U.S. Strategic Nuclear Policy, An Oral History, Part 1

[@keiththorpe9571]

I had a history teacher in HS (back in the late 1980s) who had once worked for The Rand Corporation. He explained to us that "Civil Defense" was little more than an PR campaign meant to keep people from being paralyzed by fear, giving the American public a feeling of control over the uncontrollable. He explained how the actual preparedness exercises were a joke, and for us living in the Washington DC suburbs, there was no hope of survival for anyone living within 60 miles of downtown DC. He told us how it was likely that several multi-megaton "City Buster" thermonuclear weapons were aimed at various points in and around DC, and that we would be effectively vaporized. He also mentioned how we would be the fortunate ones, as any few who survived would not be fighting an invading Soviet force, but would be fighting their neighbor over what little food was left. I've never forgotten thought.

[@jayrico6226]

Do you think prepers are crazy now

[@anthonymorales842]

It will be from Boston including Va. in essence the northeast coast. The largest number of intellect in the world along with the R &D

[@456swagger]

Your Teacher was over simplifying.

[@maxspringfield]

@@456swagger Maybe some will survive the blast but they will soon die from the radiation

[@jimhoward7555]

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[@l8tbraker]

An Air Force brat, I grew up on Sandia and Kirtland AFB off and on during the period 1947 through 1959. For a short time immediately after the war, Dad reported directly to LeMay. Dad was a high ranking officer involved with nuclear weapons testing and no doubt knew most or all of these folks. Interesting times, for sure.

[@zico739]

I’m honestly surprised so many of these guys were still alive when this documentary was made. This is quite good.

[@AaronB99999]

Agreed. But sometimes these things get made over very long time periods. I remember watching the Vietnam documentary on PBS and listening to a woman in her 50s talking in present day about her older brother dying over there. I was able to figure out that the interview had happened probably ten years before the show aired (and she wasn't the only example of that). Andrew Goodpaster died in 2005 -- he's featured heavily here.

[@evanrandall1675]

I really appreciate you guys making this documentary! I hope Sandia will see the value in this educational effort and produce much more about the critical things they've been able to achieve or at least try. And don't be afraid to tell the story about a little wasted money, too. I'd love to hear some of the stories about the close calls and what ifs. A lofty enough goal or capability can justify, especially during wartime.

[@RT-xx9tx]

One of the best documentary's I've seen on KZbin. Well done.

[@janeullman9047]

I’m not certain how I ended up here, and my interest in the subject is minimal, but I sat and watched this documentary. Very engaging and well done.

[@Dans_Garage_Media]

Yeah, that just happened to me too

[@mikemurphy5898]

@@Dans_Garage_Media same.

[@moneyheist2417]

@@generalripper7528 99

[@SecondTake123]

I watch so many War documentaries! Glad this one showed up!

[@seltaeb9691]

Have a Gold Star, well done for a girl..😉 KZbin is a wonderful thing but is being brought down by nasty abusive retaliating comments. A bit of joshing is fine or a severe telling off only if warranted. It's a democracy so, for & against in debate but not abusing someone for their comments. So pause & wait a bit & then cordially reply. Simples tchk. Quality history by America for my Scotland!

[@jimbeckwith5949]

For those of us who lived through the 70s and 80s in the shadow of nuclear annihilation, this is extremely relevant. Every day as a kid, I knew that in 3 or 4 hours of misunderstanding between the Eastern and Western blocs, my mother, father, sister, relatives, friends, every one I knew, loved and relied on, could be wisps of vapour in the stratosphere, me included. It was Breshnev, Gorbachev, Ford, Carter and Reagan at the time who saved us all. Thankfully they had cooler heads and dismantled this madness to a lesser or greater degree. We people of Earth owe them guys our eternal gratitude.

[@tomcharter4127]

And relevant now it seems.

[@frankpienkosky5688]

Reagan was the one to grasp that the Soviet economy could not sustain this level of competition...that we could win by simply outspending them.....

[@danielthompson8372]

I'm not sure why you think so much has changed. We are still armed to the teeth and so is Russia.

[@hecanseeme8210]

@@danielthompson8372 now china is too. Not to mention that India, Pakistan, Israel, France, UK, North Korea could set this whole thing off any moment. If anything we are in more danger.

[@danielthompson8372]

Exactly

[@stephenwilson1012]

I love watching history documentaries. You gain so much perspective about history government allies and strategies that we never learned in school.

[@alexanderbutler2989]

This should be taught in school. If I taught grade 1 first day would be a 3500 word essay on the pros and cons of using nuclear weapons on japan

[@tomnisen3358]

@@alexanderbutler2989 , Most first graders couldn't write a 200 word essay. There's no doubt, I would have done what Truman did.

[@frankpienkosky5688]

@@tomnisen3358 sounds as though someone doesn't have a true grasp of what it's like to teach first grade.........

[@twstf8905]

