194365438+February, Major Pekar Forte went to London, nominally a military attache of the American Embassy, but actually specialized in scientific espionage. First of all, he carefully consulted all the current and expired physics magazines in Germany and asked all European physicists who fled to the United States, such as Einstein, Fermi and Bohr. Then make a list of 50 German scientists, all of whom may be related to the German atomic energy program. He gave the list to the intelligence agencies in the United States and Britain. These intelligence agencies carefully consult smuggled German newspapers every day to track the whereabouts of these people. When the allied forces landed on the European continent, each member of the task force got a form with resumes, addresses and work places of all the great German scientists printed on it.
The Royal William Institute in Berlin is a place where atomic physicists are concentrated not only in Germany but also in Europe. However, due to frequent bombing in Berlin and information, uranium research institutions have been moved to a safer place, and most scientists have disappeared. The biggest problem is to find out where the Nazis hid the scientists and what they were doing as soon as possible.
"Also" got the first information, which was a report from a Swiss informant received by the British intelligence agency, and the British intelligence agency handed it over to the American Embassy. According to the report, according to a pro-Nazi Swiss scientist, he is assisting the Germans to study an explosive that is 1000 times more powerful than explosives. Their laboratory is located in an abandoned spinning mill in Heisingen, Germany.
The second message was a letter from Heisingen, Germany, which was intercepted by postal inspectors in the United States. It was sent by an American prisoner of war: the letter said that he was working hard in a D laboratory. It is understood that many secret agencies in Germany have moved there.
It was not until the spring of 1944 that "Ye" got a specific message. Office of strategic services, USA received a report from Bern, Switzerland. A Swiss scientist said that Dr. Heisenberg, a famous German atomic physicist, lived near Heisingen. When they think of the first two pieces of information, they are sure to find the hiding place of Hitler's atomic physics scientists. At this time, information kept coming, and a British intelligence officer in Germany also sent a message saying that other important atomic physics scientists had been discovered in this area. The next step is to try to break into this area. However, the plan to infiltrate Hirsingen was not approved, and Washington thought it was too risky. Once the Yeats are captured, the Nazis may learn about the American plan from them and take preventive measures. Just discovering the existence of "Ye" will also make American efforts in vain.
1In March, 945, the US military invaded Germany. He also entered Heidelberg, occupied some local laboratories and captured several important scientists. According to them, there are more than 20 top German scientists in atomic energy research. Otto hahn, a famous scientist, has been evacuated to Telfingen, a town south of Stuttgart, while Heisenberg and Laue are in nearby Heisingen, and the experimental reactor in Berlin has also been evacuated to the vicinity of Heisingen. They admit that Germany lacks heavy water, and the only source is Norway. When this source is cut off, the reactor can't move any more. At this point, the whole mystery was finally solved. It seems that the next step is to March into the Heisingen area and catch Heisenberg and others as soon as possible. But an accident made "Ye" break his brain.
According to the spirit of Yalta Conference, Germany was divided into three occupied areas: Britain, the United States and the Soviet Union. Later, it was decided to establish a French occupied area. The Fortenburg area of Ulm Friedrich Port in Stuttgart ceded by the United States is the location of German atomic research institutions, and Heisingen is in the center of this area. In addition, the French army is advancing to the region. The military insisted on occupying this area, but it was firmly opposed by the State Council, so General groves, the boss of Yeer, worked out the "Masking Operation Law" together with Stimson and Marshall. According to this plan, the U.S. military must get ahead of the French army, obliquely insert into the position of the French army, find people who are interested in "Ye", and destroy all relevant experimental equipment to prevent anything useful from falling into the hands of the French army. Once again, America betrayed its allies. "Huan" entered the German position with a small number of support troops before a large group of troops arrived, and took the lead in entering Telfingen. They asked where the German Hahn was in the street. The German pointed a way to an old school. They quickly surrounded the school and caught Hahn and Laue. Almost at the same time, the French Moroccan army also arrived in this area. They are small in number, and they seriously fight against small groups of Germans scattered all over the country, regardless of the actions of Americans.
Hahn and others were quickly sent to Heidelberg, but Heisenberg has not been caught, which is also the most worrying thing. They are afraid that he will fall into the hands of the former Soviet Union, which is worse than being caught by the French. Their next and final goal is to capture Heisenberg. Heisenberg left here two weeks ago, when he arrived in Heisenberg with the American striker. Later, I learned that Heisenberg had gone to his hometown of Ulf, Bavaria.
At this time, the American Seventh Army was advancing towards the Bavarian Alps, and Colonel Percy entered the town of Del in Ulf with the same personnel and reconnaissance patrol on the evening of May 2. An hour later, a group of Germans tried to pass through the town and there was fierce fighting. The patrol retreated, leaving only eight Pashi people in control of Ulfe. They looked for Heisenberg everywhere, but at sunset, they met a German general. The general gave a military salute to Percy, indicating that one of his divisions was ready to surrender to him. Panicked, Percy had a brainwave and said impatiently, "My general is still behind, and the big team is resting. I don't want to disturb the general today. It is best to hold a surrender ceremony tomorrow. " The German general accepted his arrangement. Soon, another German commander came and asked Percy to accept the surrender of his 800 men. Patsy did the same thing and sent him away.
It was getting dark, and a team member found Heisenberg's home. They went in and found him in the room. To be on the safe side, Percy ordered Heisenberg to stay at home and not run around, while he and his eight men sneaked back behind the American defense line in the dark. At dawn the next day, Percy came back with an infantry battalion. When he entered Heisenberg's room, he saw the great scientist sitting in his office with a packed bag in his arms and said to him, Mr. Colonel, I am waiting for you. So they caught Heisenberg and took him to Heidelberg. So far, more than twenty important atomic scientists have caught it. Americans are finally relieved. In their view, catching Heisenberg is much more important than catching ten defeated German divisions.
Through the interrogation of the prisoners, the Americans finally figured it out. As early as 1940, Hahn's discovery had attracted the attention of the German military. Some scientists suggested to the highest authorities that uranium could be used to make bombs or as energy. Due to the negative attitude of German scientists and the lack of strong financial support from the government, the research on atomic bombs has basically not been carried out. Their main job is to try to build an atomic reactor to provide energy for Germany, but even this work only stays in the laboratory work stage, which is quite far from building a practical reactor. After Germany surrendered, it continued to work for some time. The main task at this time is to destroy as much equipment and materials as possible that may fall into the hands of the former Soviet Union.
1945 10 in June, this task force completed its historical mission and was officially dissolved.