Chapter 516 Apollo Program (End)

The solution proposed by Dibner is hollow charge, and he believes that with this detonation method, only 10-15% of the original raw materials can trigger a nuclear explosion with similar power, and he clearly puts forward a new viewpoint - fusion will be more powerful than fission!

Hoffman knows what is behind this conclusion better than anyone else: hollow charge is the evolution of implosion-type atomic bombs, and the fusion effect is pushed back to hydrogen bombs - first use a miniature atomic bomb to detonate and trigger fusion. If the atomic bomb explosion equivalent in the 1940s was at the level of tens of thousands of tons, then the hydrogen bomb will be at the level of 300,000 tons as soon as it comes out.

This idea is absolutely epoch-making, but Dibner's steps are too fast, and he wants to run before he can walk - this is easy to pull the balls! So Hoffman wants him to make some achievements alone to show his value, and on the other hand, he wants to include the bomb faction headed by Bot into this group, which can not only improve the theoretical level, but also make Dibner and others burst out with research enthusiasm and drive others.

As for letting Himmler get involved in the project, there was also a profound intention: the Apollo program not only has military value, but also political significance. After changing the policy towards Jews and completely stopping the concentration camps, the SS needed a breakthrough. They were now over-energetic and had to find an attractive entry point - if they were idle, something would happen. Managing the prisoner-of-war farms in Poland was a good project, with a wide range but not enough level, and it could not meet the "high-end" desire. Hoffman did not want Himmler to deal with absurd things like "Earth Axis" and "Searching for the Holy Grail", and even more did not want him to think about the "final solution". The Apollo program constituted a good entry point, and the electronic computer project was an addition.

Himmler originally wanted to get involved in the Peenemünde rocket project, but he immediately shifted his attention after hearing that there was a more powerful and decisive project - this destructiveness was very attractive to him.

Hoffman believed that under his control, the SS could better play the advantages of strong organizational discipline. Without Himmler's strong hand, how did 9,000 tons of uranium ore come from? How was the Auschwitz underground project built? ——Many things can only be done but not said.

Three days later, all nuclear physicists chose their research direction. Most of them chose the bomb group, and only a very small number of people, led by Heisenberg and Otto Hahn, chose the energy group. Of course, Heisenberg and Hahn had different motives. The former believed that it was unrealistic to make a nuclear bomb in the short term, and the latter believed that it was unethical to make a nuclear bomb. Since the head of state had revealed his ideas in public, the temporary change would inevitably be suspected of being indecisive, and people would also speculate about the political pressure. Therefore, Hahn still insisted on his point of view-although he was a little uneasy about it.

When he reported the research direction to Marshal Milch, the latter did not blame him or look at him strangely, but only asked him to sign a confidentiality agreement: all scholars engaged in nuclear science research must strictly promise confidentiality and not disclose any information to the outside world. Any academic achievements must be approved before publication. Within 20 years, he and his immediate family members must declare in advance before going abroad.

Hahn hesitated for a moment and then signed immediately. He did not dare to take any more risks: he could blame moral values ​​for not wanting to build a nuclear bomb, but he refused to sign a confidentiality agreement. Wouldn't that mean he was unreliable and suspected of leaking information? He was a little noble, but not stupid enough.

Hahn felt relieved after signing and asked to see the list of people in the same group. He found two unexpected things at a glance: First, he saw Niels Bohr on the list, a Danish scientist, a leader in quantum physics, and Heisenberg's teacher in terms of academic status. Hahn knew that Bohr was a scholar who opposed violence and insisted on peace. He was not interested in Germany and was completely opposed to building bombs. How could he be on the list?

He hurried to find Heisenberg, and found that Bohr was also in Heisenberg's institute, watching Heisenberg's relevant achievements with great interest. Hahn asked anxiously, "What's going on?"

"The situation is very complicated."

"I was 'invited' by you." Bohr was obviously very unhappy and emphasized the word "invited".

"The Imperial Security Bureau obtained intelligence that explosives were found under the Institute of Theoretical Physics and the particle cyclotron in Copenhagen. Dr. Werner-Best (German Governor in Denmark) asked me to write a letter to ask the teacher to come to Germany. I didn't want him to get into trouble, so I invited him..."

"Did they use force against you?" Hahn asked Bohr.

"Use force? No... Dr. Best is a civilized man. He disdains to do such things. The explosives are real, but why do you think it must be done by Britain and the United States?" Bohr shouted, "I think this is a huge conspiracy."

"The reason is simple. If the SS wants to kill you, one bullet is enough. There is no need to go through so much trouble." Heisenberg was worried, "It's good that the teacher is here. Stay in Berlin with peace of mind. Safety is guaranteed here."

"Safe? Humph! It's just a cage."

