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For the next post in this series I thought it would be a good thing to provide a timeline of the major milestones regarding atomic/nuclear weapons development. This is helpful towards understanding how we got into this very dangerous and untenable position in the first place. Unfortunately, since the first atomic bombs were dropped in 1945 the absolute numbers of these weapons has increased dramatically and they have proliferated well beyond the arsenals of the United States and Russia. As of 2025, there are nine nations known to possess these weapons which makes the probability of a nuclear conflict more frightening as the 21st century continues.
Another thing that should be clarified here is the difference between “atomic” and “nuclear” weapons. The first two bombs dropped over Japan in 1945 were of the atomic variety. Basically, these weapons were created by fission. This means the explosion splits heavy atoms like uranium or plutonium upon detonation. These bombs were horrendously destructive – single bombs dropped from US Air Force planes utterly decimated two Japanese cities (Hiroshima and Nagasaki) killing some 120,000 people instantly in the both places during the waning days of World War Two. However, not long after these catastrophic events there appeared nuclear weapons which are of the fusion type.
The fusion weapons are an even greater explosive force using isotopes of hydrogen to generate much greater heat and destructive force over broader areas. Although research into atoms goes back to 1895 with the discovery of x-rays and that uranium emits radiation, the 1940s are when things really become urgent, and the United States ramps up efforts to create these weapons first (before Germany had the chance to) as World War Two rages throughout Europe North Africa, and Asia.
Timeline:
1941: Plutonium, which would soon become a major component of atomic weapons is discovered at UC Berkeley. Late in 1941 President Roosevelt received reports on the plausibility of developing an atomic bomb and green lights the project.
1942: The “Manhattan Project” commences. This intensive research is mainly geared towards creating weapons from plutonium and uranium. A secret site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee is created that will become essential to this end. Other laboratories and manufacturing facilities utilizing this research are established at Hanford, WA and Los Alamos, NM. On December 2, 1942 the first controlled nuclear reaction occurs at a Chicago, IL facility, further paving the way for the atomic bomb.
1945: Upon President Roosevelt’s death on April 12th, Vice President Harry Truman is sworn in as his successor and is informed of the Manhattan Project. As the war ended in Germany the US captures many German rocket scientists who will prove useful for further research & development of atomic weapons. Finally, on July 16th the first atomic test explosion of a plutonium-based bomb occurs in the desert near Alamogordo, NM.
1945: On August 6th the first uranium-based bomb nicknamed “Little Boy” is dropped on Hiroshima, Japan incinerating nearly the entire city and ultimately killing some 140,000 people. The second plutonium derived bomb known as “Fat Man” is dropped over Nagasaki, Japan. Once again, most of the city is destroyed and at least 45,000 are killed initially. These devastating attacks finally bring Japan to its knees, forcing its surrender to U.S. military forces and ending World War Two.
1946: The Strategic Air Command (SAC) is established to have control over nuclear weapons and a conference held at Los Alamos, NM determines that an even more powerful weapon known as a hydrogen bomb can be created. On December 25th the Soviet Union has its own first nuclear controlled reaction paving the way for it to develop nuclear weapons.
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1949: The Soviet Union has its first successful atomic bomb test on August 29th. During the last four months of the year continual debate occurs in President Truman’s administration as to whether or not to go ahead developing the hydrogen bomb. The Department Of Defense, The Joint Chiefs Of Staff, The National Security Council , and other military related agencies are on board with this.
1949: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is ratified by 22 countries in Western Europe and North America, led by the United States to buttress them against possible attack from Soviet Russia and its allies. This agreement effectively puts much of Western Europe under an “umbrella” of US nuclear weapons protection.
1950: Klaus Fuchs, and Julius Rosenberg and his wife Ethel are arrested for leaking atomic secrets to Soviet Russia. Without doubt, this treasonous act greatly accelerated Russia’s ability to create their own atomic weapons much sooner than would have happened otherwise.
1951: The United States opens nuclear test sites that become known as Nevada National Security Sites north of Las Vegas. Between January 27, 1951 through 1992 at least 928 various tests of nuclear weapons occurred there.
1952: The U.S. conducts its first full hydrogen bomb test in Nevada on November 1st, launching yet another dangerous era of more powerful, destructive nuclear weapons than those used against Japan in 1945.
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1953: On August 12th, Soviet Russia also detonates a hydrogen bomb, further accelerating the arms race. The United States develops its first ballistic missiles at this time.
1954: Controversy surrounding the arms race becomes more heated when the U.S. conducts the most powerful nuclear weapons test ever known as “Castle Bravo. This series of six tests occur at Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean starting in March, causing greater concerns about radioactive fallout.
1957: Both the United States and Soviet Russia have successfully developed Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM’s) with nuclear warheads to strike any location in the world.
1960: The U.S. commences “Operation Chrome Dome”. With this policy, nuclear-armed B-52 bombers are constantly on high alert, skirting the edges of Soviet territory. Also, on May 1st an American spy plane is shot down over Russia’s airspace creating further suspicions and mistrust, escalating Cold War tensions.
1961: International Cold War tensions reach a flashpoint on August 27th after East Germany (at Soviet Russia’s prodding) erects a massive wall in East Berlin, cutting off attempts by citizens of Communist East Germany from fleeing to the West. Both the U.S. and Russia send tanks to the border between East & West Berlin which could have resulted in nuclear conflict. Fortunately, intensive negotiations averted this drastic outcome.
1962: The term Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) is first coined. It was admitted that there would be no winners in an all-out nuclear war. All belligerents and the rest of the world would be annihilated. Also, during a thirteen day period in October is when Cold War tensions between the U.S. /NATO alliance and Soviet Russia with its allied nations reached a crescendo when the U.S. ultimately forced the Russians to remove its nuclear missiles from Cuba, which is only 90 miles from the U.S. mainland. This the closest that the world ever came to erupting into nuclear warfare and only intensive, nerve shattering negotiations saved the day.
1963: A treaty banning nuclear testing in atmosphere, underwater, or in outer space is opened for signatures, and testing is supposedly allowed only underground.
This brings us up to speed on some of the most significant events in nuclear weapons development and usage at the time Dr. Strangelove, Seven Days In May & Fail-Safe appeared in theaters during 1964, as I’ve written about previously. However, as this post is long enough already, in January I will be discussing some important films related to the fears of mass-scale nuclear conflict and how filmmakers have interpreted what such a future dystopia would be like — although it’s far more likely there would be NO future at all! In any case, some of the films I will be discussing later on in January will include feature films, documentaries, and propaganda pieces about this extremely serious and timely topic.
