The Spy Who Started the Cold War | Los Alamos | 2

Summary

The Spy Who Started the Cold War | Los Alamos | Episode 2 Summary

Introduction

In the second episode of The Spy Who Started the Cold War, hosted by Indira Varma and Raza Jaffrey, Wondery delves deeper into the clandestine activities of Klaus Fuchs, a pivotal figure whose espionage significantly influenced the early stages of the Cold War. This episode intricately weaves historical facts with dramatic reenactments to portray Fuchs's journey from his arrival in the United States to his critical role in the Manhattan Project and subsequent espionage activities.

Arrival in the United States: December 1943

The episode opens in December 1943 at Union Station, Washington, D.C., where Klaus Fuchs and other British atomic scientists arrive to collaborate on the Manhattan Project. The episode highlights the stark contrast between wartime rationing in Britain and the abundance in the United States, symbolized by Fuchs’s amazement at seeing fresh oranges in a store window.

General Leslie Groves, the head of the Manhattan Project, briefs the scientists on the project's security measures:

Groves (00:00): "On this project, we work under compartmentalization. You are all working on the diffusion plant in Manhattan. You will not tell friends, family, or anyone outside of your immediate team about your work. Is that clear?"

Fuchs, apprehensive about the compartmentalization, contemplates the challenges it poses for his espionage activities:

Narration (00:00): "But in order to get the bomb built quicker, Britain's agreed to loan its atomic scientists to America."

Personal Struggles and Espionage Initiatives

In January 1944, the narrative shifts to Fuchs’s personal life in Cambridge, Massachusetts. A heartfelt reunion with his sister Crystal reveals Fuchs's need to secure safe communication channels with his Soviet handlers. Fuchs requests his sister to relay specific messages without arousing suspicion:

Fuchs (05:25): "Tell me more about how you met your husband."

Parallel to this, MI5’s David Clark assesses Fuchs’s security risks, ultimately deciding against alerting the Americans about his communist ties, a decision that underscores the lax security that would later have profound implications.

Integration into Los Alamos and Continued Espionage

By August 1944, Fuchs relocates to Los Alamos, New Mexico, where he joins the core team working on the atomic bomb. Despite the intense work environment and the scientific breakthroughs, Fuchs grapples with the difficulty of maintaining covert communication with Soviet spies. His interactions with Harry Gold, his Soviet contact, are fraught with tension and the constant threat of exposure:

Fuchs (19:16): "I cannot meet you here again. The Americans are close to testing the bomb. We are running out of time."

Fuchs’s strategic efforts to embed espionage within his daily life are evident as he contemplates using visits to his sister to transmit information.

The Trinity Test: July 16, 1945

A climactic moment in the episode is the depiction of the Trinity Test, the first detonation of an atomic bomb. The intense atmosphere among the scientists is palpable as Fuchs witnesses the explosion:

Narration (30:35): "Fuchs raises a hand to shield his face and then lowers it in wonder as a huge, unearthly and silent globe of fire mushrooms up into the sky."

Fuchs immediately recognizes the significance of the test’s success and the potential fallout of their work. His subsequent meeting with Harry Gold to relay the bomb's details underscores the critical information being funneled to the Soviets:

Fuchs (30:35): "Here are the blueprints for Trinity. Everything Moscow needs to build it."

Soviet Response and the Escalation to the Cold War

Upon receiving Fuchs’s intelligence, Soviet leader Igor Kurchatov acknowledges the invaluable data, emphasizing the geopolitical shift it causes:

Kurchatov: "A weapon of this Magnitude would make America the most powerful nation on earth." (32:13)

The episode highlights the immediate strategic implications of Fuchs’s espionage, as the USSR accelerates its nuclear program, setting the stage for the ensuing Cold War tensions.

President Truman’s Revelation

In Potsdam, Germany, President Harry Truman informs Soviet leader Joseph Stalin about the successful Trinity Test:

Truman (32:13): "We have a new weapon, a bomb of unusual destructive force."

Stalin's indifferent reaction betrays his prior knowledge, insinuating that Soviet spies, like Fuchs, had already infiltrated American nuclear secrets. This pivotal moment underscores the profound impact of Fuchs's actions on global politics.

Conclusion and Implications

The episode concludes by reflecting on the monumental consequences of Klaus Fuchs’s espionage. His actions not only accelerated the Soviet Union’s entry into the nuclear arms race but also significantly altered the balance of power, ultimately laying the groundwork for the Cold War.

