Catalogue Auction Information

Fine Arms, Armour & Militaria Auction (126) 19/07/23 11:30 AM Closed

Starts Ending 19/07/23 11:30 AM CEST

Auction Info
Click image to enlarge

Lot 355Historically Important and Harrowing Eyewitness Account of the Atomic Bomb Dropped on Hiroshima and the Effects and Devastation it Caused to the People of the City

Historically Important and Harrowing Eyewitness Account of the Atomic Bomb Dropped on Hiroshima and the Effects and Devastation it Caused to the People of the City
Historically Important and Harrowing Eyewitness Account of the Atomic Bomb Dropped on Hiroshima and the Effects and Devastation it Caused to the People of the City, the seven page typed report, all in captials, was the account of FR. P. Soemes. S.J, believed to have been translated into English. This harrowing first hand report sheds light on the suffering of the civilians of Hiroshima on this most infamous day in history, 6th August 1945. It would appear that the witness was a religious missionary and was stationed at a church or religious building just outside of the city, the report begins to explain that the city had not been bombed in the same way other Japanese cities had been attacked, ‘THERE WERE FANTASTIC RUMOURS THAT THE ENEMY HAD SOMETHING SPECIAL IN MIND FOR THIS CITY, BUT NO ONE DREAMED THAT THE END WOULD COME IN SUCH A FASHION AS ON THE MORNING OF THE 6TH. AUGUST 1945’. The report then goes on to describe the morning of the attack, ‘THE TIME IS APPROXIMATLEY 8.14 – THE WHOLE VALLEY IS FILLED WITH A GARLISH LIGHT WHICH RESEMBLES THE MAGNESIUM LIGHT USED IN PHOTOGRAPHY, AND I AM CONCIOUS OF A WAVE OF HEAT. I JUMP TO THE WINDOW TO FIND OUT THE CAUSE OF THIS REMARKABLE PHENOMENON, BUT I SEE NOTHING MORE THAN THAT BRILLIANT LIGHT. AS I MAKE FOR THE DOOR, IT DOESN’T OCCUR TO ME THAT THE LIGHT MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH ENEMY PLANES. ON THE WAY FROM THE WINDOW I HEAR A MODERATELY LOUD EXPLOSION WHICH SEEMS TO COME FROM A DISTANCE, AND, AT THE SAME TIME THE WINDOWS ARE BROKEN IN A LOUD CRASH’. The report continues to give details about the mass of civilians which tried to get out of the city and take refuge and were treated in the witnesses church. It is spoken of a priest, Father Kopp, who was in the city at the time of the explosion, ‘THEIR HOUSE AND THE ENTIRE DISTRICT WHERE THEY LIVE HAS BURNED TO THE GROUND. FATHER KOPP IS BLEEDING ABOUT THE HEAD AND NECK, AND HE HAS A LARGE BURN ON THE RIGHT PALM. HE WAS STANDING IN FRONT OF THE NUNNERY READY TO GO HOME. ALL OF A SUDDEN, HE BECAME AWARE OF THE LIGHT, FELT THE WAVE OF HEAT AND A LARGE BLISTER FORMED ON HIS HAND. THE WINDOWS WERE TORN OUT BY THE BLAST’. The account continues with the writer going into the city to rescue other members of their church and organisation from the devastation, the description of the carnage and destruction they see is unimaginable, ‘BENEATH THE WRECKAGE OF THE HOUSES ALONG THE WAY, MANY HAVE BEEN TRAPPED, AND THEY SCREAM TO THE FREE TO BE RESCUED FROM THE ONCOMING FLAMES. THEY MUST BE LEFT TO THEIR FATE’. The last two pages of the account are faded and not easy to read but the whole report is very significant and gives an accurate account of the devastation of the atomic bomb attack on the city. The report ends with a strong view by the writer, ‘IT SEEMS LOGICAL TO ME THAT HE WHO SUPPORTS TOTAL WAR IN PRINCIPLE CANNOT COMPLAIN OF WAR AGINST CIVILIANS. THE CRUX OF THE MATTER IS WHETHER TOTAL WAR IN THIS PRESENT FORM IS JUSTIFIABLE EVEN WHEN IT SERVES AS A JUST PURPOSE. DOES IT NOT HAVE MATERIAL AND SPIRITUAL EVIL AS ITS CONSEQUENCES WHICH FAR EXCEED WHATEVER THE GOOD THAT MIGHT RESULT?’ Categories: Books & Ephemera
Estimate:
Lot closed - unsold
Estimate: £600 - £1,000

 

  • Historically Important and Harrowing Eyewitness Account of the Atomic Bomb Dropped on Hiroshima and the Effects and Devastation it Caused to the People of the City
  • Historically Important and Harrowing Eyewitness Account of the Atomic Bomb Dropped on Hiroshima and the Effects and Devastation it Caused to the People of the City - 2
  • Historically Important and Harrowing Eyewitness Account of the Atomic Bomb Dropped on Hiroshima and the Effects and Devastation it Caused to the People of the City - 3
  • Historically Important and Harrowing Eyewitness Account of the Atomic Bomb Dropped on Hiroshima and the Effects and Devastation it Caused to the People of the City - 4
  • Historically Important and Harrowing Eyewitness Account of the Atomic Bomb Dropped on Hiroshima and the Effects and Devastation it Caused to the People of the City - 5
mgctlbxN$MZP mgctlbxV$5.3.7 mgctlbxL$C