Analysis of Klaus Fuchs' Espionage Case

For many, the predominant issue of the Cold War was the threat of nuclear weapons. Stalin had learned of the Manhattan Project by 1943 and begun the development of a Soviet bomb. Were it not for the Manhattan Project, this threat would not have existed and the Cold War would not have been.

(Doc C). Next, Winston Churchill’s recollection of the Potsdam Conference also emphasized the need to end the war before Soviet intervention. It seemed to be a mutual agreement between the U.S. and Britain that the two powers should not need the Red Army to end the war with Japan (Doc E). Finally, nuclear physicist Leo Szilard’s recollection of a 1945 meeting between James Byrnes and a group of concerned atomic scientists supports the idea that America dropped the atomic bomb to intimidate the U.S.S.R. The scientists were very concerned about the rapid spreading of Russian influence in Europe, which probably contributed to the U.S. policy of containment. Due to this fear, James Byrnes and the atomic scientists believed that demonstrating the bomb would make the Soviet Union more manageable in Europe. One can also argue that this approach can be related the John Foster Dulles theory of massive retaliation, which is the belief that the threat of “massive of retaliation” with nuclear weapons would stop Soviet aggression. Therefore, one can argue that the dropping of the atomic bomb was a diplomatic measure calculated to intimidate the Soviet Union and one can argue that this idea was backed by the theories of containment and massive retaliation.

Hanssen claimed that he originally started spying because his FBI salary was to scanty to support his wife and three kids (Ellard, 2003). Throughout his entire career has a spy he accumulated approximately $600, 000 worth of diamonds and cash, and $800,000 dollars more in a Russian escrow bank account in Moscow (Pluta, 2001). Hanssen was very aware of the severity of his actions and took immense precautions in protecting his identity. In order to stay off the FBI’s radar Hanssen never let his Russian handlers know his actual identity and whom he specifically worked for. He used different aliases including B, Ramon Garcia and Jim Baker (Mcgeary, 2001). Part of Hanssen’s long-standing success as a spy revolved around his excellent positions within the Bureau, his tradecraft and personal

Even before the outbreak of War, the United States was concerned with a fascist regime in Europe researching in nuclear weapons. In retaliation, the United States began to fund an atomic weapon development program which became known as “The Manhattan Project” led by J. Robert Oppenheimer. Over the next several years, the Manhattan project started obtaining key materials such as Uranium-235 and Plutonium and testing prototypes until they reached a working model (Coroner).

The Berlin Wall stood for almost thirty years. The wall represented post-war repression of human rights, disrespect, conflict and disharmony. The Cold War threatened the world with the risk of military conflict, that if it had escalated into nuclear confrontation between powers, there would exist complete annihilation of human kind. The sad reality is that war could be fought using nuclear weapons. An atomic bomb is a nuclear weapon that has tremendous destructive potential. "If there is any hope to be found in nuclear weapons, it of the fact that they have finally made war too terrible to contemplate" ("The Making of..." 2). The history of the atomic bomb goes back to 1934. An Italian-American physicist named Enrico Fermi began experimentation on uranium and neutrons. Not completely convinced of his experiments being a success, two other scientists repealed Fermi 's work in 1938. Otto Frisch and Lise Meitner proved that the "uranium nuclei in Fermi 's experiment had been fissioned by the neutrons fired at them" ("Atomic Bomb" 1). The results of these experiments lead to events of the beginning of the Cold War.

The book Bomb: The Race to Build–and Steal–the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon is a thrilling, fast-paced story that refines a great deal of history into interesting and understandable literature for practically any age reader. The author, Steve Sheinkin, writes to tell the story of the first atomic bomb, the people who made it possible, and those who challenged its progress. Any person who is interested in science, history, or would like an enjoyable, quick read could read Bomb and easily understand the basics behind the creation of the atomic bomb. Along with the science and mathematics of the atomic bomb, Sheinkin adds the suspense and intrigue from the viewpoints of espionage agents from the Soviet Union, Germany, Great Britain, and the

Well known scientist Albert Einstein, who fled from Nazi persecution, and Enrico Fermi who escaped Fascist Italy, were now living in the United States, on which they both agreed that the President should be enlightened of the vulnerability of atomic technology that was in the hands of Axis power. Fermi made an attempt and travelled to Washington in March to express his involvement with the government officials, who showed little to no concern. Einstein who as well shared a great concern in this topic; penned a letter to President Roosevelt imploring the development of an atomic research program later that year. Roosevelt saw neither prerequisite nor adequacy for such a project, but agreed to proceed gradually. In late 1941, the American effort to scheme and build an atomic bomb which received the code name as the Manhattan Project. The very first research was placed at only a few universities such as Columbia University, University of Chicago, and the University in California at Berkeley. The

U.S. intelligence operatives reported that scientists working for Adolf Hitler were already working on a nuclear weapon.