I've never heard ANY service member saying anything negative about LeMay. Although brash and widely considered unsympathetic by most, he proved to be extraordinarily effective at his job, particularly in training his bombing groups and was continuously promoted throughout the War as a result. In a discussion of a report into high abort rates in bomber missions during World War II, which Robert McNamara suspected was because of pilot cowardice, McNamara described LeMay's character; "One of the commanders was Curtis LeMay-Colonel in command of a B-24 group. He was the finest combat commander of any service I came across in war. But he was extraordinarily belligerent, many thought brutal. He got the report. He issued an order. He said, 'I will be in the lead plane on every mission. Any plane that takes off will go over the target, or the crew will be court-martialed.' The abort rate dropped overnight. Now that's the kind of commander he was." Although LeMay was famously in favor of continuing his firebombing campaign over the Japanese Islands instead of dropping the Atomic bomb, there were few, if any, commanders looking forward to the inevitable invasion and casualties of the land war, and was not only pretty well sold on the effectiveness of strategic Nuclear weapons following Nagasaki and the subsequent Japanese surrender, he'd actually gone on after the war to commanding the newly formed Strategic Air Command (SAC) well beyond and into the mid-50's. It was LeMay who was put in charge of the Berlin Airlift following aggressive Post-war Soviet expansion, and the blockade. Keeping American "Aces in their places" before any fundamental strategic nuclear policy was officially developed back home was just enough of a deterrent to Stalin, who only needed periodic reminders that we had the capabilities along with the right people to do the job should necessity dictate. Focusing his talents on refining the technology further for maximum performance efficiency and abundance.until 1957, overseeing its transformation into a modern, efficient, all-jet force. LeMay's tenure was the longest over an American military command in nearly 100 years. Despite his uncompromising attitude regarding performance of duty, LeMay was also known for his concern for the physical well-being and comfort of his men. LeMay found ways to encourage morale, individual performance, and the reenlistment rate through a number of means: encouraging off-duty group recreational activities, instituting spot promotions based on performance, and authorizing special uniforms, training, equipment, and allowances for ground personnel as well as flight crews. On LeMay's departure, SAC was composed of 224,000 airmen, close to 2,000 heavy bombers, and nearly 800 tanker aircraft. Some argue Curtis LeMay did more to keep America on top of the pile of allied Nations during the Cold War than any other single serviceman until becoming Vice Chief of Staff for the Air Force in 1957 until 1961.

[@ChristopherSaindon]

I'm one that agrees. LeMay was the best. He was a military purist, he loved his men..cigars..and this Country. He DID have men that hated him but not his soldiers. You made a great post.

[@frankpienkosky5688]

believe it was LeMay who wanted to test the capabilities of the B-47 by sending it over Soviet airspace....a running gunfight ensued, but the plane survived albeit with some damage.....

[@armandoruiz8758]

The U.S government is actually using a name of a continent to its citizens and country. We are U.S. citizens. Citizens of the United States. The United States is a country but America its not a country America its a continent. The whole entire continent was already named America 269 years way before the United States of America became a nation or even existed. Everyone on the American continent is an American likewise Asia are Asians, Africa are Africans and Europe are Europeans.🤦....ok I have four questions for you and everyone in here!!! 1: Where or how the United States of America got the name America from? 2: What happen first? The United States of America or the American continent? 3: What government divided the American continent? 4: What government added the North, the Central and the South to the American continent? Huh? 😎

[@mr.mojorisin6402]

Probably would have driven the world into a nuclear WW3 during the Cuban missile crisis...had not cooler heads prevailed.

[@WalterBurton]

Thanks, ChatGPT. 😏🙄

[@DavidJohnson-jp4mw]

After becoming a late participant in the cold war (from 1974 to the end) I was always wondering about the early days and history. This was a very level headed and informative documentary, Thank you!

[@DogeickBateman]

Were you a Cold Warrior, and if so which area and branch?

[@rlbailey1964]

11+

[@jonathanstrong4812]

I WAS BORN 1968 to December 1991 But its becoming dangerous Russia and China might have unhinged people which who was not going to listen to their NCAs not to do it

[@ojthesimpson35]

this doc doesnt hold back or dumb it down. great video history of the era.

[@bassinbob1965]

This is by far the best video on You Tube on this topic.

[@nickosc88]

Yes, and that's because it was done professionally, and before the year 2010

[@mikeray1544]

I agree Mr.Ray.

[@nirv]

How much were you paid to say this? I'm kidding around.

[@sherryserwer8190]

No hued

[@DogeickBateman]

@@nirv Ok bot

[@Chironex_Fleckeri]

We are proud of every one of you. Past and present. You are some of the finest people whose work goes without thanks. But there are many who do understand what and why deterrence is vital. The events of the year 2022 have shown us exactly why deterrence is necessary. If you read this 1 year, 5, 10, or decades from now. The United States of America is a country that does not rattle sabres the way a regime does. Last night my father and I were looking out at the beauty of America watching the sunset. We had just watched this together and were grateful there we so many people dedicated to the defense of everything we hold dear. We are grateful for you and the work Sandia does. If you are from any country, look at the transparency allowed to the American People. No adversary of the United States of America has ever published the truth in the way videos like this share. This comment should stand as a testament that even in the times - 2022, we feel confidence and security because of the work of people like those of Sandia , Oak Ridge, and the list goes on. This documentary is one of the most powerful signs that the United States and its People - they stand for ideals that seek to protect. 🇺🇸 E Pluribus Unum 🇺🇸

[@dimadblmov1446]

Why are you pointing towards 2022? What does the security of the United States and the United States as a whole have to do with it?

[@lolhappyOO7]

What an incredible document! I learned a lot. Thank you to the creators of this and all the men and women who gave their lives in service of a free future for all humanity. Peace on Earth

[@frankpienkosky5688]

very incisive retelling of events with much paranoia involved....we had a massive advantage right up until the 70's and 80's when true parity evolved...there was no "bomber gap"...as the Bison proved a failure and only minimal numbers were produced...and the same could be said for the "missile gap"...as the Soviets only had a few ICBM's at the time of sputnik and the Cuban missile crises

[@DogeickBateman]

@@frankpienkosky5688Paranoia? Intelligence from Soviet sources backed it until the 80s when it was realized they were bluffing

[@SubvertTheState]

These Sandia docs are gems. I've never considered deterrence, countervailing threats, mad man theory, game theory or much of the other interesting topics....until Thanksgiving 2020 when I binged all of these haha.

[@frankpienkosky5688]

survivability of a sufficient deterrent changed everything...introduction of the subs allowed for the implementation of the Triad concept.....

[@SubvertTheState]

​@@frankpienkosky5688almost making symmetrical kinetic warfare between nuclear powers unthinkable. The introduction of nuclear powered submarines armed with dozens of ballistic missiles, each with a payload of several warheads with yields over 1 megaton...a devastating 2nd strike...make even a nuclear first strike unthinkable.

[@bassmith448bassist5]

As an avid student of the cold war, I can't believe I've never seen this excellent documentary!!! A great presentation. Well Done!!!!

