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AGA: Arbeitsgruppe Physik und Abrüstung

AGA 8: Nuclear Weapons

AGA 8.2: Talk

Friday, March 22, 2024, 10:30–11:00, PTB HS HvHB

Back to the Origins: Who knows what in the Manhattan project and the Uranium Club? — •Götz Neuneck — IFSH, U Hamburg

The development of building the first atomic bomb during WWII was a race of scientists in allied states and Nazi-Germany based on fundamental discoveries, theoretical considerations and experiments in the new field of nuclear physics. Although it is very clear that the German Uranium Project did not construct a nuclear bomb, until today there are ongoing controversies about the motivations, resources and knowledge of the key scientists on both sides. It is important to understand the chronology of events and achievements in both projects. The Manhattan Engineering District Project achieved the goal and three nuclear devices exploded in New Mexico, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Beyond the technical skills the question is what did the scientists know about the purpose of the nuclear gadgets they created. 85 years after the events a lot of documents, analysis and comments are available to assess the development of the programmes and to answer the three questions: 1. What did the main actors know how to build a bomb? 2. What was there motivation and justification? 3. When did they realize the implication of their work and how did they react? Until today this story of great and dedicated science and politics, moral, conspiracy and secrecy is an important lesson about the ambivalence of science and the responsibility how to handle the nuclear threat.

Keywords: Nuclear weapons; Uranium Club; Manhattan Engineering District