The first atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima by the United States marked a significant turning point in global history. The sheer magnitude of destruction caused by this deadly weapon left an unparalleled imprint with a reported fatality rate of instantly killing an staggering estimate of up to around 80,000 people. In three more days, on August 9th another bomb hit Nagasaki adding another layer to what recent reporters declared as an irreversible catastrophe with around additional deaths projected at roughly another forty thousand lives taken. The dropping of the atomic bombs marked an end of years of fighting between the United States and Japan during WWII. International law envisions such attacks as a war crime, considering it illegal and …show more content…
Notably so is that these bombings resulted in fatalities reaching more than 200 thousand innocent people- comprising mothers, infants, seniors uninvolved directly in conventional combat activities at different levels. Resultantly this occurrence caused polarizing discussions revolving around the justification or lack thereof for launching such attacks. The use of nuclear weapons had long-lasting implications on the global power balance, as it resulted in the United States gaining a status of preeminence in military might. The Soviet Union became its chief adversary during the Cold War epoch. This gave rise to an era of geopolitical instability, which endangered these two superpowers with potential nuclear conflict. Moreover, this episode triggered an intense desire among other countries to procure nuclear weapons for defensive purposes. Despite these repercussions, the bombings did have a favorable outcome: by forcing Japan's immediate surrender, they prevented military action that could have culminated in even greater loss of life. With their explosive force, incredible magnitude, and brutal aftermaths, these bombings demonstrated both the power and threat inherent in nuclear warfare. Until this day the bomb is being studied and debated, which serves as a reminder of the dangers of war and the need for preventing this from happening