[@jonburgett6243]

Best war type coverage ive seen since the Time Cold War series on vhs

[@gaittr]

Thank God that al these people were spending so much effort trying to prevent nuclear war.

[@bigroy38]

Had a relative who worked at Los Alamos in the 70s.Spooky place!!!

[@mikemurphy5898]

How so? I'd be interested in hearing more if you're willing to share.

[@bigroy38]

@@mikemurphy5898 No way!Too top secret.He probably still has his security clearance from there.

[@greatgardengnome855]

Very engrossing in all its detail. I have watched it several times.

[@Calidore1]

Brilliant programme. Photography and video selection excellent.

[@johnsrous1616]

From the advent of the atomic bomb in 1945 leading to the end of WWII to the Cold War, which included treaties such as the SALT(Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty)I and II and the START(Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty)I and II the threat of nuclear war has been with us. The vast majority of the world's population were born during the nuclear age so not many knew what conventional weapons ONLY-life was like.

[@seltaeb9691]

Good solid American docu., un-flashy & all the better for it.

[@armandoruiz8758]

The U.S government is actually using a name of a continent to its citizens and country. We are U.S. citizens. Citizens of the United States. The United States is a country but America its not a country America its a continent. The whole entire continent was already named America 269 years way before the United States of America became a nation or even existed. Everyone on the American continent is an American likewise Asia are Asians, Africa are Africans and Europe are Europeans.🤦....ok I have four questions for you and everyone in here!!! 1: Where or how the United States of America got the name America from? 2: What happen first? The United States of America or the American continent? 3: What government divided the American continent? 4: What government added the North, the Central and the South to the American continent? Huh? 😎

[@TheDoctor1225]

@@armandoruiz8758 Good Lord are you STILL ranting? Have you noticed you're actively being ignored and not answered? Take the hint and go away or at the very least, learn to use correct grammar, spelling and punctuation.

[@type1krush205]

The Manhatten Project brought me here ! Very Interesting watch indeed.....

[@robinwells8879]

It is now open to some considerable debate as to whether Kennedy's knew full well the cynical campaigning tool of the missile gap was a non issue but that the incumbent candidate wouldn't be able to fight back because of the extreme secrecy surrounding the very successful ongoing spy satellite program and the spin off in regards to viable ICBM launch vehicles. Politics, it would appear, has always been a dirty game!

[@TAZ0300]

Robin Wells I couldn’t of said it better myself you are 1000% correct my friend even in politics words sometimes can do more damage than physical 💣s 👍🏼🇺🇸

[@liden77]

As VP Nixon knew that the missile gap was in stong favor for US, but he could not use that info, as it was highly classified

[@frankpienkosky5688]

Kennedy came to be at odds with the CIA...threatening their status...and a similar arrangement eventually developed between Kennedy and the Joint Chiefs...once only half-jokingly saying the events depicted in "Seven Days in May" could actually happen

[@garywatson]

McNamara knew but chose not to reveal in this documentary that the Cubans had operational nuclear weapons on short-range missiles poised to attack any approaching US invasion force, and could and planned to launch them without Soviet permission. This probably would have triggered a full nuclear war. Furthermore it was only by the disobedience of a Soviet submarine officer that a nuclear-tipped torpedo wasn't launched in response to our dropping practice depth charges on them, again, with a huge risk of triggering WWIII. It's only by absurdly good luck that any of us are here talking about it today.

[@paulcoover7057]

I heard about the torpedo, where can I find info about Cuban nuclear capability

[@oceanhome2023]

Paul Coover The Russians remained in control of using the nukes .

[@jaydouglas5847]

@@paulcoover7057 You can see Mcnamara speak about it in the award winning document on the lessons learned over his career titled " The fog of war". It is a must watch . Yes , Castro had control of low yield battlefield tactical nukes. he received them as part of the deal he made allowing the soviets to station strategic weapons there. Castro , fearing assassination as a precursor to an invasion by the USA had granted full autonomy to the commander on the invasion beaches to let loose with the battlefield nukes with no authorization needed. Had we invaded our forces would have been vaporized and that may have well been the start of total nuclear war.

[@paulcoover7057]

@@jaydouglas5847 I have a copy of it, will watch it again. Thanks

[@jordan390a]

@Elron Yes...it's called martyrdom.....

[@WBDelgado]

I love how the music is all cheery when showing Japan after the bombs ...

[@Redmenace96]

One of the best docs I've ever seen. Primary subjects. Edward Teller?! Come on! Main comment: How eloquent are Truman, Eisenhauer? They addressed the press and the American people. With truth, simple language, and communicated so well. What happened to the Presidency?

[@heyhandersen5802]

republican's

[@mikemurphy5898]

Reality television

[@Redmenace96]

@@mikemurphy5898 Public Relations

[@DavidJohnson-jp4mw]

2016 is what happened.

[@frankpienkosky5688]

Ike struggled a bit at press conferences, as I recall....but still much better than the current occupant......

[@blip1]

This is a really good video. Watch both parts. It had been divided up into 4 on another channel. I could only make it part of the way through 2 before falling asleep and couldn't remember where I lost my place. I finally made it halfway through part 3 last night, before falling asleep. Think I'm gonna listen to it in the car while I work. I can't actually stay awake for anything at night. Let me reiterate that this whole thing is worth the watch. About every living person who is or was an expert on it by way of working in it or alongside it, is in this film. By "was an expert" I mean there are at least two people are now dead who appear in this. Former Secretary of Defense James Schlesinger (who has other great films/videos where he is intervirewed in past decades) is now dead. At least one scientist, Leon Smith, is also dead. This is an excellent primer for topics and interviews with people that you can look up on KZbin or elsewhere in printed form, plus other things like declassified documents not mentioned in the video. Michael Wheeler, for example, has at least one book printed on this subject as far as I know. Maybe now I can finish the thing lol

[@mr.meeseeks2060]

If you keep falling asleep whilst listening to this do you really think its a good idea to listen while operating a motorized vehicle. Let's stop and think about this for a second....

