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Szilard first realizes the concept of the nuclear chain reaction. Famous quote ~
"We turned the switch, saw the flashes, watched for ten minutes, then switched everything off and went home. That night I knew the world was headed for sorrow" http://inventors.about.com/od/sstartinventors/p/Leo_Szilard.htm -
World War II begins when Germany invades Poland in a blitzkrieg. It was a conflict built from festering resentments after World War I. WWII would last for six years.
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The letter warned of the danger that Germany might develop atomic bombs and suggested that the United States should initiate its own nuclear program. FDR then authorizes the creation of the Advisory Committee on Uranium.
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Six thousand dollars was budgeted for conducting neutron experiments.
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MAUD Committee reported on the use of uranium for a bomb. This report jump started the United States effort to develop an atomic bomb. http://www.atomicarchive.com/Docs/Begin/MAUD.shtml
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President Roosevelt receives MAUD report on the design and costs to develop a nuclear weapon. Roosevelt approves project to confirm MAUD's finding.
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The Manhattan Project was a research and development project that produced the first atomic bombs during World War II. It was led by the United States with the support of the United Kingdom and Canada. http://www.ushistory.org/us/51f.asp
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Germany signed an unconditional surrender at Allied headquarters in Reims, France, to take effect the following day, ending the European conflict of World War II.
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The first nuclear explosion occurred as an implosion-type bomb at the Trinity test, conducted at New Mexico's Alamogordo Bombing and Gunnery Range.
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A gun-type uranium-235 weapon is dropped on Hiroshima, Japan.
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An implosion-type plutonium-239 weapon is dropped on Nagasaki, Japan.
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Japan surrenders, offically putting an end to WWII. Japanese officials sign the surrender document on the U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Harbor. http://www.historynet.com/world-war-ii
