Post on 23-Dec-2015
transcript
The Secret War
World Wars: World War II
1933—Albert Einstein—the World’s leading physicist—flees Europe for America.January 1939—German physicist Otto Hahn
achieves 1st stage of nuclear fission.The first step in the creation of an atomic bomb.
NAZI Atomic Development
August 2, 1939—Leo Szilard and Einstein write FDR warning him about the power of an atomic bomb.A year later FDR sets up
a board of scientists to study the possibility of creating an atomic weapon.
U.S. Atomic Development
August 1939—Germans set up a board of scientists to study the atomic weapon.They were the best in the world despite losing
many great Jewish scientists to immigration.Hitler didn’t fund the program heavily.
U.S. Atomic Development
Hitler felt the War would be over before an atomic bomb was made.Hitler concentrated on funding for the rocket
program.
U.S. Atomic Development
Neither side was sure if a bomb were created, that it would even work.The cost was high
for no assurance of success.
U.S. Atomic Development
May 1941—FDR creates the Office of Scientific Research and Development.Headed by Vannevar Bush—13 months later
goes ahead with bomb project.
U.S. Atomic Development
Two months later the Manhattan Engineering District was established.Headed by brigadier General Leslie R. Groves.
U.S. Atomic Development
Immediately Groves acquired all of the world’s uranium which was need for the project.Uranium 235—fissionable
part of uranium need for the explosion.
Groves selected Physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer as scientific director.
Leslie Groves with Oppenheimer
U.S. Atomic Development
Germans created the bomb first but had no uraniumInstead Hitler decided to focus on the creation
of rockets. “V” Weapons (Vengeance)
V-1 Rocket V-2 Rocket
German Work Toward the Bomb
Project was headed by German scientist Werner Von Braun.The German scientists were way ahead of the
world in rocket research.
German Work Toward the Bomb
Germans created the first intermediate range ballistic missile the V-1Followed this up with the deadlier V-2—
liquid fueled with a 1 ton warhead.8,000 are launched
against Britain but only 1/5 of those hit any targets.
More a weapon of terror due to the inconsistent guidance controls.
German Work Toward the Bomb
The V-1 and V-2 rockets killed 2,500 civilians and injured 30,000 more in England.
German Work Toward the Bomb
The Germans also created the world’s first jet aircraft—the Me 262.Due to Hitler’s obsession with bombing London
—the Me 262 came to late.If used in 1944—the Me262 would have made a
dramatic difference.
German Work Toward the Bomb
British created one of the world’s first computers that helped decode German encryption.Gave the Allies valuable information which
helped in the fight against the Nazis Enigma Code Breaker
The same system was used in the Pacific providing valuable information about Japanese plans.
British Computer Development
Device created that used radio beams which reflect off planes, subs, ships, etc. Bounced back to the sender to reveal an object.
Radar—Radio Detection and Ranging
Used most effectively by the British (won the Battle of Britain)—and then the U.S.
Axis radar was never up to the standards, and the Japanese radar was very poor.
Radar—Radio Detection and Ranging
The proximity fuse was an explosive shell which detonated near or on a target.Used in fighter planes, and with
artillery shells.Greatly increased effectiveness
for the Allies.
Proximity Fuse
The Norden Bombsight—was an optical device that used automatic pilot for precision bombing.Was pinpoint accurate when clear, a little less
effective in overcast conditions.
Norden Bombsight
The Allies also introduced—Jet Aircraft, atomic bombs, ballistic missiles, and the hand held rocket (Bazookas)
Norden Bombsight
Made for much more efficient killing during the war.After the war, these inventions would lead to
spin-offs in science and technology.
Impact of New Technology
Albert Einstein Otto HahnLeo Slizard Office of Scientific Leslie Groves Research and
DevelopmentThe Manhattan Project J. Robert
OppenheimerUranium 235 “V” weaponsWerner Von Braun V-1V-2 Me 262RADAR Proximity FuseNorden Bombsight
Terms, Names, Events