History Work
Atomic Weapons
- People thought that Germany would create the first atomic bombs.
- But in the 1930s many Germany scientists left for Britain or America.
- Einstein had helped to pioneer the new physics upon which nuclear fission rested.
Potsdam Conference July 1945
- First time Stalin and Truman had met.
- Truman able to tell Stalin about the successful testing of the Atomic bomb in the Mexican desert.
- Stalin acted unconcerned?
- Massive shift in the balance of power.
- Stalin quickly authorised an accelerated atomic weapons programme.
Hiroshima and Nagasaki
- Defeating Japan was proving difficult.
- Russia had promised to help if the fighting infinite three months after the surrender of Germany.
- The atomic bomb influenced American attitude towards Russia's participate.
- Some believed that if Russia helped with the defeat of Japan, they would want territory in north-east Asia.
- But the bombs were not dropped just to intimidate Russia.
- $2 Billion had Bren spent on development.
- Seen as the best way to defeat an enemy that refused to surrender without incurring further US casualties.
- Agomic Diplomacy - Bargaining Techniques.
The Tsar Bomba
- Soviet Russia refused to be intimidated.
- 1945 concerned in London Foreign Minister Molotov ridiculed Americans new weapons.
- Concealed both fear and resentment.
- During 1940s and 1950s both countries began to rebuild their militaries forces.
- 1961 Russia tested the most powerful atomic bomb ever known.