Atom bomb-free World War Two

Darksoul

Banned
Assume if you will that Japan surrenders before the atomic bomb is completed and ready for deployment. This can be caused by earlier Soviet entry or the Japanese screwing up worse earlier, or by some internal delay of the Manhattan project. The bottom line is that WWII ends and nuclear weapons have not been put to use.

How does this affect the policy surrounding nuclear weapons? When, if ever, are they revealed to the public? Without a demonstration of their power, would leaders be less hesitant to use them in combat?
 
Many people originally thought of them as nothing more than big bombs. Much of the horrific raditation effects were not expected. If the US has them, the US is likely to use them at the first relevant opportunity in the next war.

Without a demonstratable bomb, it is possible Stalin does not make acquisition a priority. This will delay a Soviet bomb for many years.

This will affect US deterrance planning against a Soviet invasion of Western Europe. Lots of butterflies of what might happen from 1945-1950.
 
Many people originally thought of them as nothing more than big bombs. Much of the horrific raditation effects were not expected. If the US has them, the US is likely to use them at the first relevant opportunity in the next war.

Without a demonstratable bomb, it is possible Stalin does not make acquisition a priority. This will delay a Soviet bomb for many years.

This will affect US deterrance planning against a Soviet invasion of Western Europe. Lots of butterflies of what might happen from 1945-1950.

Stalin already had a Fat Man bomb copied down to the thumbtacks in Russia by the time of the Trinity test. It only lacked enriched plutonium. Though for much of the history of the USSR, they continued to fail to understand the radiation effects of nuclear weapons.

Personally, I don't see a lot of butterflies. Between Stalin's knowledge of them, and the Trinity test (not to do THAT is ASB), deterrence will still be in effect. Stalin didn't WANT a conquest of Western Europe. It was all he could do to feed the East.
 

Darksoul

Banned
Personally, I don't see a lot of butterflies. Between Stalin's knowledge of them, and the Trinity test (not to do THAT is ASB), deterrence will still be in effect. Stalin didn't WANT a conquest of Western Europe. It was all he could do to feed the East.

Stalin would know, but average citizens wouldn't, which might impact foreign policy decision making quite a bit.
 
Stalin would know, but average citizens wouldn't, which might impact foreign policy decision making quite a bit.

I try not to be cynical, but I think it's questionable how much impact the average Soviet citizen had on their foreign policy.
 

Darksoul

Banned
I try not to be cynical, but I think it's questionable how much impact the average Soviet citizen had on their foreign policy.

:p

I mean American citizens. I think they have a pretty big impact on how the nation is run, or so I'd like to think.
 
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