The Rise of the Third Reich

Vannevar Bush, director of the National Bureau of Scientific Research, received a call from the White House in the middle of the night, asking him to go to the White House immediately to see the president.

45 minutes later, he drove a black Buick car to the door of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue (the White House) and found a long line of cars parked here, as well as some drivers or guards in military uniforms gathered around. Smoking and chatting together.

Something big must have happened!

Vannevar Bush walked into the White House with an ominous premonition. As soon as he entered the door, he saw Colonel Cotton, the presidential adjutant, standing there with a livid face.

"General," said Colonel Cotton, "please follow me."

"Colonel, what happened?" Bush asked as he followed Colonel Cotton.

"It could be the end of the world is coming."

Colonel Cotton's answer startled Bush.

"It's... the end of the world?" Bush asked, "What's going on?"

"You can see for yourself later."

"Look? What are you looking at?"

"See a movie."

"Movie? What movie?"

"A movie about the end of the world."

Apocalyptic movie? Vannevar Bush was led into a movie screening room with a depressing and almost suffocating atmosphere full of questions. It was filled with big shots, including the President and Vice President of the United States, leaders of the House and Senate, Dewey and Truman who were running for president, William Leahy, Marshall, Ernest King, and Army Air Forces Commander Arnold. Waiting for several generals, as well as the Soviet Ambassador to the United States Litvinov and the British Prime Minister (Canada) Viscount Halifax.

No one noticed Vannevar Bush, because everyone was staring intently at the movie screen, where there was an indescribably huge mushroom-shaped smoke cloud rising straight into the sky.

Colonel Cotton walked quickly to Roosevelt, leaned down and whispered something, and then saw the president turn around and wave to Vannevar Bush who was standing at the door of the movie screening room, and said in a hoarse voice: "Vanneva ,come over."

Bush walked over and stood behind the president's wheelchair.

"Vannevar, do you know what we're looking at?" Roosevelt asked in the voice of a funeral eulogist.

"This is?"

"A nuclear fission bomb, the Germans'..." the president replied.

"What?" Although Vannevar Bush is not the direct person in charge of the Manhattan Project, he is also one of the main persons in charge of the US nuclear program. Of course he knows what a nuclear fission bomb is?

"It was sent to us by the Italians," Roosevelt said, rubbing his temples with one hand. "It is absolutely credible...The test explosion was carried out in the Sahara Desert on June 1. The 4.5-ton nuclear fission bomb produced 20,000 tons. The amount of explosives is really terrifying!”

"My God!" Vannevar Bush exclaimed, "Is the United States going to lose the war?"

Roosevelt shook his head and said with a livid face: "Not yet... because the Germans do not yet have aircraft that can carry nuclear fission bombs to bomb the United States. But they must have their own B-36!"

The U.S. B-36 project is to develop a strategic bomber capable of intercontinental bombing. The entire project began in October 1941. However, after the Pearl Harbor incident, the progress of this project was severely delayed. It was not until the surrender of the British mainland in early 1943. Speed ​​up again.

In fact, Germany does not have a super-heavy bomber project like the B-36, because Hessmann has already set his sights on jet bombers. After the surrender of the British mainland, the German aviation industry absorbed many technologies from British jet engines and made great progress, making it possible to study long-range jet bombers. Moreover, it is too difficult to develop an intercontinental heavy bomber like the B-36. A piston engine with more than 3,000 horsepower must first be developed. But if Germany has an engine of this level, directly upgrading the Me264 can also allow it to fly from Guyana to New York carrying an atomic bomb - if the Americans are not equipped with jet fighters, the upgraded Me264 will be enough. Otherwise, even if there is a German version of the B-36, it will be difficult to break through the US air defense network.

Therefore, Germany's next-generation heavy bomber has now been determined to be jet-powered, but the high fuel consumption of jet engines is still an unsolvable problem under current technical conditions. Therefore, the range of German jet heavy bombers in the future will definitely be inferior to that of the Me264, and it is impossible to carry an atomic bomb for a flight across the Atlantic.

But Roosevelt and the U.S. military now don’t know that the Germans don’t use piston heavy bombing. After seeing the blockbusters of German atomic bomb explosions, they immediately thought of the German version of the B-36 flying in with atomic bombs to bomb Manhattan and It's Washington...

"How is the progress of our Manhattan Project?" Roosevelt asked. "Can it be successful in 1945?"

"This..." Vannevar Bush glanced at the movie screen again. The content on it had ended, and the lights in the movie screening room also turned on. "According to Brigadier General Groves' previous report, the Manhattan Project is progressing very quickly. Not ideal, it was difficult to achieve success before 1948.”