[@nirv]

How did you watch it if you kept falling asleep?

[@blip1]

@@nirv after resuming it at the point where I fell asleep, I managed to make it to the end. Splendid use of your intellect, however

[@blip1]

@@mr.meeseeks2060 let's not, unless you're a "one-upmanship" internet warrior

[@jmurph1921]

@@blip1 It's very unhealthy especially for your mental health to fall asleep while watching anything. It's actually linked to ADHD and some other mental disorders...... I should know I do it and take medication for ADHD and bipolar disorder

[@derekaduncan]

With the dangerous current geo-political confrontation, the USA NEEDS to elect Generals for Lawmakers like all the great Generals in history that became POTUS, to protect American sovereignty, not those who get elected for self-greed and never served in any military.

[@dem0nchild610]

My great grandmother was apart of all this during the second world War she was apart of the ordnance department and then after that she was apart of the department of defense in the pentagon for 30 years after not once did she speak of what she did we ended up finding out cleaning out her house after she passed away

[@denniswedin5605]

I agree with President Eisenhower. There would be no winner , only loosens

[@GeneralJackRipper]

I like how the contribution of Klaus Fuchs to the soviet bomb is conveniently omitted. It WOULD have taken them 20 years if it wasn't for that man. If anything it is an object lesson in the importance of security when it comes to WMD's.

[@annoyingbstard9407]

😅

[@MrSHAUN9965]

Great documentary thank you for this

[@daffidavit]

At the 40:15 time mark, notice how Gen. Eisenhower first saluted, and then shook the hand of President Truman. He treated President Truman first as his commander and chief, and then as his civilian President. I wonder if Gen. Eisenhower even suspected he might become the next President of the U.S. on Jan. 20 1953 at that time.

[@DavidJohnson-jp4mw]

Too bad that the exiting president of 2020 was not man enough to do the same.

[@frankpienkosky5688]

oh yeah, he did...to no one's surprise...he campaigned on the slogan "I will go to Korea"....[and end the war...which he did].....

[@Dra741]

The firebombing what's worse than a nuclear bomb itself, incendiaries dropped over paper cities set was a horror

[@g-manracer1997]

My biggest question that I cant seem to grasp is this..... If more countries since the 50s have had nukes, what is truly the purpose of possessing them, when it's almost certain we will never use them? Why would North Korea go to war against the US, knowing we had just leveled Japan, 4 years earlier? Why would North Vietnam engage us in the 60s, knowing we have a nuclear arsenal? We have fought many wars since WWII, but yet we still fight those wars, in a conventional way, consuming mass amounts of military equipment, human lives, and money, in long and drawn out wars? It almost seems like nukes are just here, but they have no real "fear potential", because no country will ever really use them? It just seems pointless, to possess something that will never be used anyway.....

[@QuaaludeCharlie]

vaporized , especially during wartime. several multi-megaton "City Buster" thermonuclear weapons

[@thetreblerebel]

Only 2 B29 Bombers are flying today in 2019..but there's quite a few of B52s and B1s and B2s still dropping bombs

[@yourmomma8065]

@@itsme-ri5mw that he is captain fantastic

[@tigerimschlamm2724]

The 52 will be around till 2050 thats what the US Air Force says.

[@FilthyFils.musicgroup]

@@tigerimschlamm2724 52 's still flying outta Fairford uk bombing Ukraine

[@ryanreedgibson]

I think we have to remember, most American's were isolationists before the attack on Pearl harbor. Precision bombing of mil assets is a more humane way to war even though it lacks effectiveness. The Brits knew what they were doing as they started earlier and had no care to be precise. And due to the blitz, who'd blame them.

[@ttrestle]

Is it weird that I’ve watched this series multiple times?

[@whirledpeas3477]

A good kind of weird. I'm also guilty

[@ttrestle]

@@whirledpeas3477 nice to meet ya!

[@herrgolf]

Amazing how self-congratulatory this doc is about razing Tokyo.

[@DogeickBateman]

Based.

[@notimeforthis7377]

Strike 2nd. Harder

[@natowaveenjoyer9862]

Imagine defending the cartoonishly evil Japanese empire.

[@TheMrCougarful]

Interesting and timely.

[@timmotel5804]

Excellent. This documentary added much to what I already knew. Very well presented and very educational. I was born in 1952, so I remember many of these people and or knew about them. I have always agreed with Herald Brown's comment: "When we build, They build. When we stop, they keep building. The Russian governments and military have historically been very paranoid and suspicious of every one and every thing. They still live by that same mental process today. To a large degree I do understand. Between external threats throughout their history to their country and much insanity and human cruelty in their own governments and leaders, no wonder. I don't ever see much improvement there. Now, China... I also have serious doubts about the security and present abilities of our own government administrations, for several decades now, and the diminished capacity of our military leaders and our weaponry. blah blah ( Thanks Sandia )

[@ChristopherSaindon]

No Blah blah! They are all valid points!

[@timmotel5804]

@@ChristopherSaindon Hi. I wish that they weren't valid points. Now, we have Cyber Security to be very concerned about. So far, that is not doing very well in my opinion and based on information that I have read. Our country is in chaos and on the brink of disaster. No "Cohesiveness" in Politics, law of the land or even in Americans themselves. "Stay tuned" and my best wishes to you.

[@ChristopherSaindon]

@@timmotel5804 My best wishes to you as well Sir!

[@frankpienkosky5688]

most war games up until recently had us losing a short, sharp regional war with china...but the latest has us winning a longer war...sound familiar?

[@timmotel5804]

​@8866 Panda Very well stated by you. Pearl Harbor Should not have happened. Our government completely failed, on purpose. This is not new news to me. Once again our government failed us with Korea, Vietnam (I'm a Vietnam Veteran) and most recently with "911" and the "Coup Attempt" on our Nation's Capital Building (WWI also). Generally, politics may border on "criminal" and often crosses that line. War Time politics is "no holds barred", a mix of truth and lies, as is war itself. Humanity is cursed by it's own nature. Maybe, in many many years, evolution will correct our most basic shortcomings. Until then, we live with the lies and fantasies of politics and religions, both of which are very likely to cause humanity's ultimate demise. Best regards to you.