Notable Quotes

1. General Leslie Groves (00:00):

   "Security takes precedence over all else."

2. Fuchs to Raymond (interaction scene):

   "We are undertaking atomic research. Specifically how to enrich uranium by gaseous diffusion."

3. Harry Gold (18:16):

   "How powerful is it? The same as 10,000 tons of TNT."

4. President Harry Truman (32:13):

   "We have a new weapon, a bomb of unusual destructive force."

Production Insights

The episode skillfully blends historical dialogue with dramatized interactions to illustrate the clandestine nature of espionage during World War II. Drawing from reputable sources such as Trinity by Frank Close and Atomic Spy by Nancy Thorndike Greenspan, the narrative offers a nuanced portrayal of Klaus Fuchs’s dual life as a scientist and spy. The meticulous research ensures that even dramatized scenes maintain historical authenticity, providing listeners with an engaging and informative experience.

Conclusion

The Spy Who Started the Cold War masterfully captures the intricate web of espionage surrounding the Manhattan Project. Through Klaus Fuchs’s story, the episode illuminates the profound impact of individual actions on international relations and the onset of one of the most tense periods in modern history. Whether you're a history enthusiast or new to the subject, this episode offers a compelling exploration of the hidden forces that shaped the Cold War.

Transcript

[Indira Varma]

Wondery plus subscribers can binge full seasons of the Spy who early and ad free on Apple Podcasts or The Wondery app. December 1943 Union Station, Washington, D.C. klaus Fuchs steps off the train and onto the platform. With him are the other atomic scientists sent from Britain to work on America's Manhattan Project. The UK is ahead of the US in working out how to enrich uranium for use in an atom bomb. But in order to get the bomb built quicker, Britain's agreed to loan its atomic scientists to America. They arrived in the US this morning after more than two weeks at sea. Now they're being taken to a security briefing with the head of the Manhattan Project, General Leslie Groves. As the group walks through the streets of D.C. fuchs is amazed to see a pyramid of oranges on display in the store window. After years of wartime rationing in Britain, the abundance of food is almost shocking. Fuchs's friend and boss, Rudolph Peels, smiles. The war seems far away here, doesn't it? I can't remember the last time I saw fresh oranges. There is no rationing here. No. They're also going to pay us better, too. The group's escort leads Fuchs and the other scientists into a vast government building. They head down the long corridors until they reach an airy conference room. The door opens and General Grove strides to the wooden lectern at the front. He's a large man, but his girth is rigidly buttoned and belted into his military uniform. Good afternoon, gentlemen. While Dr. Robert Oppenheimer leads the science on this project, it is my responsibility to make sure we build this bomb before Hitler does. And that's why security is my number one priority. Groves glares at the scientists. On this project, we work under compartmentalization. You are all working on the diffusion plant in Manhattan. You are here for one reason only. To find a way to enrich uranium for use in a bomb. You will not have contact with or know the location of any of the other facilities or scientists involved in this project. You will not tell friends, family, or anyone outside of your immediate team about your work. Is that clear? Peels raises his hand. Groves reluctantly nods permission for the question. General science works best when there is collaboration of ideas. This approach will slow us down. I've heard this many times, not least from Dr. Oppenheimer. But on this project, security takes precedence over all else. But General, we have all been security cleared. You've been security cleared by the British, not by me. But while you are in the United States of America, you are subject to our laws here, the penalty for spying or passing on top secret information is the electric chair. Is that clear? Fuchs nods along with the other British scientists. But Grove's talk of compartmentalization worries worries him. Without access to the wider Manhattan Project, he'll only be able to give the Soviets a small glimpse into America's progress in building its nuclear super weapon. And if his attempts to learn more go wrong, he's going to wind up on the electric chair.

[Amazon Prime]

This episode is sponsored by Amazon Prime. The holidays are fast approaching and that means it's time for Prime. If your gift giving game could use a tune up, check out Amazon's handy gift guides for everyone on your list. And once you find the perfect present, enjoy free fast shipping on millions of eligible items with delivery as fast as the very same day you order. Prime also gives you access to a massive selection of movies, TV shows, music and more through Prime Video and Prime Music. However you holiday, Prime's got you covered. Being a Prime member can make this your easiest holiday season yet. Become a member [e-mail] prime because whatever you're into, it's on Prime.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile. With the price of just about everything going up during inflation, we thought we'd bring our prices down. So to help us, we brought in a reverse auctioneer, which is apparently a.

