Everything Everywhere Daily The Soviet Bomb
Aug 9, 2025
Discover how the Soviet Union shocked the world by successfully testing its first atomic bomb in 1949, defying predictions about their nuclear capabilities. Delve into the surprising role the U.S. played in aiding Soviet advancements through espionage and captured resources. The podcast reveals the early struggles and breakthroughs of the Soviet atomic program, culminating in a significant shift in global nuclear dynamics that ignited an arms race between superpowers. It's a captivating look at a pivotal moment in history.
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State Power Focused Resources
- Stalin and Beria centralized authority to push the bomb with emergency powers over resources and personnel.
- The state prioritized nuclear work, using Gulag labor and privileging materials and transport.
Espionage Was A Force Multiplier
- Spies in the Manhattan Project gave the USSR technical answers that avoided many tests.
- That intelligence cut years off the Soviet program.
Klaus Fuchs And Other Manhattan Spies
- Klaus Fuchs supplied detailed technical reports and designs to the Soviets from Los Alamos.
- Other agents like Gold, Greenglass, and Hall relayed sketches and reports that aided Soviet analysts.