The Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

A concise, government‑compiled record of the first atomic attacks of August 1945, this report gathers the most reliable data that was available shortly after the war’s end. It outlines the technical details behind the Manhattan Project’s investigations, explaining how the bomb’s blast, heat and radiation were measured and interpreted by scientists and engineers. The document also surveys the pre‑war condition of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, giving a clear picture of the cities before they were transformed by the explosions. Readers will find straightforward tables and summaries that describe the scale of structural damage, the patterns of injury, and the immediate humanitarian impact.

Beyond the raw numbers, the report captures the perspective of the U.S. military and medical teams tasked with assessing the devastation on the ground. It includes eyewitness accounts, medical observations on burns and radiation effects, and early conclusions about shielding and blast dynamics. The material offers a grounded glimpse into how the first nuclear weapons were studied in real time, making it a valuable resource for anyone interested in the early history of atomic warfare.