"J. Robert Oppenheimer: You're talking about turning theory into a practical weapons system faster than the Nazis. Leslie Groves: Who have a twelve month head start. J. Robert Oppenheimer: Eighteen. Leslie Groves: How could you possibly know that? J. Robert Oppenheimer: Our fast neutron research took six months. The man they've undoubtedly put in charge will have made that leap instantly. Leslie Groves: Who do you think they put in charge? J. Robert Oppenheimer: Werner Heisenberg. He has the most intuitive understanding of atomic structure I've ever seen. Leslie Groves: You know his work? J. Robert Oppenheimer: I know him. Just like I know Walter Bothe, von Weizsäcker, Diebner... In a straight race, the Germans win. We've got one hope. Leslie Groves: Which is? J. Robert Oppenheimer: Antisemitism. Leslie Groves: What? J. Robert Oppenheimer: Hitler called quantum physics "Jewish science", said it right to Einstein's face. Our one hope is that Hitler is so, so blinded by hate that he's denied Heisenberg proper resources, because it'll take vast resources."
Nazism

January 1, 1970