Beginnings of The Program
Soviet physicist Georgy Flyorov noticed that in spite of the progress German, British and American physicists had made in research into uranium fission, scientific journals had ceased publishing papers on the topic. Flyorov deduced that this meant such research had been classified in the countries concerned, and wrote to Stalin in April 1942. He cited the lack of response he had himself encountered trying to generate interest in similar research, and warned Stalin of the consequences of the development of atomic weapons: "...the results will be so overriding it won't be necessary to determine who is to blame for the fact that this work has been neglected in our country". By September 1942, Stalin, who had already been presented with evidence of the Western nuclear programs, decided to launch a Soviet program to develop an atomic bomb headed by Igor Kurchatov.
In the wake of the atomic bombing of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and Japan's surrender, Stalin took the decision to accelerate research and development, expanding the development military nuclear reactors and research facilities all over the country.
Read more about this topic: Soviet Atomic Bomb Project
Famous quotes containing the words beginnings of, beginnings and/or program:
“The frantic search of five-year-olds for friends can thus be seen to forecast the beginnings of a basic shift in the parent-child relationship, a shift which will occur gradually over many long years, and in which a child needs not only the support of child allies engaged in the same struggle but also the understanding of his parents.”
—Dorothy H. Cohen (20th century)
“These beginnings of commerce on a lake in the wilderness are very interesting,—these larger white birds that come to keep company with the gulls.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“If you have a message you want to send to hell, give it to me; I’ll carry it!”
—Administration in the State of Sout, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)