In an earlier post on the anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki, there was a discussion in the comments as to whether Truman had consented to the bombing of Nagasaki, as one commenter said that he had not.
Truman, in his Memoirs, says that he gave the order for the atomic bombing of Japan, listing four cities as possible targets, leaving the choice to be made by the field commanders. The cities were Hiroshima, Kokura, Niigata, and Nagasaki. After the first city was bombed, the military was to deliver the next bomb as soon as it was ready, with the choice of city again left to the military officers. Nagasaki was chosen because of fewer complications due to weather and distance.
Thanks to an archivist at the Truman Library for the clarification.
FWIW - I have heard it said that Nagasaki had the highest population of Christians before they were blown to bits.
ReplyDeleteAnn, the prayer that I posted came from Holy Trinity Church in Nagasaki, which lost 29 members of their congregation.
ReplyDeleteonly 29 members? There is a church in Nagasaki which had to be rebuilt twice: once, it was destroyed in the persecution of Christians in the 16th century, and after it was destroyed by the atomic bomb in 1945. My mother and I went there.
ReplyDeleteNagasaki is hillier than Hiroshima, so the fires did not spread as far (Nagasaki look a little like San Francisco), so some of the historic Victorian buildings are still there. (there's a tough sentence.) It's interesting as a port city (like Yokohama), it has a little more international flavor than most of Japan.
And yes, the highest percentage of Christians.
The island of Kyushu was the place where most of the "hidden Christians" were, too.
Diane, thanks for the first hand account of the city. I'm grieving all over again, as well I should.
ReplyDeleteI'm remembering the small Christian communities in Iraq, which have been devastated since the invasion. Many members are refugees, having fled to other countries, some were kidnapped and killed. Those who remain live in fear for their lives. These are some of the oldest Christian communities in the history of the church.
Lord, have mercy.
I have read, but cannot confirm, that many refugees from Hiroshima deliberately chose to go to Nagasaki, believing that the large Christian population would protect that city.
ReplyDeleteAll very tragic. It should never have been done.
ReplyDelete