[Mint Mobile]

Thing Mint Mobile unlimited premium wireless.

[Audible]

30.

[Mint Mobile]

30 bid to get 30. Better get 20. 20. 20. Better get 20. 20. Better get 15. 15, 15, 15. Just 15 bucks a month.

[Indira Varma]

Sold.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Give it a [e-mail] Switch $45 upfront.

[Harry Gold]

Payment equivalent to $15 per month. New customers on first three month plan only taxes and fees, extra Speed slower above 40g. Detail.

[Indira Varma]

From Wondery. I'm Indira Varma and this is the spy who in the last episode, nuclear physicist Klaus Fuchs came to Britain to escape a Nazi crackdown on communists. Then after joining Britain's secret atom bomb project, he began feeding nuclear secrets to the USSR. Now he's been sent to America to help the USA's Manhattan Project build the first nuclear bomb. But to continue his spying, he also needs to find a safe way to reconnect with his Soviet spymasters. You're listening to the spy who started the Cold War. This is episode two loss Alamos. Christmas, 1943. Cambridge, Massachusetts. In the spacious living room of a suburban house, Fuchs smiles as his younger sister Crystal emerges from the kitchen with two drinks in her hands. She's a handsome 30 year old with dark hair. There you go, Gluewein. Just like we used to have in Germany. She hands a glass of spiced wine to Fuchs and looks at him fondly as she sits down opposite him. She last saw him during a stopover in Britain on her way from Germany to America. I can't believe it's been seven years. Yes, and you're a mother now. Tell me more about how you met your husband. It was at university. He was a communist and so passionate. But now, well, anyway, tell me, what is this science project that's brought you to America? Your letter wasn't very descriptive. Oh, I'm afraid I can't say. It's top secret. Fuchs stands, walking the room restlessly. He can feel his sister's eyes following him curiously. Crystal, I need to ask you for something. What is it? A man may come here looking for me. He won't ask for me by name. He will say I'm a friend of Max and you will need to reply. I heard that Max has had twins. Klaus, what have you got yourself into? It's better you do not know. But it is important. Wouldn't ask otherwise. Crystal gathers up the glasses and heads to the kitchen. Fuchs follows her. It's a last resort, I promise. Crystal concentrates on the washing up as she replies. Fine. But tell this man not to come if Robert is home. He cannot know about this. Fuchs feels uncomfortable using his sister in this way. Seemed convenient back in England. Now he realizes he's putting Crystal and her family in a dangerous position. January 1944. London. Counter subversion Officer David Clark walks through the corridors of MI5's headquarters. In his hand he holds a thin file with the name Klaus Fuchs on the front. Clark's irritation rises with each step. There's a war on and he's doing security checks on bespectacled scientists. He reaches the office of security liaison officer Major Garrett. Enter. Major. I've assessed Dr. Fuchs file as requested, and I do not regard him as much of a security risk. He has some Communist links, but so do many German refugees. Major Garrett grimaces. What kind of Communist links? The Americans want detailed assurances on him. Clark rolls his eyes. It's all a bit thin. Seen at parties with known Communists, expressed views while in an internment camp, that kind of thing. The police in Birmingham report no concerns about his behavior. Neither Clark nor Garrett have been told what Fuchs is doing in America. All they know is its scientific research of a most secret nature for the war. Garrett takes the file and reads through it himself. His file seems to have passed through an awful lot of hands. Who's taking the lead on it? Good question. It landed on my desk because he's got British citizenship now. Not quite sure how that happened. Clark glances at the wall clock and wonders how long this will take. It's almost lunchtime. He's safer over there than here, sir. How so? Well, he won't be near any of his communist friends and it'll be much harder for him to make contact with other communists out there. That's quite an assumption, Clarke. I think we have to take a view on this. You said he's vital to the scientific work out there. I'm not sure there's enough here to justify recalling him. Garrett closes the file and hands it back. Yes, I suppose you're right. Probably best if we don't mention Fuchs Communist proclivities to the Americans. They lose all sense of proportion whenever communism is mentioned. Clark is already halfway out the door. Quite agree, sir. Well, if