Question for you nuke-heads out there: how critical is Enrico Fermi to the success of the Manhattan Project? I know it was his successful atomic pile in 42 that proved its validity. Could the other US scientists reach that goal in similar time? If not, how far is it, and Manhattan, delayed? Past war's end?
What if he's still in Italy? Say Mussie or his ATL successor never joins/forms the Axis? OTL Fermi and his Jewish wife left Italy for the US in '38 after BM enacted the antisemitic laws at Hitler's insistence. ATL no A-S laws or cozying up to Hitler, ergo no impetus to leave (or impetus to bury any conclusions for fear they'd reach Berlin, for that mater). I seriously doubt Italy is in any way capable of building nukes (not enough resources), but could be forerunners in post-war nuclear theory.
Thoughts?
What if he's still in Italy? Say Mussie or his ATL successor never joins/forms the Axis? OTL Fermi and his Jewish wife left Italy for the US in '38 after BM enacted the antisemitic laws at Hitler's insistence. ATL no A-S laws or cozying up to Hitler, ergo no impetus to leave (or impetus to bury any conclusions for fear they'd reach Berlin, for that mater). I seriously doubt Italy is in any way capable of building nukes (not enough resources), but could be forerunners in post-war nuclear theory.
Thoughts?