Hiroshima - A Survivor's Story

On the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombing of the city of Hiroshima, on the 6th August in 1945.

What happened in Hiroshima?

On 6 August 1945, at 8.15am Japanese time, an American B-29 bomber plane, called 'Enola Gay', dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima.

The devastation was beyond anything seen before. The city was immediately flattened.

80,000 people were killed as a direct result of the blast, and another 35,000 were injured.

A huge mushroom cloud of smoke fills the sky over Hiroshima, Japan, one hour after it was bombed in August 1945

Even then, Japan didn't surrender.

Three days later, another nuclear bomb was dropped by the Americans on the Japanese city of Nagasaki.

Shortly afterwards, on 15 August 1945, Japan finally admitted defeat.

World War Two was over.

There were celebrations in Europe after Germany surrendered.

But on the other side of the world in the Pacific Ocean, Japan was still fighting against America, Britain and their allies.

The Americans, however, had a secret plan to end the war - by using the most powerful weapon ever created

What damage did the bombs cause?

This building, now called the A Bomb Dome, survived the atomic blast and today it's a memorial in Hiroshima, Japan

When the bomb exploded in Hiroshima, the city has struck by a flash of blinding light then a giant cloud shaped like a mushroom.

The blast flattened buildings within a 2.5 km radius of the bomb.

There were 90,000 buildings in Hiroshima before the bomb was dropped but only 28,000 remained after the explosion.

Thousands and thousands of people were killed. Many were badly injured.

But the suffering didn't end there because it wasn't just a normal bomb.

The nuclear radiation released when it exploded caused people to suffer horrible illnesses.

Thousands more people died from their injuries and radiation sickness in the weeks, months and years that followed.

Why did the US drop the bomb?

The Hiroshima bomb was nicknamed 'Little Boy'. Here it is before being loaded into the Enola Gay's bomb bay

Japan had been at war for many years.

It had invaded the countries near to it such as China and the Japanese had attacked America.

Everywhere the Japanese soldiers went, they were known for their cruelty.

They treated prisoners of war very badly, including American and British soldiers who had surrendered. (CBBC Newsround)

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Army sniffer dog Sasha given top military award

An army sniffer dog who died six years ago in Afghanistan is to be awarded the highest military award for animals.

L/Cpl Rowe and Sasha his sniffer dog

Sasha, a yellow Labrador, was trained to hunt out explosives and make sure areas were safe for fellow soldiers.

She died with partner Lance Corporal Ken Rowe in a Taliban attack in 2008.

The animal charity the PDSA, which gives the award, says the Dickin Medal is the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross - the highest military honour a person can receive.

Col Neil Smith QHVS, who is in charge of the Army's animal unit, said: "Sadly, this award is posthumous as both Sasha and her handler, Lance Corporal Ken Rowe, were killed in enemy action in Afghanistan in 2008.

Sasha will be the 65th animal to receive the PDSA medal

The PDSA says that Sasha's skill helped save the lives of many soldiers and civilians.

From CBBC newsround

Holocaust Memorial Day: Two survivors tell their story

The victims of the Holocaust in World War Two are being remembered on Holocaust Memorial Day on Monday.

Six million Jews, and other people, were killed in prisons called concentration camps during the war between 1939 and 1945.

They were sent there because German Nazi leader Adolf Hitler thought certain groups of people were inferior.

But thousands of children managed to escape and were sent to the UK, including Ingrid and Henry.

They have been speaking to school pupils in South Lanarkshire about their experiences.

From CBBC newsround

What is Remembrance Day?

The second Sunday of November is Remembrance Sunday or Poppy Day but what does it all mean and what are people meant to do?

At 11am men, women and children all across Britain hold a two minute silence to remember the millions who have died in war.

The silence is usually observed at war memorials, cenotaphs, religious services and shopping centres throughout the country.

The Royal Family, along with top politicians and religious leaders, gather at The Cenotaph in Whitehall, London, for a service.

What is Armistice Day?

Armistice Day is on 11 November. It's also known as Remembrance Day.

A two minute silence is observed at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month because this is when World War I, or the Great War, ended in 1918.

But now, this anniversary is used to remember all the people who've died in wars since World War I.

Soldiers observing the two minutes silence.

This includes World War II, the Falklands War, the Gulf War, and conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Why do British people hold a two minute silence?

The first two minute silence in Britain was held on 11 November 1919, when King George V asked the public to observe a silence at 11am.

This was one year after the end of World War I.

He made the request so "the thoughts of everyone may be concentrated on reverent remembrance of the glorious dead".

Why do people wear poppies?

The week before 11 November, you'll see people on the TV and in the streets wearing a poppy. But what are they for?

Poppies are red flowers which are worn to show others that you are remembering those who died for their country.

The reason poppies are used is because they are the flowers which grew on the battlefields after World War I ended.

Poppies are also used to raise money for servicemen and women who are still alive but whose lives have been changed by war.

The charity that runs the Poppy Appeal is called The Royal British Legion.

Each year, volunteers will sell these poppies in the street all over Britain.

You can decide how much money you want to give to the poppy sellers.

From CBBC newsround