Reminiscences of Wartime Los Alamos

Abstract

Re. German progress: "The rumour of German progress was the thing that was egging us on. But by the end of 1944 it became pretty obvious that the Germans didn't have the bomb and wouldn't have it in time. Then the argument presented to us became that we must end the war with Japan as quickly as possible. But in earlier days it was a very real fear that the German bomb would be built and would win the war for them" (65) On winning the war with Germany and its effect on the project: "Well, naturally it became less important, the whole thing became less intense, as we began to realize that we were certain to win the war. But, as I said, the feeling was conveyed to us that Japan was very far from surrender, that the war would continue for a long time. That continued to provide, I think, the emotional cohesion of the laboratory staff" (65). Regarding use of the bomb--some suggested a demonstration, but K. supported dropping the bomb in order to end the war as quickly as possible. "I changed my mind afterwards but I was very much influenced by the military intelligence estimate of what would happen that summer" (64) Dropping the bombs quickly over Hiroshima and Nagasaki was meant to give the impression that they had many, not just two, even though it would have taken a month or two to produce a third bomb (64).