Nagasaki: The Forgotten Prisoners

Více o knize

This remarkable untold story of the Second World War recounts the devastating impact of the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. The city, often considered the most European in Japan, was obliterated, resulting in over 70,000 deaths. At that time, hundreds of Allied prisoners of war were forced laborers in Nagasaki's shipyards and foundries, having already survived nearly four years of malnutrition, disease, and brutality. These men hailed from diverse backgrounds, including Yorkshire, Australia, Holland, and Texas, and their lives were forever altered by the war's brutal realities. The narrative traces their harrowing journey back to the bloody battles in the Malayan jungle and the fall of Fortress Singapore, a significant blow to the British Empire. Following this defeat, many were captured and endured years of harsh imprisonment by the Japanese. Their plight worsened as thousands were sent to construct the notorious Thai-Burma Railway, including the infamous Bridge on the River Kwai. The POWs faced further peril when transported to Japan in overcrowded, decrepit ships known as hell ships, which were often targeted and sunk by Allied submarines. This gripping tale culminates in their unimaginable horror as they faced the ultimate test: the second atomic bomb.