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

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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.

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.