| View Larger Image | Red Cloud at Dawn: Truman, Stalin, and the End of the Atomic Monopoly | Hardcoverby Michael D. Gordin (Author)
| List Price: | $28.00 | | Price: | $18.48 | | You Save: | $9.52 (34%) | | | Available: | Usually ships in 24 hours |
| | Binding: | Hardcover | | Publisher: | Farrar, Straus and Giroux | | Page Count: | 416 Pages | | Publication Date: | September 29, 2009 | | Sales Rank: | 202,788nd |
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FEATURES | - ISBN13: 9780374256821
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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EDITORIAL REVIEWS |
Product Description
On August 29, 1949, the first Soviet test bomb, dubbed First Lightning, exploded in the deserts of Kazakhstan. The startling event was not simply a technical experiment that confirmed the ability of the Soviet Union to build nuclear bombs during a period when the United States held a steadfast monopoly; it was also an international event that marked the beginning of an arms race that would ultimately lead to nuclear proliferation beyond the two superpowers. Following a trail of espionage, secrecy, deception, political brinksmanship, and technical innovation, Michael D. Gordin challenges conventional technology-centered nuclear histories by looking at the prominent roles that atomic intelligence and other forms of information play in the uncertainties of nuclear arms development and political decision-making. With the use of newly opened archives, Red Cloud at Dawn focuses on the extraordinary story of First Lightning to provide a fresh understanding of the origins of the nuclear arms race, as well as the all-too-urgent problem of proliferation. "The dramatic but familiar story of how American leaders used nuclear weaponry to end World War II marks but the beginning of the little-understood period during which American leaders jealously protected their hard-won monopoly in atomic firepower while fearfully anticipating Soviet breakthroughs that would loose the dynamics of global proliferation. In his taut narrative, Gordin retraces the complex events leading up to First Lightning, the Soviets' epoch-making atomic test in August 1949—far sooner than most American experts expected. More than a tale of scientific ingenuity, this chronicle probes the human motives of those involved in a high-stakes drama. Truman and Stalin naturally command center stage, but readers also scrutinize the mercurial Oppenheimer and the irreproachable Kurchatov—and numerous other key actors. Readers will recognize parallels between the Soviet bomb effort and America's earlier Manhattan Project, but Gordin stresses the marked differences—in organization, resources, personnel, and security precautions. Readers may already know how spies—Fuchs, Hall, Hiss—passed along secrets to Soviet authorities; however, they may not realize why the Soviets relied on human espionage while their American counterparts deployed innovative technology to gather their intelligence data. A perceptive study, rich with implications for a twenty-first-century world still fraught with nuclear tensions."—Bryce Christensen, Booklist (starred review) |
CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 5.0 based on 1 review)
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ARMAGEDDON SHARED by Paul Gelman (HAIFA , ISRAEL)  5 Stars
October 10, 2009
August 29,1949 would have been another day in the history of mankind, had it not been the day when the American monopoly over the atom bomb had come to an end.On that day,the first Soviet bomb, called "First Lightning" exploded in the deserts of Kazakhstan.This event was to lead to nuclear proliferation beyond the two supepowers.
The book starts with the Potsdam Conference, where Truman had revealed to the Russian dictator Stalin that the USA were in the possession of a devastating weapon.Stalin remained calm and it was at this point where speculation started as to the reasons of why Stalin has reacted(or did not react)the way he had.One thing was clear:the Russians knew berofehand about the American atom project,called "Manhattan".They obtained this information from so many spies who were responsible for transmitting this news to them.These spies were not necessarily employed by the GRU or the NKGB bosses.There were many scientists, like Klaus Fuchs or Alan Nunn May who were working for comrade Stalin because they shared his ideological ideas.The extent of espionage about the "Manhattan Project" for the development of the first Soviet nuclear bomb became known after the Russian archives holding relevant materials
opened their gates to the public and scholars alike.One of Moscow spymasters was Pavel Sudoplatov-the man who was also responsible for dispatching the man who would assassinate Leon Trotsky in Mexico in 1940.Sudoplatov claimed that Beria summoned him in February 1944 to head a new department (dubbed "S") to deal with atomic espionage.This department was to integrate the information which the NKGB and the GRU got from their various sources.The name of the whole espionage operation was "Enormoz",showing the extent of suh a mammoth enterprise.
There were many rings of spies that were vying for the atom secrets.The most famous one was the notorious Cambridge Five Group.Among its members there were Kim Philby and Guy Burgess.
Then the defection of Igor Gouzenko, a Russian cipher clerk ,in Canada in 1945, demonstrated again what the west had suspected before: the most secret project of theirs was riddlled with spies and informers.
But ,as Professor Gordin makes it clear, all this information was not good enough for the Russians.They had so many pieces of information but they never knew whether these purloined secret papers were authentic or part of a deception plan.Second, they needed a lot of scientists to make sense of the huge amount of information that was making its way to the center of Moscow.
Third, the Russians were not naive.At the end of WW2, they have taken steps in order to ensure that Nazi scientists ,who were suspected of having relevant infornmation about nuclear fission,would be convinced to cross over to their side.The recruitment of German scientists was to take part during May to November 1945 and this process continued until 1948.The recruited were scientists, engineers and lab assistants-three hundred in all.
The following chapters of the book detail the everyday routine of those working to satisfy Stalin and his henchman, Beria.Professor Gordin asks many questions about what each side knew or did not know about the other's intentions.
We also get a very detailed account of the American reactions when they heard about the successful Russian experiment.These is done with the help of many American and Russian sources offering new perspectives on the issue.He highlights the role played by key players in this drama, such as Bernard Baruch,David Lilienthal and Dean Acheson as well as those scientists who were responsible for the development of the Russian bomb.
Nuclear proliferation started in 1949 and is still with us,unfortunately.This is why this book is so relevant and merits to be read by everyone who cares about our planet.
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