Einstein's letter about Nazi nuclear bomb fetches $4 million
A letter from Albert Einstein cautioning that Nazi Germany could potentially develop a nuclear bomb has been sold for nearly $4 million. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
A letter from Albert Einstein, forewarning the US president about Nazi Germany's potential development of an atomic bomb, has been auctioned for nearly $4 million, as reported by Christie’s auction house.
This cautionary note is thought to have influenced the US government's decision to initiate the Manhattan Project, which focused on the research and development of nuclear weapons, culminating in the historic atomic bombings of Japan in 1945.
The two-page document was addressed to then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt and penned by Einstein in 1939, just weeks before the onset of World War II. In his letter, Einstein highlighted Nazi Germany’s advancements in their nuclear program, indicating it could lead to the creation of “extremely powerful bombs.” He emphasized the need for “quick action,” recommending that the United States begin stockpiling uranium ore and undertake efforts to develop atomic weapons.
Einstein’s initial letter was later elaborated upon by his student Leo Szilard, along with other scientists. It was personally delivered to the White House and now resides in the permanent collection of the FDR Presidential Library & Museum in New York.
The original letter, which was preserved by Szilard, was among items from an auction featuring artifacts owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, who passed away in 2018 at the age of 65.
Einstein is said to have expressed regret over the letter's implications, particularly regarding the US's position as the sole nation to manufacture nuclear weapons. In a 1947 statement, he remarked: “Had I known that the Germans would not succeed in producing an atomic bomb, I would never have lifted a finger.”
Debra A Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
This cautionary note is thought to have influenced the US government's decision to initiate the Manhattan Project, which focused on the research and development of nuclear weapons, culminating in the historic atomic bombings of Japan in 1945.
The two-page document was addressed to then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt and penned by Einstein in 1939, just weeks before the onset of World War II. In his letter, Einstein highlighted Nazi Germany’s advancements in their nuclear program, indicating it could lead to the creation of “extremely powerful bombs.” He emphasized the need for “quick action,” recommending that the United States begin stockpiling uranium ore and undertake efforts to develop atomic weapons.
Einstein’s initial letter was later elaborated upon by his student Leo Szilard, along with other scientists. It was personally delivered to the White House and now resides in the permanent collection of the FDR Presidential Library & Museum in New York.
The original letter, which was preserved by Szilard, was among items from an auction featuring artifacts owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, who passed away in 2018 at the age of 65.
Einstein is said to have expressed regret over the letter's implications, particularly regarding the US's position as the sole nation to manufacture nuclear weapons. In a 1947 statement, he remarked: “Had I known that the Germans would not succeed in producing an atomic bomb, I would never have lifted a finger.”
Debra A Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
