had some serious women out there on the front lines, sniping it up like it was nobody's business. The Soviets, for example, had a whole squad of badass female snipers, and Roza Shanina was one of the best. Just look at her here, with her 59 confirmed kills, ready to take down whatever came her way.

She didn't go unnoticed. In 1944, a Canadian newspaper called her "the unseen terror of East Prussia." And she even became the first lady of the 3rd Belorussian Front to snag the Order of Glory.

Roza was out there on the front lines, doing what she did best, when she was killed in action during the East Prussian Offensive. She was shielding the commander of an artillery unit who had been hit bad, and she paid the ultimate price. And get this, her bravery conflicted with Soviet policy of not throwing snipers into the heavy battles.

But you know what, Roza's legacy lived on. Even during her lifetime, people were singing her praises. And in '65, her combat diary was finally published, so we could all get a taste of what it was like to be a sniper like Roza Shanina.