Atomic Bomb Physical Damage: Nagasaki, November 5, 1945

This archival footage, captured on November 5, 1945, reveals the staggering physical aftermath of the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki by the U.S. on August 9, 1945. Filmed nearly three months after the "Fat Man" detonation—a 21-kiloton plutonium blast—the scenes expose a cityscape of twisted wreckage, charred ruins, and haunting silhouettes burned into streets, with entire districts leveled by the initial explosion and subsequent fires. Part of the U.S. Army Air Forces’ post-attack assessments, this film underscores the bomb’s obliterating force, offering a raw, unflinching look at the destruction for history buffs and those grappling with the atomic legacy’s toll on a once-thriving port.