Forgotten Allied Prisoners Survived Nagasaki’s Atomic Bombing—Here’s Their Untold Story
Eighty years ago, the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, killing thousands and devastating the city. Less known is that hundreds of Allied prisoners of war were held in Japanese camps nearby when the explosion occurred. Their experiences during and after the bombing have remained largely untold for decades.
During World War II, around 150,000 Allied prisoners were scattered across dozens of camps in Asia. Of these, 36,000 were sent to Japan, including groups forced to work in Nagasaki. Dutch prisoners at the Fukuoka No. 2 Branch Camp laboured at the Kawanami shipyard under harsh conditions.
On the day of the bombing, those at Fukuoka No. 2 Camp witnessed a terrifying sight: a massive orange fireball, thick purple smoke, and a towering mushroom cloud. The nearby Fukuoka No. 14 Camp suffered worse, with eight prisoners killed and dozens injured. Survivors from No. 2 Camp rushed to help their wounded comrades in the aftermath. The prisoners left Nagasaki on 13 September, boarding a U.S. carrier bound for the Philippines. Their ordeal, however, did not end there. Over the years, family members and researchers have gathered testimonies to document these forgotten stories. In Japan, the Hiroshima and Nagasaki Peace Memorial Medical Support Organization was later established to assist atomic bomb survivors. Its role has since expanded to provide broader medical and social services for those affected.
The presence of Allied prisoners in Nagasaki during the atomic bombing remains a little-discussed chapter of history. Survivors’ accounts and ongoing research efforts continue to bring their experiences to light. Further study is still needed to fully understand the scale of their suffering and the long-term impact on those who endured it.