that's everything. Yes, thank you. Clark heads for the canteen with a satisfied smile. That's another task off his desk. One month later Lower east side Manhattan Fuchs emerges from East Broadway subway station into the wintry afternoon chill. He pushes up the collar of his long tweed overcoat as he walks. He feels conspicuous in this rundown area, not just because of his smart hat and coat, but because he's carrying a tennis ball. He turns the corner and heads towards the Henry street settlement. As he approaches the red brick building, he notices a short, stocky man with sleepy looking eyes and a colorful tie. The man's wearing gloves, but also carrying a second pair. On seeing the tennis ball in Fuchs hand, the man crosses the road and walks towards him. Excuse me, could you tell me the way to Chinatown? I think Chinatown closes at 5 o'clock. The man smiles and Fuchs tucks the tennis ball into his pocket. He has just found his new Soviet handler. Hi, Klaus. I'm Raymond. Let's go for dinner. As they walk, Raymond repeatedly checks behind them. Fuchs is appalled. What are you doing? You'll draw attention. I will? Oh, sorry. Fuchs realizes that Raymond is not a trained intelligence officer. They stop outside a distinctive green and white steakhouse. Here we are, Fuchs. Irritation rises again as they enter the crowded restaurant. He waits until they are seated with menus in front of them. Raymond, I don't think this is a good place to talk. It is far too crowded. Raymond looks crestfallen. It is. Oh, I'll find somewhere better next time. Fuchs insists on waiting until they've eaten and are back walking the streets before talking about his work. We are undertaking atomic research. Specifically how to enrich uranium by gaseous diffusion. Wouldn't thermal diffusion be a better option? Fuchs looks at Raymond with more interest. He's obviously a scientist. Maybe his new handler isn't so useless after all. But Fuchs still feels the need to put some rules in place. Here is how this is going to work. From now on, we must never meet in the same place twice. The best time to meet is Fridays. You must never wait for me longer than five minutes. Yes. Fine. Absolutely. FS is still worried about Raymond, but at least he's reestablished contact with the Soviets and can now start supplying them with the Manhattan project's atomic secrets. Six months later Washington, D.C. in the Shoreham Hotel, Fuchs boss Rudolph Peels is meeting with James Chadwick, head of the British scientific mission. James, please. I need Klaus to come with me to Los Alamos. His mathematical abilities are vital for our work. The work of the British scientists in Manhattan is almost complete. But instead of going home, Peels is joining Robert Oppenheimer's team in New Mexico to help finalize construction of the bomb. He wants Fuchs to go with him. But Chadwick has other plans. Absolutely not. The war's coming to an end. I need Fuchs to resume our atomic energy research in Britain. The war isn't over. Hitler might still be building an atomic bomb if he builds it before us. We will lose this war. But we won't have a bomb if we don't solve the problem of implosion. And to solve that, I need Klaus. I'm sure the Americans can find other mathematicians to help you model the implosion. But Fuchs is the only scientist I have who can set up our uranium low separation plant. His work here is done. Peels bangs Chadwick's desk in frustration. Your low separation plant will never happen, James. You know as well as I do that the Americans have no intention of sharing the science with us. Churchill surrendered control over what is shared just to get a bomb built. America does not want Britain to become a nuclear power. I need Fuchs. In Los Alamos, the two scientists glare at each other, neither willing to back down. One month later. August 1944 outside the Brooklyn Museum of Art, Harry Gold sits on a bench and checks his watch. Gold is the Soviet agent that Fuchs knows as Raymond. He's a chemical engineer who began supplying the Soviets with industrial secrets before the war, and he misses those simpler days. He checks his watch again. Fuchs was supposed to be here 30 minutes ago. Gold feels the nervous flutter of worry. He understands just enough of the information Fuchs has given him in previous meetings to know how dangerous this mission is. If Fuchs has been caught, then the FBI could be watching him. He decides to leave. Taxi. As the taxi drives off, Gold realizes he has no idea where Fuchs lives and no way of finding out what happened to him. He wonders how he's going to explain to the Soviets that he's just lost contact with the USSR's most important spy.

