Fritz Haber was a contested recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for developing a process using atmospheric nitrogen for ammonia synthesis, primarily due to his wartime efforts on behalf of Germany. The Haber Process was used by the Germans to make explosives during World War I after access to nitrates were cut off by Allied blockades (The Nobel Foundation, 2014). Additionally, Haber developed chemical weapons used against Allied forces. Later controversy was surely stirred by the fact that Haber developed the poisonous gas, Zyklon B, used at Auschwitz. In an ironic twist of fate, Haber was Jewish by birth (Manchester, 2002). The Haber Process has many positive implications. It allows nitrogen to be pulled directly from the atmosphere,
There was some positive consequences to this lethal weapon further research into nuclear energy and development of a possible “clean” fuel source. Nuclear
These ventures into atomic agriculture and medicine were primarily fueled by organizations like the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) and were used to justify a reason for atomic research that did not revolve around atomic weapons. This concern about the uses of atomic energy is further reflected in Eisenhower’s “Atom’s Peace” speech when he says, “Against the dark background of the atomic bomb, the United States does not wish merely to present strength, but also the desire and the hope for peace.” This quotation shows the need for peaceful applications of atomic energy.
The use of atomic weapons by the United States during WWII brought light to humanity’s natural envy and desire to outperform others. During August of 1939 The United States government became aware of the German nuclear program when the famous scientist Albert Einstein wrote to President Roosevelt and warned him about the German advancement (Nuclear Arms Race). In his article,
Some historical revisionists have argued that the Holocaust figures have been greatly exaggerated. David Irving, a historical revisionist, claims that Nazis never planned to exterminate the Jews, that the killing factories, lethal gas chambers and gas vans did not exist and that the number of five to six million Jewish victims is an irresponsible exaggeration. Irvin doesn’t deny that the Germans killed many Jews in the occupied Soviet territories but considers the figures to be heavily inflated by Holocaust witnesses that have either falsified or exaggerated important aspects of their stories to gain sympathy. Based on the examination reports of hydrogen cyanide deposits in the gas chambers completed by engineer Fred Leuchter, Irvin mendaciously
The publication in 1961 of Fritz Fischer book Germany 's Aims in the First World War, caused a wave of reactions from other historians and the general public. His claim angered German historians because it stated that Germany was solely responsible for the outbreak of World War I because they had “aggressive war aims in 1914.” According to Fischer, World War I was the excuse Germany needed to advance these aims. Although Fischer’s claim focused only on Germany the impact he made was felt among other nations who had also taken part in World War I. In turn each of these nations reacted differently to it. However, through articles written by T.G Otte and J.F.V Keiger some similarities appear between Britain and
Gas chambers and bombers dot the imagination when one thinks of Holocaust science, as do lies. The rise of pseudoscience marked the intellectual period in German science that in part led to the Holocaust. Villainous figures such as Nazi scientist Josef Mengele exemplify the method in which Nazis masked racist propaganda under the veil of ethos of scientists. However, during the period where fake science was so prominent, real discoveries were also being utilized and ignored in Germany, and thus it must be concluded that it was through both pseudoscience and the availability of new technology that the Nazis executed their infamous genocide.
In fear that Nazi Germany was developing an atomic bomb, on December 6 1941, scientists, engineers and the army raced to build the first man-made atomic bomb. These combined efforts provide the United States with wartime military advantage was dubbed ‘The Manhattan Project’. However, when by late 1944, concrete intelligence confirmed that Germany’s work on atomic weaponry had
In this essay critical thinking skills will be used to answer questions about the atomic bomb. First, I will be discussing why the atomic bomb was developed. On December 21st, 1938, nuclear fission was discovered in Germany by Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann. It should be noted that this was nine months before World War II. Many physicists immediately saw that nuclear fission could be used to make extremely deadly bombs. The idea of using chemicals for mass destruction was not a new one. The concept of using nuclear weapons began during World War I. The most obvious reason as to why the atomic bomb was developed is that each nation wanted to be able to defend themselves against their enemy. A report by Otto Frisch and Rudolf Peierls stated that the most effective way to handle an atomic bomb threat was to “counter-threat with a similar bomb… even if it is not intended to use the bomb as a means of attack”.
Because this tribunal values the sanctity of human life above all other values, the prosecution brings Fritz Haber to the bar of justice to prove his guilt in crimes against humanity. We advocate this stance because Fritz Haber played a decisive role in the advocating for and manufacturing of deadly war gases.
On March 16th, 1911, Josef Mengele, the eldest of three sons, was born to Karl and Walburga Mengele in Gunzburg, Germany. In his hometown of Gunzburg, Mengele was considered to be “refined, intelligent, and popular” (“Josef Mengele, Angel of Death”). His family was considered to be upper middle class as the Mengele’s were the owners of a machine tools business. In 1935, Mengele earned a PhD in physical anthropology from the University of Munich. From there, he continues on to the Institute for Hereditary Biology and Racial Hygiene in Frankfurt. While there, Mengele “became the assistant of Dr. Otmer von Verschuer, a leading scientific figure widely known for his research with twins” (“US Holocaust Memorial”).
Quickly as the violent information of this amazing experiment had spread around, a scientist named Robert Oppenheimer had declared “ That's impossible,” “The U Business is unbelievable,” Like most scientists, Oppenheimer was excited as this meant some new possibilities to come forth. Not ever having a single thought of making weapons of mass destruction, he now realized this could be very dangerous if put in the wrong hands. Even faster now the news had spread all the way to Germany making this “news” even more dangerous as to the fact that Hitler was in the middle of making history, and starting the process of elimination of
Published records and private correspondence clearly show Meitner’s role in the discovery of fission. However, racial policies against Jews, which not only drove Meitner out of Germany made it impossible for her to be part of Hahn and Straussmann’s publication and dangerous for Hahn to acknowledge
Then Haber also turned around and decided to study flames and did basis researches on the Bunsen flame showing that in the luminous inner core at this flame. Haber got an award in 1918(awarded in 1919) for fixation of nitrogen from the air. In 1905 he soon published his book on the Thermodynamics of technical gas reaction. Harber then in 1905 published his own book on thermodynamics of technical gas reactions he viewed the productions of small amounts ammonia. He then decided to try the synthesis of ammonia then eventually accomplished it. This lead to Harber being in the establishment with the cooperation of Bosch and Mittasch of the Oppau and Leuna Ammonia Works. During the the years between the two World Wars Haber made an he own foredamp whistle for the protections of miners his quartz thread manometer for low gas pressures. When First World War Harber was appointed a consultant to the German war office organised various gas attacks and defended against them. This and many other work jobs undermined his health situation and for some time he was concentrated in many different chemist administrative
But worst of all, if there was no shame, it meant there was official sanction” (Keneally 1993). After a chemist named Bachner escaped from a death camp and exposed the Nazis usage of gas chambers, the sympathy for the Jews increased, including Schindler who now believed that he must work against the Nazis. He continued to hire Jews at his factory until Nazi SS Commandant Amon Goeth was put in charge of closing the Krakow ghetto by sending 2,000 Jewish inhabitants to Auschwitz and transporting 10,000 to a camp in Plaszow.
1868 to 1934 was the life span of German chemist who the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1918 for his invention of the Haber-Bosch process, the method used in industry to synthesize ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen gases which he previously used to kill thousands of people. Haber is also considered the "father of chemical warfare" Fritz Haber is one of the most important and controversial scientists of the 20th century.