Hahn couldn't help but smile bitterly, but he didn't want to add fuel to the fire: "Don't think too much. Although the SS's methods have been a little more intense, the attitude towards Jews has changed a lot in the past six months - although it is still very unsatisfactory. As for the rest, We will not let you do things you don't want to do against your morals and wishes. You can take us to study nuclear energy together, or continue to study your quantum mechanics. Marshal Milch told me that we will receive 200 million marks in research funding, uranium raw materials or Element 94 is also fully guaranteed, with low abundance and high abundance. The heavy water reactor will continue to be managed by us, and the conditions are better than your laboratory, so the relevant research will not be interrupted. If you have any information in Copenhagen , just ask someone to get it..."

"High abundance!" Bohr looked at the two of them in surprise, "Do they really want it?..."

"Shh!" Heisenberg lowered his voice, "Don't discuss this matter in the future, it has nothing to do with us."

"It just so happens that you are all here..." Just as the three of them were whispering, Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker came outside.

"I'm going to find you." Hahn stood up excitedly. The second unexpected thing today was that Weizsäcker, who had been collaborating with him on plutonium research and had a concept of peace, was not on the list.

"Yes, I changed my mind and joined the bomb squad..."

"What's wrong with you?" Heisenberg was extremely surprised. He was so anxious to help Bohr settle down that he didn't pay attention to the others. He never dreamed that Weizsäcker would change his mind. "They put pressure on you?"

"No." Weizsäcker shook his head. "I thought about it a lot after I got home. I was very painful, but I finally made this decision. My family is a Prussian noble, and I can't be sorry for the von in the middle of my name. My father was in diplomacy I served as State Secretary (Ernst von Weizsäcker, who served as Adjutant of the Navy of Wilhelm II). One of my brothers died in Poland, and the youngest brother (Richard von Weizsäcker, who moved to Germany) Interested readers can go to Baidu.) The head of state is right to say that I can't let my brother's blood be shed in vain, and I can't let my father be hanged because of the failure of the war - I can't let them be sorry!"

The three of them were silent. After a long time, Heisenberg was the first to speak: "I respect your choice and wish you success."

"Thank you." Weizsäcker raised his head, tears flashing in the corners of his eyes, "There will be very few opportunities to meet each other in the future. If you, especially Mr. Bohr, encounter trouble in life or work, please tell me. My father and I passed On the phone, he said he would help and he could talk to the big shots.”

"Thank you for your kindness. No matter what, we will still be friends."

In the evening of that day, Hoffmann delivered a mobilization speech to the bomb squad composed of more than 70 scholars. Himmler, Speer, Goebbels, etc. were all present.

“In the great cause of German rejuvenation, personal power is small, organizational power is powerful, and the most powerful thing is the unity and struggle rooted in the heart... Politically speaking, the party is the core force that leads everything... We The party's governance has a legal basis. It did not come to power through conspiracy, coups or violent rebellions. The entire German people elected us with votes. Our achievements after taking power are also obvious to all. We restored Germany's economy and broke the economic crisis. The yoke of the Treaty of Versailles defeated Europe's old enemies and restored the empire's strength and glory with iron and blood... This shows that the people's vision is not only accurate but also far-sighted!"

"Long live the Empire! Long live the Führer!"

"It is under the strong leadership of the party that individuals have their place. You can see - Speer, who was only an unknown third-rate architect before, is now the Reich Minister of Arms; Himmler, who has no party , he was probably still a chicken farmer, and now he is the national leader of the SS; Ribbentrop may still be a champagne seller, and it is impossible to be the foreign minister; Goebbels has a doctorate, but at best he can only work in a newspaper office Seeking for a mid-level position; and I am just a retired foreign corporal..." Hoffman's speech was very engaging, "Our starting point is very low, we do not have huge and deep-rooted family resources behind us, let alone a prominent authoritative person. But we relied on sincere unity, enthusiasm, and unremitting struggle to finally create a miracle and bring Germany to where it is today... This shows that hard work is much more important and critical than talent!”

"Like me, most of you are from the lower class. Except for a few gentlemen, you don't even have Feng in your name. In the academic field, you are not the top or most authoritative people. Some of you are even openly laughed at by academic authorities... But The gap between you and the world's academic authorities is much smaller than the gap between us and the political elite! I believe that you are standing at a higher starting point! With your unwavering faith and relying on strict organization and sincere unity under the leadership of the party, you will definitely be able to achieve earth-shattering things!”

Everyone applauded!

"I have made up my mind that the nuclear bomb must be built, no matter what the cost! You shoulder the ardent expectations of the entire German people and bear the great trust of the era of Germany's strong rise. This will definitely turn into a way for you to continue to move forward and climb to new heights. With endless motivation, you will definitely leave an indelible milestone on the great road of German rejuvenation! Future generations of Germany will be proud of you! Finally, please sing the national anthem with me..."

"Deutsch, Deutsch, you are above everything! Above everything in the world..."