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World Wars: World War II

World Wars: World War II. The Secret War. NAZI Atomic Development. 1933— Albert Einstein —the World’s leading physicist—flees Europe for America. January 1939—German physicist Otto Hahn achieves 1 st stage of nuclear fission. The first step in the creation of an atomic bomb. .

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World Wars: World War II

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  1. World Wars: World War II The Secret War

  2. NAZI Atomic Development • 1933—AlbertEinstein—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.

  3. U.S. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. U.S. Atomic Development • Two months later the Manhattan Engineering District was established. • Headed by brigadier General Leslie R. Groves.

  9. 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

  10. German Work Toward the Bomb • Germans created the bomb first but had no uranium • Instead Hitler decided to focus on the creation of rockets. “V” Weapons (Vengeance) • V-1 Rocket V-2 Rocket

  11. 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.

  12. German Work Toward the Bomb • Germans created the first intermediate range ballistic missile the V-1 • Followed 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.

  13. German Work Toward the Bomb • The V-1 and V-2 rockets killed 2,500 civilians and injured 30,000 more in England.

  14. 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.

  15. British Computer Development • 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.

  16. Radar—Radio Detection and Ranging • Device created that used radio beams which reflect off planes, subs, ships, etc. • Bounced back to the sender to reveal an object.

  17. 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.

  18. Proximity Fuse • 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.

  19. Norden Bombsight • 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.

  20. Norden Bombsight • The Allies also introduced—Jet Aircraft, atomic bombs, ballistic missiles, and the hand held rocket (Bazookas)

  21. Impact of New Technology • Made for much more efficient killing during the war. • After the war, these inventions would lead to spin-offs in science and technology.

  22. Terms, Names, Events • Albert Einstein Otto Hahn • Leo Slizard Office of Scientific • Leslie Groves Research and Development • The Manhattan Project J. Robert Oppenheimer • Uranium 235 “V” weapons • Werner Von Braun V-1 • V-2 Me 262 • RADAR Proximity Fuse • Norden Bombsight

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