[@markolaitinen6794]

So sad that such an respected entity as @Sandia National Labs has an error in their documentary. At time 15:35 it is stated graphically that Finland was an buffer state for soviet union and was "behind an iron curtain". That is so wrong on that part that it angers me.

[@erickieffer8440]

I believe the Finns did not like the Russians, not even a little bit.

[@Chironex_Fleckeri]

I thought that was really odd...

[@alvarohernani6645]

It's not 100% wrong. The Soviet Union force Finland to become a non aligned country and also to make the Comunist Party legal.

[@DavidJohnson-jp4mw]

I new students from Finland, and know that statement would have infuriated any of them. Few people know that The Soviets took on Finland once in the 20th century and had their butts kicked.

[@frankpienkosky5688]

not a buffer state...but certainly under their thumb......

[@cat637d]

Excellent historical documentary, thank you Patriots for what you do every day!

[@cat637d]

@attovishnu And a fervent hater of communists, with pride!

[@RajpreetMatharu1993]

@@cat637d so sad

[@cat637d]

@@RajpreetMatharu1993 I lived during those times, you obviously did not!

[@mikemurphy5898]

@@RajpreetMatharu1993 hating communism is "so sad?" Hmm, I'd take your comment more seriously if communism ever worked...ever...anywhere. Believe me, I wish it worked, it sounds like a great idea on paper, but greed, the global "me first" culture, will never allow it to work, at least not without a fundamental shift in how we view labor, production and global resource dissemination..that is what is "so sad," imo.

[@RajpreetMatharu1993]

@@mikemurphy5898 i agree with you... that is also what's so sad... but hating communism is also sad because its hatred for an ideal... even if its not fully achievable... it is a noble vision and a horizon we should at least move towards... not scoff at or worse yet "hate"

[@opticalmixing23]

Those old planes are cool

[@bigroy38]

There are two B-29’s still in flight:Fifi,& Doc.

[@WalterBurton]

Excellent historical record. 👍👍👍

[@toddsalisbury3851]

The problem with nuclear weapons is it hinges on the hope that mad men don't get them and that good people stop them from using them if they do....

[@amyjojinkerson6745]

operation paper clip was the strangest name for an operation

[@AJPMUSIC_OFFICIAL]

After WW2 the US and UK realised they had to give things boring and strange names after they could often guess German operations and developments by the names they were given

[@j.p.holiday8899]

I always keep enough morphine around to go out silently if there's ever any nuclear missiles in route

[@philipmadhatter4006]

I’m the same but with a nice bag of smoke to enjoy and watch the pretty flash

[@Dave-lq6bb]

Excellent doc

[@patrickshockley3483]

Is there a list of all the documents and books mentioned in this series?

[@jamesharrison2570]

I spent over seven years underground in the Titan II ICBM System. Nine megaton hydrogen bomb. It was one reason we still speak English, not Russian

[@jonathanstrong4812]

A OUCH I SAY!

[@Awesomes007]

I had no idea we deployed nukes this size. Wow. Deterrence.

[@hibco3000]

They don't make em like they used too! 😮

[@waynetemplar2183]

@@Awesomes007they had to be that big because those old ICBMs weren’t particularly accurate. You don’t need much more than a couple hundred kT to destroy even the largest of cities, which is what the size of modern warheads on modern missiles are.

[@Awesomes007]

@@waynetemplar2183 Ah, that makes sense. Thanks. All these nukes and we never had a single nuclear war. What a shame.

[@Sciolist]

KZbin is saying this has been uploaded 18 hours ago, but I watched it at least 2 years ago! Indeed I put it in a Playlist I created of old documentaries.

[@sssssssssss440]

Yes, I noticed this as well

[@blip1]

Was that one in two parts? The only place I've seen it, it's divided into 4.

[@whatwhatyep]

Was most likely taken down

[@mboltonm1]

Iuo. C

[@mboltonm1]

Co cfyb

[@blip1]

Thos country and the West need another James Schlesinger

[@anthonyperry6514]

And I need an incurable disease.

[@cat637d]

@@anthonyperry6514 Agreed

[@jonathanfreeman4607]

What sucks is mutually assured destruction but I guess that's what has kept nukes from being used, it's world suicide. Good video.

[@alundavies8402]

It is horrible but if you know what the Soviet Union did to Germany why would you want to survive that?

[@frankpienkosky5688]

@@alundavies8402 maybe they remembered what Germany did to them?.......

[@nayanmipun6784]

1:21 was this radiation experiment on village people true (not accident)?

[@bobd9193]

1:31---the 63rd of December? What calendar are they using?

[@thomass4471]

He stated that the missile had to be flown by the end of that year. He also stated that everyone involved knew there was no way that could happen. So they extended the year...

[@nirv]

The correct timestamp is 1:31:10

[@2discoveredm788]

@@thomass4471 i like that thought

[@mingshi6138]

Not so much I would agree with waging any nuclear war, by whomever. Yet, I find the documentary in some sense reassuring: At least so many people once made great efforts to think about the issue, they didn't leave it to the politicians alone. And many of them got deeply into the matter to figure out what was at stake. I hope that on the Soviet side, there might have been similar processes going on. Only then, we may assume the big powers, even only out of their own interests, not run amok with a thing that certainly would have wiped out mankind many times!

[@FrenchmansFlats51]

interesting. the problem is thus: the more one worked on “it”, the most success one had building it, the more one knew about “it”, the more most involved deploying “it”, and especially photographing and documenting “it”: the higher risk one has to end up at Leavenworth.

[@shanemcfadden6427]

The Soviet invasion of Manchuria, along with the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was what really tipped the scales toward the Japanese surrender

[@MooseMeus]

very informative. i enjoyed this.

