History 05/03/20 Manfred von Antennapedia Hitler’s scientists are unable to build an atomic bomb
In March 1945 in Thuringia, the Germans had tested a missile with a nuclear warhead. It was believed that Hitler did not have a few months to create a superweapon that can change the course of war and bring victory in Germany. However, recent studies of historians show that for a number of reasons the Nazis never would be able to create a full-fledged nuclear weapons.
Lack of knowledge
the American historian Richard Rhodes is confident that the German nuclear program did not allow trivial errors of scientists. After the collapse of the Reich Titan of theoretical physics Werner Heisenberg was in England, where he was asked how much uranium would be needed to create warheads equal to the one that threw the Americans on Hiroshima.
Nobel prize Winner in physics said that several tons, although in reality it was enough a couple of kilos of uranium-235. This indicates that the German physicists, led by Heisenberg, worked towards the establishment of a nuclear reactor, not weapons of mass destruction and had no real achievements in this direction. A number of researchers believes that German scientists were incompetent, and they lacked the knowledge expelled from the Reich physicists of Jewish origin.
the Germans made some blunders and was chosen as moderator of the reaction is not graphite, and more inconvenient to work with heavy water. It is believed that the German physicists had deliberately delayed the project, knowing what will happen to the world if in the hands of Hitler would be a full-fledged nuclear warhead.
the Lack of heavy water
By the early 40-ies of Germany ahead of the allies in the production of all the “ingredients” for nuclear bombs in addition to heavy water needed for the reaction. Adequate amount of this resource made Norway the plant Vemork. After the Germans occupied Norway heavy water was supplied directly to the nazactam, but to enough to prevent the successful actions of forces of the Norwegian resistance and British agents.
the Scandinavians are constantly staged production sabotage, and once the party of heavy water was contaminated with fish oil. The first attempt to destroy the plant was taken in December 1942, but the aircraft crashed saboteurs, and survivors of soldiers shot. However, in the winter of 1943 the group of the Norwegian resistance, with the support of the British managed to destroy the object.
a year later, the Germans tried to take the remains from Scandinavia heavy water on the ferry, but his resistance fighters managed to flood. A good diversion Norwegians finally buried the plans of the Nazis to build a nuclear warhead.
funding Issues
Creation of a nuclear warhead requires huge financial costs and for the successful outcome of the government should trust scientists, and scientists — to the government. In Germany such confidence was not. Hitler was constantly rushing between different projects and demanded that physicists of the early establishment of the superweapon, though his real passion was the rocket.
Initially required to build a huge enrichment of uranium. Later invented another option is to produce plutonium using a nuclear reactor. In any case, required huge investments, which could result in the creation of nuclear warheads. Weakened the German economy, such a project was not under force. Even the United States with its limitless financing was able to produce a nuclear warhead only at the end of the war.
the Hunt for brains
After hugs on the Elbe and the total defeat of the troops of the Reich USA and the USSR began to hunt for German physicists. The Americans got von Braun, who appointed him the head of its nuclear program, and the Soviet side managed to get a specialist in aerodynamics Werner Albring who worked on guided missiles and Helmut of Grettrup engineer-rocketeer and developer detachable warhead ballistic missiles. The Union worked head the ballistics of concern “Krupp” Waldemar Wolff, and outstanding nuclear physicists Manfred von Ardenne and Gustav Hertz.
For the selection of experts in Germany founders of missile technology Korolev, Mishin, Tikhonravov, and the other. Senior Lieutenant Vasily Kharchev headed a group perimenopausal German scientists from the American zone of occupation. In total, the USSR exported more than 7,000 German specialists and their families.
During the war the United States without direct military threats after the victory of the Soviets to build nuclear weapons it took several years. It is not surprising that Germany had no chance to create such orgie during the war.
Alexander Brazhnik
Source:
© Russian Seven
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