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The London Blitzkrieg
On the this day in history, the German's started bombing London called the Blitzkrieg. The Blitz was a period of intense bombing lead by the German's to demoralize Britian's population and force them to surrender. -
Robert J. Oppenheimer
On this day, Dr. Oppenheimer estimates that the the first atom bomb, a.k.a nuke or nuclear bomb, will be ready in 1943. -
Project Manhattan
The U.S. begins the first massive effort to make the bomb(s). Coded-named Manhattan Project -
Enrico Fermi
Enrico Fermi begins the crucial experiment of testing the chain reaction of the released energy of the atomic nucleus and it works. This experiment is crucial because its the first man-made self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction achieved. -
Los Alamos, New Mexico
Dr. Oppenheimer moves to Los Alamos, New Mexico to continue his work on the first nuclear bomb. Los Alamos was a secret area that the government created so the Germans/Japanese wouldn't destroy all the progress of the bomb. -
First shipment of plutonium
On this day, the first shipment of plutonium arrives at Los Alamos from Hanford. The plutonium is the energy source of the "Fat Man," a huge, devastating bomb. -
D-Day
On this day, joint U.S. and British Armed Forces, attacked the German occupied coast of France which is the first step for Europe's freedom from the Nazis. -
Enola Gay
The Enola Gay was the name of a B-29 that was altered to carry nuclear weapons. They arrived on the Mariana Islands, which was a support base, 1,500 miles from Japan. -
Jackson dies in London
Stephen and his cousin Jackson hear that the bombing has stopped and go up to the roof. Using a crystal radio they hear what sounds like German. Next thing they know the Germans are bombing again and the door leading downstairs is locked.They hide under a vent but Jackson freaks out, running out of safety when a bomb hits near them. Jackson gets thrown off of the building into the destroyed church graveyard below...... dead. -
Stephen begins the move to Los Alamos, New Mexico, U.S.A.
LIving in London is becoming too dangerous ,so his mom makes Stephen leave London to go live with his father. Stephen is by himself on a truck in New Mexico going to a place called Los Alamos. Stephen's dad is working there, helping some guy with a huge secret project. Stephen is told by officials that he can't talk to anyone about Los Alamos or else it is treason of the U.S.A. -
Harry Truman
This day is the Franklin D. Roosevelt dies and Harry Truman becomes President. As President, Truman gives the approval of the nuclear project. -
Stephen and the Project
Stephen feels the need to know everything there is to know about the project in Los Alamos. He spends his days trying to find out whats going on in the labs of Los Alamos. -
General Dwight Eisenhower
General Dwight Eisenhower is told on this day that the bomb is ready for use. He opposes on two grounds: 1. the Japanese are ready to surrender and 2. he does not want for the U.S. to be the first country to use it. -
Bombed Japan
The Enola Gay drops the uranium bomb, "Little Boy," on Hiroshima and kills an estimated 140,000 people. -
Bombed Nagasaki
Three days later, a plutonium bomb, "Fat Man," was dropped on Nagasaki. The fat man only killed 70,000, half of what the "Little Boy" did to Hiroshima. -
Japan signs formal surrender
Emperor Hirohito sighns a formal surrender on the deck of the U.S. battleship, Missouri. -
Suspicions
Everyone is Los Alamos is becoming more and more suspicious of spies in Los Alamos because of the project. -
The Spy
After celebrating that the war is over, it turns out that there is a spy! Someone Stephen knows and trusts is actually a Russian spy. Stephen is in danger....read the Gadget by Paul Zindel to find out what happens to Stephen!