[@edgrtorres1917]

Idk how I ended up here but I like ..

[@censorthis-uu6cc]

The atomic annihilation of 2 Japanese cities was not about ending WW2, that narrative was designed to justify their use - the actual intent was to send a message to the USSR (which was received & understood) and to ESTABLISH THE US AS THE WORLDS SOLE SUPERPOWER. The Japanese accepted their position was hopeless when the USSR entered the fight against them, but wanted assurances regarding the Emperor. Such assurances were denied and genuine attempts to negotiate a surrender were delayed until the atomic message could be delivered. After the surrender, retention of the Emperor was permitted, when such a guarantee could have ended the war _before_ the atomic bombings. The use of the atom bomb was about making sure that Stalin (and the entire World) knew the significance of atomic weapons, that the US possessed and was prepared to use them, and to erase any doubt that the US was the world's supreme military power.

[@jaed2630]

So what was the alternative? Since you have stated this is all propaganda on a one way American street. It's as IF people like YOU pretend there wasn't going to be a full on invasion by American soldiers who would of died by the thousands! If not for dropping the bombs. I wonder why ppl in today's society who never set foot in the pacific during this terrible war. KNOWING all the answers in hindsight. Plus not being the ones to make these decisions. HAVE decided to be these virtue signaling do gooders. Haha. Thank God fools like you weren't in charge THEN!

[@nathanjohnson1844]

@@jaed2630 He is right, if you do your research you will find that president Truman was never seriously considering an invasion of Japan. Truman's main goal was to end the war as quickly as possible before the Soviet Union entered. An invasion of Japan would have begun in 1946 and lasted an unknown amount of time. Truman saw the bomb as a way to force "unconditional surrender" instead of a negotiated surrender the Japanese were hoping for, not as a way to avoid a mainland invasion. The mainland invasion was NEVER going to happen. The US would've continued firebombing Japan into the ground if it didn't have Nuclear weapons. The story of bombing to avoid an invasion is a piece of propaganda that has survived since the end of WW2. I don't blame us Americans for not wanting to accept the innocent blood on our hands but it is important to be honest about our flaws and mistakes. Many countries did terrible things during WW2, the US was a good guy but not without skeletons in our closet

[@judd0112]

You haven’t clue as to what was goin on. That bomb was dropped to prevent American soldiers from having to put boots on the ground in the Japanese home islands. Where if it was anything like Okinawa which was minuscule in size compared to the main island’s size. The carnage that took place, and 99% of Japanese soldiers fought to the death the home islands would have been a bloodbath. They were preparing for the invasion by sharpening bamboo into spears for the women and children to attack Americans with. Over a million American soldier deaths were estimated. And the untold number of Japanese men women and children that would have been killed because they were a threat. To all Americans. Yet you also fail to realize that the psychopath Curtis LeMay wanted to fire bomb every Japanese city b. More people died from the firebombing raids than died from the A-bombs. But I guess that means nothing. Another thing about LeMay that is amazing is during the Cuban missile crisis LeMay wanted to launch a complete preemptive strike on the Soviets and Kennedy wouldn’t agree to it. He chose the naval blockade instead. Then LeMay went off the deep end and was trying to get the military to take over (a coupe) because Kennedy was guilty of dereliction of duty and was going to launch without his permission but couldn’t get the other branch heads to go along. Another thing. Stalin knew all about the bomb even before Truman told him. Cause his spies were deep in the manhattan project klaus Fuchs. Gave our plans to the Soviets. And in 2 years they had their own. What kind of teachers did u all have or u just get your opinions from cnn ?

[@HardRockMaster7577]

Yet, when the US had Nuclear Superiority, in the lat 50's, we did not rid the world of Soviet Communism. What a lost opportunity!!!

[@petershanks3049]

@1.13:55 man thinks another man who develops nuclear weapon should get Nobel peace prize for creation of such weapon ( or weapon deliver system ) Anyone else see anything wrong with this statement ???

[@MrKmanthie]

Maybe Teller should've been awarded something like the Nobel Prize for Physics. The "Peace Prize" isn't the only Nobel prize; there are several different categories and for the science and research involved in developing such a weapon (the H bomb) it would seem to merit a prize in physics, of some sort. But definitely not something for which one should get a "Peace Prize"

[@greenwichchatbuddiesbuddie6752]

There had to be eqillibian in them days Peter~~amongst the superpowers It was an ongoing battle of wills and vast amounts of GDP spent on weapons of destruction. Horrific times of tension and nuclear battle plans. Thank god for pulling back from the brink of extinction of mankind Terrible times

[@frankpienkosky5688]

@@greenwichchatbuddiesbuddie6752 life was pretty good in the fifties....we didn't spend every waking hour dwelling on this

[@msgfrmdaactionman3000]

I doubt any other nuclear weapons country would allow a show like this. I'd like to watch another county's film. BTW, there was debate about using the bomb in WW2, its not addressed here.

[@frankpienkosky5688]

well,..using them didn't actually end the war as many think....they guessed [correctly] that we didn't have that many....

[@Tesla-lv5lq]

That moment when you accidentally learn how to build, host, and deploy nuclear weapons over the course of 6 hours of KZbin...

[@frankpienkosky5688]

take a trip to Dayton...they even have them displayed in cross-section there....remember actually walking up inside "Bock's Car"...

[@benbohannon]

But then you go out to the garage and it’s a mess. You walk back inside and finish the ballgame instead.

[@MrCrystalcranium]

The great moralizing that went on regarding megaton range weaponry was very misplaced. The great minds involved, including Oppenheimer, David Lilienthal and others, were so horrified at the prospect of building bombs of unimaginable power and destructive capability that they saw no practical use for a weapon of 10, 20 or 50 megatons in yield. They got caught up in "Why should we build a weapon of such destructive force, that it's use would only mean the mass killing of millions of civilians?" They lost sight, or didn't realize yet, that it wasn't about building bombs as big as you could design...it was about building bombs that were good enough as physically small as you could. Thermonuclear weapon development was more about deliverability than it was about ramping up the megatonnage as far as possible. If anyone had told Oppenheimer in 1950 that in 20 years, the Soviets would have thousands of 300-450 kiloton thermonuclear weapons the size of 55 gallon oil drums on the tips of thousands of missiles, he might have been less sanguine about his moral dilemma regarding the hydrogen bomb breakthrough.