The decision to drop the atomic bomb, made by President Truman, was largely influenced by political factors rather than military factors. Traditionalist historians argue from the military perspective that the bomb was used to end the war as quickly as possible and with as minimal causalities as possible. Revisionist historians, on the other hand, argue the political perspective where they believe that the bomb was dropped as a diplomatic tool to intimidate the rising superpower that was the Soviet Union. In 1945, there was little reason to doubt the traditionalist perspective; however, in retrospect, with the evidence now gathered and available, it was very likely there were other strategic reasons that played a larger role in the decision Truman had made. By observing the historical timeline, the Cold War began shortly after World War II. Truman was aware of the rising power of the USSR and the threat of the spread of communism into Europe and Asia. The fear of this threat was what likely influenced him and Congress to use the bomb more so than the desire to end the war more efficiently.

Spies have always been popular in fiction and history. As kids, we perceive them as people dressed in black with spy gadgets that we could never even imagine, but then as we get older we start to realize there is more than just gadgets and black uniforms. Everyday, spies risk their lives. This made me think what it would be like to be a spy during a war, and specifically during World War II.

The investigation began when the FBI found a name, Klaus Fuchs, written in a notebook of a Russian spy. Dr. Fuchs had worked on Manhattan Project (the secret name for the project which worked on the development of the atomic bomb) from 1943 to 1946. When Dr. Fuchs was arrested, he confessed that he was giving the information about the bomb to the Soviet Union. However, Fuchs was not the only one. Harry Gold who was a Philadelphia biochemist said that he was told by his Soviet contact Yakovlev to meet Fuchs in Santa Fe New Mexico on June 2, 1945, where Fuchs would give him

From after World War II, to the Cold War, to the creation of the atomic bomb, America’s fear grew stronger. Espionage played an important role in the paranoia of the country. Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were executed for conspiracy in committing espionage because of the unwarranted paranoia of a nuclear attack by the Russians and the unjustified fear of the Soviet Union in the 1950s.

Though the scientists themselves were the ones to encourage the creation of the atom bomb, their plans and views differed immensely from those of the military. As World War II raged on, Germany was suspected of harnessing atomic energy and directing it into powering a weapon. Albert Einstein, agreeing with Leo Silzard, the man who first thought into the concept, urged President Franklin D. Roosevelt to look further into the study of atomic energy and the possibility of using it for a bomb. President Roosevelt, fearing the German’s advances in this study, quickly agreed and sent money to the University of Chicago to begin the study and research of atomic energy. (Roleff 62) (The Manhattan Project 1) Upon sending this money, the top-secret research program and building of the atomic bomb began. Later moving from Chicago to Los Alamos, New Mexico, this secret project was called the Manhattan Project. (1) Einstein later explained that his recommendation to the president was to only further the United State’s knowledge of this energy and to have an extra line of defense if the Germans were to ever launch a nuclear attack. (Roleff 62) When the possibility of using one of these weapons was

Years after the trial had ended, Alexander Feklisov, with the help of Sergei Kostin, published his book The Man behind the Rosenbergs which begins with Julius’s recruitment. Julius was conveyed to the Soviets attention by Bernard Schuster, a friend of Julius (108). The initial contact was at a Labor Day rally, when Soviet Nationalist approached him. The spies and Julius talked about Communist; Semyon, Julius’s first recruiting agent, impressed with Julius’s Communist beliefs and attitude quickly asked him to become a spy. Julius allegedly swore to do all he could for the Soviets (109). However, Semyon was deactivated and Julius had to be contacted again. Feklisov was assigned to reinstate contact to the Julius (110). Feklisov opened up to Julius to gain is trust, quickly succeeding. Since meeting with contacts had to be short, more time with a contact increased the likelihood of being discovered by the government,

At the end of World War I and the beginning of World War II scientist started to develop new ways to to react to wars.Scientist like Julius Robert Oppenheimer with the help of Albert Einstein created the first atomic bomb called the “Little Boy” and the “FatMan”. Oppenheimer was the director of the Los Alamos Laboratory in New Mexico. He was incharge of gather the best minds to develop weapons of mass destruction. Oppenheimer along with 200 other physics developed weapons that would change the world forever.