The end of research work at Haigerloch

The ALSOS-Mission

Shortly after conducting the last experiment, Haigerloch, located within the French zone of occupation, was occupied by a special American Task Force. This was the so-called "ALSOS-Mission".

Pash

Samuel Goudsmit (on the right), Marinus Toepel (on the left)

Colonel Pash, the commander of this unit, took the scientists prisoner in their offices and private homes at Hechingen. Shortly before this, Heisenberg had fled by bike to his family in Bavaria, but was taken prisoner some time later.The Americans found the Uranium metal and the Heavy Water, which was hided shortly before by the German scientists and was dug up.

(Grabung)

They also dismantled the facilites in the cellar and took them to the US.

(photo of the end)

The blowing up

The American Forces had been ordered to blow up the cellar. The then parish priest took Colonel Pash into the baroque Schloßkirche (caslte church) directly above the cellar, and explained that the destruction of the cellar would also mean the destruction of the church. Knowing this, the Americans confined themselves to limited demolition operations in the cellar.

The detention

The scientists were interned in the "Farmhall" country house near Cambridge by the Allied Powers and kept prisoners there until January 1946 ("as guests of His Majesty").

(Farmhall)

Farmhall country house in England

Their conversations during this time were recorded by the English secret service. While prisoners, they heard a BBC news broadcast in August 1945 that the Americans had dropped two atom bombs on Japan. This terrible news and the deaths of so many people resulting from the bombs caused much concern among the scientists. Hahn was suffering very much from these terrible events. In January 1946, the British released the German scientists.

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Sound No. 7

(see references)

Michael.Thorwart@physik.uni-augsburg.de (Sep-25-2001)