[@mrhassell]

As a child born in Generation X, the first born under the threat of "Mutually Assured Destruction" M.A.D, my experience has been largely positive, as an Australian. Had I been born in Japan, or Siberia perhaps, how different my view of this would have been. Truth is, the illusion of safety, these weapons make possible, is worthless due to the opposition and threat they present, completely invalidating any true concept of "safety". Depleted nuclear warheads remain attached to intercontinental ballistic conveyors, with hypersonic potential. Russia is at war, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has backing of Australian Special Forces, for peace keeping duties, while the Syrian civil war, the Yemeni civil war continues and we're closer to delivery of tactical nuclear weapons and ICBM's, kept on hair triggers notice to action. Does that make anyone feel safe? How can increasing the stakes to such catastrophic levels, make anyone feel secure? I'd feel a lot more secure, if the conflicts were resolved, solutions implemented, agreements made and these weapons of mass destruction, dismantled and never engaged for ensuring the safety of any nation.

[@twentony9984]

The one picture of Dr. Edward Teller @ approx. 46:00 looks a lot like Nicolas Cage.

[@calvinhobbes7504]

The most damaging statement ever made in the "nuclear race" between the US and Soviets was simply "We will BURY you!" - Spoken by Nikita Khrushchev. That statement obviated any "we don't want war" rhetoric that emerged before and after from the Soviet Union. Even today, the impact of this statement on the cold war is largely ignored.

[@mikemurphy5898]

Regan calling them an "Evil Empire" didnt really help either. Lol

[@calvinhobbes7504]

@@mikemurphy5898 Unfortunately, they wanted to "bury us" when Bonzo was still the rage. Big difference - "LOL"

[@DavidJohnson-jp4mw]

That statement can be blamed for extending and escalating the cold war.

[@jonathanstrong4812]

NK WHICH WHO DIDN'T JUST LOSE A MENTAL-TILE HE LOST THE WHOLE KREMLIN'S ROOF LIKEWISE I THINK THE BRAND-NEW ONE IS SCREWY AND MENTALLY UNSTABLE DOES ANYONE THINK THE FEL LA IS IN HIS RIGHT-MIND NO?

[@frankpienkosky5688]

@@mikemurphy5898 after shooting down a helpless airliner....it would seem to apply.....

[@AJPMUSIC_OFFICIAL]

Fantastic documentary. I can see why they over estimated the ability of the Russians in 54 given the fact they'd under estimated their atomic development previously.

[@frankpienkosky5688]

that Soviet detonation put the US in panic mode....how?...why?....and instigated an all-out witch hunt for communists and "fellow travelers" in our midst.....

[@failuretocommunicate]

An historians dream, thank you.

[@MWagner113]

I was employed by DOD contractor corporations for 10 years as an engineer. I personally must live with my knowledge of the content of this video without revealig any details to anyone, even if he also has "Top Secret" stamped on his forehead. I just want to say that a nuclear conflict can be triggered in one of many number of ways. Therefore, pray for yourself, your family and your friends, NOT for your GOD to save your life, but to save your soul.

[@F15CEAGLE]

Maranatha. Romans 10:9-10.

[@TheTrueNorth11]

You’re not special.

[@archaedemos]

Driven by the capacity of the complex. Nice

[@Pettynicolla-HD-N.Ayeshamedina]

-Lake George NY some of history bloodiest, Fighting. -1950 the site was developed. -Team anthropologist and volunteer begin soldiers lived and died. -Lemur

[@Pettynicolla-HD-N.Ayeshamedina]

The XP B2M (5th June 1945) Master of Ceremony And J RMS 1938 The Mars Jan 1944 was originally by The Navy in 1956 Land Plans 910 Huge Flying

[@phprofYT]

Level everything

[@parrot849]

I have to say, although I’m a long time admirer of General LeMay and all of his magnificent accomplishments, given what I’ve learned, if true, about the diplomatic maneuvering and critical negotiations that occurred during the Cuban Missile Crisis when General LeMay was the current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; I don’t think the General’s suggestions of the employment of the “First-Strike” option to solve the hair trigger issues that existed on-hand would have been the best solution President Kennedy could have chosen at the time.

[@jonathanstrong4812]

LEMAY WHICH WHO WAS OY-VEY!

[@DogeickBateman]

@@jonathanstrong4812 Ok bot

[@petraantunesova8880]

great documentary very informative

[@amyjojinkerson-b6o]

Kennidy said full retalitory action and never batted an eye

[@2discoveredm788]

The host at the beginning could beat me at a staring contest

[@generalripper7528]

He just beat me after reading your comment.

[@wubbinz]

for once humanity understood the danger of what they had created, even the soviets.

[@timwoodward9799]

I officially have spiraled down with KZbin. I started off watching music videos and somehow I ended up here. And it's only 8:43 p.m. I wonder where I'll be at by midnight...

[@billyhack9673]

With the existence of a Plutonium implosion device any second string nuclear engineer could have figured it out. Teller was second rate compared to Oppenheimer or even Lawrence. He should not win by living longer.

[@billyhack9673]

The better is the enemy of the good.

[@anonymic79]

Never watched anything described as a "primmer" before.

[@RedRobin13]

Edward Teller, Dr Strangelove.

[@zaczayn3371]

Once u killed one man, to killed a million more are real easy . Never give power to evil.

[@AnthonyTolhurst-dw1nc]

BIG FEAR CREATED BY MILITARY MADNESS, MEDIA AND BIG DOLLARS. I WAS BUT 3 YEARS OLD WHEN CUBAN MEDIA CRISES WAS ON. COULDNT UNDERSTAND ALL THE WORDS, BUT THE FEAR WAS PASSED ON. MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX REALLY WENT FOR IT. WHAT A SAD, SAD WASTE HUMAN EFFORT, BOTH SIDES OF GLOBE.