"Then find a way to make it ideal!" Roosevelt suddenly raised his voice, "At any cost, we must succeed within 1946... If, if we don't want our descendants to all speak German, we must succeed! If Brigadier General Groves can't do it, then you can take charge of the Manhattan Project yourself!"

Vannevar Bush nodded hard: "Understood, I...I will convey your intention to Brigadier General Groves." He paused and then said, "I think the German nuclear fission bomb test The specific situation is of great reference value to us.”

Roosevelt immediately turned his attention to Director of Strategic Intelligence Donovan, and Donovan immediately said: "Mr. President, Military Intelligence will find out the information at all costs."

Roosevelt was silent for a moment, then turned to the two presidential candidates - Republican Dewey and Democratic Truman.

"Thomas, Harry," Roosevelt said, "one of you two will take over the office of President of the United States of America in a few months... Because of my mistake, one of you was left in such a difficult situation. I am deeply sorry that I will become president.

However, an apology cannot change the serious situation the United States is facing. Under the current circumstances, uniting to tide over the difficulties is the attitude we American politicians and patriots should have. I believe that the first priority for you two now is how to save the United States, right? "

"Of course, Mr. President."

"Mr. President, I ran for president to get America out of this mess."

The two U.S. presidential candidates were busy beating their chests. Roosevelt nodded and said: "Then from now on, you will also participate in the country's major decisions. Although there is no such precedent, the United States is now facing the crisis of self-foundation. At this time, we need to maintain continuity and consistency in our policies.”

"I agree, Mr. President." Truman immediately expressed his support.

Dewey thought for a moment and nodded: "Okay, I think this is the most appropriate arrangement at the moment."

Roosevelt took out a cigarette at this time, and Colonel Cotton took out a lighter and lit it for the president. The President of the United States took a puff of cigarette and said slowly: "Then let's discuss how to deal with this situation now. Let’s have a war.”

When Roosevelt said this, he winked at his chief of staff, William Leahy. Leahy immediately took over the topic and said: "Mr. President, according to intelligence, the performance of the Germans' most advanced long-range strategic bomber is almost the same as that of the B-29. Although the maximum range can exceed 9,000 kilometers, it can carry a 4.5-ton nuclear bomb. The combat radius at that time should not exceed 2,500 kilometers.

In other words, we must ensure that there are no German air bases within 2,500 kilometers around major cities on the east coast of the United States. At the same time, air defense circles must be deployed near major cities and a sufficient number of interceptor fighters must be deployed just in case. "

What Admiral Leahy is talking about now are countermeasures that were urgently negotiated with Marshall, Ernest King, and Arnold after learning that Germany had a nuclear fission bomb.

It goes without saying that we will go all out to develop nuclear weapons. However, atomic bombs are not something that can be built simply by making them. Before the United States possesses atomic bombs, it can only rely on strict defense to protect the big cities on the east coast.

"The Caribbean islands, Bermuda, the Bahamas and Newfoundland in northeastern Canada are all islands that may become take-off airports for German long-range bombers loaded with nuclear bombs." Army Aviation Commander General Arnold took over the topic , said, "These islands must be defended and must not fall!"

Chief of Naval Operations Ernest King also made a suggestion at this time: "Mr. President, in order to defend the Caribbean and Newfoundland, the Navy must concentrate its forces in the Atlantic. Therefore... I suggest that a settlement be made in the Pacific as soon as possible. If If a satisfactory peace treaty cannot be achieved, we must attack Japan at all costs, seize the Hawaiian Islands, and blow up Japan's oil facilities on the Southeast Asian islands. If necessary, chemical weapons and biological weapons should be used decisively in combat."

Roosevelt took a puff of cigarette, shook his head and said: "Germany has a nuclear fission bomb... Japan will definitely be unwilling to negotiate, at least until the Japanese are severely attacked by us, there will be no room for peace talks between us and the Japanese. . Are all B-29s deployed now?

"165 aircraft have been deployed to the east coast of Australia and are ready to be dispatched at any time." Admiral Arnold said.

"Then attack immediately!" Roosevelt pondered for a moment and then asked, "Are the mustard gas, anthrax spore bombs and plague weapons ready?"

"It has been deployed to Niihau Island." Admiral Arnold said, "And the heavy bombers used to drop these chemical and biological weapons have also been deployed to Niihau Island."

"Use it!" Roosevelt issued the order without hesitation, "Use it against the Japanese troops on Oahu now! We must also let the enemy know that the United States also has terrible murderous weapons in its hands, and it has a lot of them, and it is determined to use them. ! In addition, the navy’s attack on the Japanese mainland must be launched as soon as possible to let the Japanese know that their homeland is not absolutely safe at all!”