While a number of people have pointed out how in theory a atomic bomb was possible from circa 1939-46 R & D for a such a thing did not really become serious until 1948. A unused artifact of the Cold War is it possible a working Uranium or Plutonium bomb could have been built for use by 1946?
Of course the first obstacle would have been motivation. While the question was investigated as early as 1939 by all the major powers, none did more than laboratory work. The Brit MAUD project was stillborn in 1941, judged impractical; the Soviet research projected results in the 1950s & placed a low priority on it; the German research was also still born, funding for 'Jewish Physics' being dismissed as a waste. Enrico Fermi in Italy had the best theoretical foundation, but dragged his feet until post 1946 after which he acquired funds for his first experimental atomic pile; the Curie laboratory work was interrupted by the German occupation; the US was still playing catch up in the theoretical physics field; Japan did fund two paralle projects, but the lack of resources meant they had only reached advanced laboratory levels for acquiring the necessary isotopes & had no practical work done on construction of a bomb.
Does anyone see any chance of a effective bomb project coming together 1939-42 & producing even a handful of them to use before the end of the war?
Of course the first obstacle would have been motivation. While the question was investigated as early as 1939 by all the major powers, none did more than laboratory work. The Brit MAUD project was stillborn in 1941, judged impractical; the Soviet research projected results in the 1950s & placed a low priority on it; the German research was also still born, funding for 'Jewish Physics' being dismissed as a waste. Enrico Fermi in Italy had the best theoretical foundation, but dragged his feet until post 1946 after which he acquired funds for his first experimental atomic pile; the Curie laboratory work was interrupted by the German occupation; the US was still playing catch up in the theoretical physics field; Japan did fund two paralle projects, but the lack of resources meant they had only reached advanced laboratory levels for acquiring the necessary isotopes & had no practical work done on construction of a bomb.
Does anyone see any chance of a effective bomb project coming together 1939-42 & producing even a handful of them to use before the end of the war?