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Otto Hahn and the mysterious discovery of nuclear fission: How did it change the landscape of war?
Historically, the discovery of nuclear fission is regarded as a major milestone in science, and Otto Hahn's research was key to this process. In 1938, Hahn and his assistant Fritz Strassmann discovered in a laboratory in Berlin, Germany, that when they bombarded uranium with neutrons, they could release the element Ba (Ba). This discovery not only revealed a new field of physics, but also paved the way for subsequent nuclear weapons research. This article will explore how Hahn's discovery affected Nazi Germany's nuclear weapons development program and its impact on the war pattern of World War II.
"Our findings could have profound implications for future wars."
Germany's nuclear weapons program began in 1939, and a scientific cooperation movement called the "Uranverein" or "Uranprojekt" gradually took shape. Although the persecution of Jewish scientists greatly reduced Germany's technical talent after 1933, a small number of scientists were still committed to the research of nuclear energy. At the same time as Germany invaded Poland, the Second Ulan Society's plan was officially launched, aiming to develop nuclear reactors, the production of uranium and heavy water, and the separation of uranium isotopes.
Hahn's research sparked the German military's interest in nuclear technology. Over time, however, the German military's enthusiasm for nuclear weapons cooled. In 1942, the German military announced that it would hand over the entire nuclear program to the Reich Research Council, ultimately leading to a reduction in funding and manpower. Many scientists moved on to fields more urgently related to war, further undermining the possibilities for nuclear development.
"Despite advanced science and technology, Germany's nuclear weapons program never came close to success."
Germany's nuclear weapons program had assembled nearly seventy senior scientists in its heyday. However, this scale could not be sustained after 1943 as human resources were depleted. Unlike the nuclear weapons programs of the United States and the Soviet Union, German research was clearly limited by multiple factors, including political persecution, war demands, and the reallocation of funds. Scientists' confidence in conquering nuclear weapons has gradually waned.
Looking back, Hahn's discovery of nuclear fission was influenced by Germany's nuclear weapons program. Many outstanding talents in the German nuclear physics community interrupted their research due to various reasons, causing the nuclear weapons program that was originally in full swing to gradually cool down during the course of the war. The Allies tried their best to collect German nuclear technology data in the late World War II, which increased their enthusiasm for the subsequent nuclear weapons development competition.
After the end of World War II, the development of Allied nuclear weapons became a significant global competition, and Germany's experience became an important milestone in subsequent research. Perhaps, what we should reflect on is how to balance war and the development of science? Should technological progress be based on humanitarianism? Are these questions still bothering us?
