The Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

This firsthand report offers a clear, methodical look at the immediate aftermath of the two atomic bombings in August 1945. Compiled by the U.S. Army’s Manhattan Engineer District, it brings together data from engineers, physicians, and scientists who surveyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki within days of the attacks. The document sets the scene with concise descriptions of each city before the explosions, then moves on to detailed accounts of the blast effects, structural damage, and the staggering human toll recorded in the first weeks after the war ended.

Listeners will encounter measured explanations of the physics behind the blasts, the patterns of flash burn, blast pressure, and radiation exposure, as well as medical analyses of injuries ranging from burns to mechanical trauma. An eyewitness narrative from Father Siemes adds a personal perspective to the technical material. The report provides a balanced, fact‑based snapshot of the early investigative effort to understand one of history’s most profound moments.