Cold War I: Citizen Kurchatov

CHAPTERS

Introduction

OTHER EPISODES

Outline of Video Content

This outline of major events is correlated with the video program "Citizen Kurchatov." Teachers may choose to use this outline for a lecture to prepare students in advance of viewing the video program, or use while showing the video, allowing opportunities to pause the video for discussion and clarification. The entire video program is approximately 20 minutes long.

Revolution, Josef Stalin, and Igor Kurchatov (Start of video)

The narrator of the video describes the story of nuclear bomb making in the Soviet Union as "doubly fascinating and doubly repulsive" because it occurred during the totalitarian control of Premier Josef Stalin, widely considered to be one of the "most terrible rulers of the century." Both fear and opportunity propelled physicist Igor Kurchatov to work for Stalin and use his enthusiasm for technology to help build a better Soviet life. Even though this occurred during one of the most repressive times, when collectivization, mass starvation, and murder were the norm, Igor Kurchatov turned out to be in the "right place at the right time."

Nuclear Secrets (Approximately 5 minutes after start)

In 1938, German scientists successfully split the uranium nucleus, and the idea of harnessing the tremendous energy produced during this reaction gave rise to the idea of developing atomic weapons. However, when Germany attacked the Soviet Union in June 1941, all work on nuclear energy in the Soviet Union ceased in order to help develop weapons for the war effort. When Soviet spies reported that Great Britain and the United States were working on the development of an atomic bomb, Kurchatov began a "catch-up" program to develop nuclear weapons.

A New Weapon (Approximately 8 minutes after start)

The first test of an atomic weapon occurred at Alamogordo, New Mexico on July 16, 1945. The use of these weapons by the U.S. in wartime, at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, caused Stalin to order Kurchatov to develop a Soviet atomic bomb by 1948. Kurchatov enthusiastically obeyed, believing that it was his patriotic duty to sacrifice for his country, which had been devastated by World War II. Moreover, the Soviets feared the United States would use the atomic bomb to push its interests in other parts of the world -- perhaps against the Soviet Union and its allies. Kurchatov mobilized the resources of the Soviet Union to mine uranium, design and build a reactor, separate isotopes, develop a plutonium production reactor and a plutonium purification plant, and design and manufacture a bomb. Even though American atomic secrets had been smuggled to the Soviet Union -- which helped reduce the time needed to build a bomb by one to two years -- Kurchatov proceeded to recheck the scientific work and "reinvent with Soviet hands and minds" all that was needed to develop this new weapon.

Arzamas-16 (Approximately 12 minutes after start)

Violent threats from Lavrenti Beria, head of the Soviet secret police, to speed up production of an atomic bomb or "you will be camp dust" ultimately led to the construction of Arzamas-16, a top-secret production plant east of the Urals nicknamed "Los Arzamas." On December 1946, Kurchatov succeeded in producing a chain reaction at Los Arzamas; he declared "Atomic energy is servant to Soviet man."

Atomic Powers (Approximately 13 minutes after start)

On August 29, 1949, after a series of delays, the Soviet Union successfully tested its first atomic bomb. Kurchatov had delivered what his country had ordered, and he gained new status and respect.

Super Bomb (Approximately 14 minutes after start)

Using the principle of hydrogen fusion, scientists in both the U.S. and the Soviet Union began work on a more powerful thermonuclear bomb. The United States tested its first hydrogen bomb on November 1, 1952, and the Soviet Union followed with a successful test on August 12, 1953. Kurchatov bowed to Andrei Sakharov, its chief designer, and said, "Thanks to you, who have saved Russia."

Cold War (Approximately 16 minutes after start)

The arms race between the Soviet Union and the United States accelerated. The nuclear arms race, combined with the psychological impact of the first powerful test results, caused Kurchatov to question nuclear policy. Even though he promoted the peaceful use of atomic energy, he continued to work on weapons development. Finally, in 1956, he withdrew from supervising nuclear bomb tests.

The Good of Mankind (Approximately 18 minutes after start)

After the death of Josef Stalin in 1953, Nikita Khrushchev rose to power. In 1956 he began denouncing the excesses of Stalin. Kurchatov was invited to speak to the first People's Congress, where he proclaimed, "Comrades, Soviet scientists would like to work with those of all countries, including America, but the U.S. must first accept our offer to ban all nuclear weapons." In 1956 both Khrushchev and Kurchatov visited Great Britain, where Kurchatov shared some Soviet research on fusion. He continued his work on civilian uses of nuclear energy, and concluded in his last public address in 1960, "I'm glad that I have dedicated my life to Soviet nuclear science. I believe that our people and government will use that science only for the good of mankind."