How we cite our quotes: Chapter name.(Chapter Number).Paragraph
Quote #4
As a college student in Germany, Fuchs had watched the rise of the Nazis with disgust. He joined the Communist Party, impressed by the party's willingness to speak out against Hitler. When Hitler took power in Germany in 1933, Nazi thugs beat Fuchs nearly to death and tossed him in a river. That only strengthened Fuchs's commitment to communism. (Quiet Fellow.(11).10)
It's interesting how even though Britain is the country that offered Fuchs refuge, he still remained committed to the Communist Party. If his allegiance to the communists was based purely on their willingness to combat Hitler and the Nazis, couldn't the same be said about Great Britain? Why keep his allegiance then?
Quote #5
"Almost everyone knew that if it were completed successfully and rapidly enough, it might determine the outcome of the war," he said. "Almost everyone knew that this job would be part of history. This sense of excitement, of devotion and of patriotism prevailed. Most of those with whom I talked came to Los Alamos." (Disappearing Scientists.(12).36)
Patriotism was a hard thing to avoid during this time period. There were countless flyers posted everywhere talking about sacrificing for your country, and how America was counting on you to help win the war, and so on. Many of these scientists were totally flummoxed as to how they could use their specific skill set to aid the fight. Enter Oppie and the Manhattan Project—of course they wanted to sign up.
Quote #6
Talk turned from science to the war, and several of the guests started grilling Heisenberg, demanding to know how he could live and work under Hitler, a monster who enslaved countries, murdered Jews.
"I'm not a Nazi," said Heisenberg defensively, "but a German."
"Now you have to admit," one guest challenged, "that the war is lost."
"Yes," Heisenberg sighed, "but it would have been so good if we had won." (Swiss Deal.(26).37-40)
This is…confusing. Heisenberg wasn't a Nazi—so why would he have wanted them to win? We think maybe because as a German, his patriotism didn't allow for any other option. Of course he wanted his country to win, even if it meant being ruled by someone like Hitler.