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Hiroshima Peace Day What Happened on August 6 th ? August 6 th , 1945 was a day that changed the world for many people. At the top of that list was the people living in Hiroshima at the time. It is the day that American soldiers dropped an atomic bomb on the city to persuade Japan to stop fighting in World War II. Japan was fighting alongside the Axis powers, which included Italy and Nazi Germany. When the Americans dropped a second bomb on Nagasaki, Japan decided to surrender. When the bomb in Hiroshima exploded, 140,000 people lost their lives, some immediately and others from injuries or illness caused by the explosion and radiation. Many of the people who died were not soldiers and the effects of the bomb lasted for years with higher numbers of people getting cancer, radiation poisoning and further problems passed on to their children. A Day for Peace Because of the suffering caused by the bomb, Hiroshima strongly believes that no more nuclear or atomic weapons should be used. To support this message of peace, Hiroshima holds a Peace Memorial Ceremony on the anniversary of the explosion every year. Bells are rung at local temples and people observe a minute of silence at 8:15am, the exact time the bomb was dropped. The prime minister gives a speech and flags are flown at half-mast around the country. The bombsite has been transformed into the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. On August 6 th , many people visit with flowers, incense and candles to remember those who died. visit twinkl.com.au Page 1 of 2