[@ttrestle]

01:43 - film starts

[@jochenburkart8902]

Grown men thinking about killing each other and whole mankind, the whole wonder of this beautiful Planet would have been gone forever, and still we have nuclear weapons. Are they all to dumb to see, that the concept "war" does not lead to evolution, but to extinction? We call ourselves intelligent, but why can our leaders not see, that war is a road to nowhere. Why isn't there an american, or russian, or chinese leader, who says one morning to his wife: "woman, I think we all made a terrible mistake, which nearly drove humankind to extinction. I just call my colleagues and tell them ... . After this talk the political leaders of mightiest countries felt ashamed for being so long so silly. This day a lot of consultants weren't fired, but got new tasks as greenkeeper, facility manager for the stables or were just send to south pole to count the penguins. The leaders soon met in person and each of them found two new friends at that day. Back in their country they put away the ICBM's, Stealth Bombers, Submarines & Tanks. The countries of earth joined forces & ressourseces. And so, after centurys of darkness, Humankind stepped into the light ... .

[@ChadLuciano]

That's why god invented Twinkie's, Donkey Kong, scotch and marijuana...the average human life is 650 000 hours and a third of it is sleeping and 10% in the washroom...no one will live long enough to pull off the campaign...fear controls masses...welcome to modern religion.

[@jumsdogpetter7610]

McNamara saying at 8:05 that he's "never seen an analysis of whether the nuclear [sic] could have been avoided". Absolutely disgusting. 7 out of the 8 US 5-star generals and admirals, including Curtis LeMay, are on record stating that Japan was ready to surrender and that any nuclear strikes would provide no material benefit to the allies. Makes me nauseous watching these people lie.

[@theccpisaparasite8813]

I'm afraid not. The Japanese documentary record on this point quite clearly says the opposite. Would you like a reading list. You cannot document nor support your statement.

[@jumsdogpetter7610]

@@theccpisaparasite8813 lol

[@theccpisaparasite8813]

@@jumsdogpetter7610 Still no support for your statement. Why does your lack of support not surprise me? BTW, what do you mean "no material benefit". They wanted the war over, NOW. The bombs accelerated that. No more dying POW's, no need to invade Japan and suffer the hundreds of thousands of US casualties and a million plus Japanese dead, no more fighting throughout the Pacific Rim, no more dying in Burma, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, New Guinea, Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia you do realize that thousands were dying every day the war continued, no? The bombs caused a change in the Big Six's thinking, thereby accelerating the end of the war. Seriously, this has been studied, in depth by scholars in Japan and the US, you are just too lazy to learn what they found. Honestly, I can give you a dozen sources if you like.

[@jumsdogpetter7610]

@@theccpisaparasite8813 please find an adult and ask them to change your diaper

[@theccpisaparasite8813]

@@jumsdogpetter7610 I take it that you can't support your statement. I knew that would be the case. 😉 You know how I knew? Because it's false. I've even offered to help educate you and what? You call names rather that be educated. Think about what that says about you. Don't be so narrow-minded. Ad hominem means you cannot make your point and are desperately squirming for a way out. Sadly, there is no way out. Japan lost the War on December 7th, 1941. It was just a matter of time from them on. It was blatantly apparent after June 1942. Where's the objection to the other 1945 bombing raids on 8 Aug 1945 when 60 B-29 bombers attacked near Tokyo or Aug 10 when 70 B-29's attacked another complex near Tokyo. I heard no dreadful shock of the March 1945 raids which were vastly worse than either of the atomic bombings. You've run into someone who knows quite a bit more about these bombings than you apparently ever will.

[@thomasscheck6575]

The documentary would be much improved if it included the Soviet perspective rather than solely the American.

[@DogeickBateman]

You didn't watch it at all.

[@fabiosunspot1112]

The americans government during ww2 underestimated the bombing of japanese cities,we don't know what would of happened if the "big one" wasn't dropped.

[@stephenwilson1012]

The tsar bomba isn't even fathomable how much devastation it would cause

[@frankpienkosky5688]

@@stephenwilson1012 that was originally supposed to be a 100 megaton weapon...but it was determined much of the effect would be lost into space....even at half-strength it nearly brought down the bomber that dropped it...

[@TheAdamGore]

1:47:51

[@DonnaBrooks]

Weird. The right-hand controls don't appear on this video. I can't adjust the speed, can't see controls for subtitles, & can't see the control to open the vid in full screen. Did this channel somehow turn off these functions & if so, WHY?! I usually increase the speed of videos by up to 2x, depending on the original pace, so I can watch or listen to more videos/audios/podcasts in the same amount of time, taking half the time as listening at regular speed, but I can't do that with this one. That's frustrating!

[@warshipsatin8764]

i think you need aomething for your attention deficit disorder

[@HardRockMaster7577]

I can adjust all of those things on my laptop. But not through an app. Like YT Roku app, etc.

[@w.t.fpipedreamwithhopefull5538]

LeMay fire bombing for a couple more weeks would of meant that Russia would have taken Japan as they were a week away after the taking of Manchuria. Hence the Korean war that had all the industrial strength of North Korea(Japan war Machine) bombed to oblivion.

[@colinstewart1432]

Russia were due to enter the war in Japan on August 13th.

[@frankpienkosky5688]

well,..they might have taken some of it...thus dissecting Japan as they had Germany....this was the emperor's greatest fear....and why he pushed for surrender provided he got to stay on......

[@HardRockMaster7577]

No one in the US wanted a N. Japan and a S. Japan.

[@patappleton6285]

So, this is a video created by the Military Industrial Complex to promote the Military Industrial Complex.

[@davidgraham4807]

Of course. Go get your musket

[@billyhack9673]

Lemay became Wallace’s VP candidate in 1968. I rest my case.