With reference to the defeat of Axis Powers in World War II, explain briefly:

(a) End of Fascism in Italy

(b) Effects of bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

(a) End of Fascism in Italy — In July 1943 the Allies attacked Italy. After occupying Sicily, they marched on Rome. Mussolini was dismised and the new government of Badoglio surrendered to Allies.However, minor battles continued until April 1945. Mussolini managed to escape and tried to flee. On 28^th April, 1945 he was caught by Italians themselves. He and his mistress were shot dead. That was the end of Fascism in Italy.

(b) Effects of bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki — On 6^th August, 1945 the first atom bomb was dropped on the City of Hiroshima. Within a few seconds nearly 80,000 lives were lost and another 70,000 were grievously wounded. On 9^th August, 1945 another bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. The bombs killed more than 3 lakh people in these two cities. Many more were left crippled for the whole of their life. In Japan the future generations were also doomed. Those who survived were no better than "the living corpses". They had their skins hanging in sherds, their hair scorched to the roots.
As a consequence of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan surrendered on 15^th August, 1945 and the formal Armistice to stop fighting was signed on 2^nd September, 1945 bringing an end to the Second World War.