[Amazon Prime]

Hey prime members, have you heard? You can listen to your favorite podcasts ad free. Good news. With Amazon Music you have access to the largest catalog of ad free top podcasts included with your prime membership. To start listening, download the Amazon Music app for free or go to Amazon.com adfreepodcast that's Amazon.com adfreepodcast to catch up on the latest episodes without the ads.

[Harry Gold]

Holiday magic is in the air and DSW's got all the shoes to make your season extra merry. Believe you've got parties to attend and lists to check twice. So DSW is taking care of the details like gifts to make their eyes all aglow. Styles that bring joy to your world. Brands everyone wants like Ugg, Nike, Birkenstock and more and deals to make your budget bright. Find the perfect shoes for you and yours at a DSW store near you or dsw.

[Indira Varma]

Okay, it's August 1944 and in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Klaus Fuchs is ushered out of the back of an earth colored office building into a sweltering hot car. It's three days since he was told he was being reassigned to Camp Y, the Manhattan Project secret facility in New Mexico. He was given an hour to pack and put on the first train out of New York. Now, with his security pass in his pocket, he sits on the burning leather of the back seat and waits as his driver loads his suitcases into the boot. All right, Dr. Fuchs. The research site is about 45 miles away, but it's a beautiful drive. In the rearview mirror, the driver gives him a friendly smile, but Fuchs notices that he looks at him just a little too long, as if trying to commit his face to memory. The sun dried mud brick buildings of Santa Fe give way to the parched scrub and huge sky of the surrounding desert. It's a landscape unlike any Fuchs has seen before. After crossing the Rio Grande, the road climbs through jagged sandstone canyons. But even as he admires the scenery, Fuchs notices his driver watching him in the rear view mirror. On being caught looking the driver smiles again. Nearly there. They reach a large plateau where the wild landscape is marred by a hastily assembled town. Fuchs stares at the massive army huts, prefab houses, barbed wire and guard towers. That's Camp Y. Yep, but folks here call it Los Alamos. The driver pulls up at the small weatherboard guard post that marks the entrance. Passes, please. Once past the guard post, the driver stops on one of Los Alamos's makeshift streets. Rudolph Peels emerges from one of the nearby prefabs, followed by his wife, Zhenya, and their young children. Peels embraces. Folks, at last you're here. This place is huge. While shepherding her children, Zhenya rolls her eyes at Fuchs. Looks big, but feels small. Too small sometimes. Peels grins. Ah, but there's no compartmentalisation here. We can work freely at last. Can't leave freely, though. Only one visit a month to the town. And even then you have to use the army taxi. Unless you have a car. I should get a car then. If you do, you'll be very popular. As Peels leads him to his new lodgings, Fuchs takes the opportunity to ask the most pressing thing on his mind. How to make contact with the outside world. My sister will be worried. I wasn't allowed to tell her I was leaving. Can we send letters from here? Yes. There's a post box in Santa Fe where all the mail is directed. They read it all, of course. This is where you'll be living. Settle in. I'll be round later. As Peels leaves, Fuchs steps inside his bachelor quarters. He's now in the heart of the Manhattan Project, with all its nuclear secrets to hand. But it's already clear that smuggling those secrets off the base and into Soviet hands will be a major challenge. A few weeks later. Manhattan. In a book stall near Fuchs's apartment, Harry Gold buys a book by a German novelist. Once away from the bookstore, Gold writes in the inside cover. Klaus Books. 128 West 77th Street. Fuchs has missed his last two meetings. So Gold's Soviet handler located Fuchs's apartment and told him to check it out. Gold crosses the road to the brownstone apartment building. He's relieved to see the name Dr. Fuchs beside the door and presses the buzzer. The door opens, but it's the janitor, not Fuchs. Yeah, I'm a friend of Dr. Fook's. I want to return a book he loaned me. Ah, sorry, buddy. He doesn't live here anymore. Left in a hurry. Oh, I see. Thank you, Gold. Hurries away. He needs to contact his Soviet spy master at once. He can think of only two reasons why Fuchs would disappear without warning. Either he's been arrested or he's done a runner. And Both spell trouble. December 1944. Los Alamos. In his room, Fuchs is at his desk copying atomic secrets by hand. Next door, his useful neighbour, Professor Richard Feynman, plays the bongos. It's been four months since Fuchs arrived at Los Alamos and he's enjoying it. He's surrounded by top tier scientists and has unrestricted access to the world's most valuable nuclear secrets. But he still hasn't found a safe way to contact his Soviet spymasters. Fuchs quickly hides the documents he's been copying under his mattress, then opens the door. His neighbor Feynman is on the other side with a lopsided grin on his face. Klaus, my dear friend, might I borrow your car again this afternoon? Yes, of course. Let me find the keys. Come. How's your wife? Feynman is the joker of Los Alamos. But Fuchs also knows he hides a tragic secret. His wife and high school sweetheart is in a nearby hospital, dying of tuberculosis. Feynman throws himself on the bed while Fuchs hunts for his keys. Grumpy, she demands I smuggle in chocolate to help her cope with the terrible hospital food. That matron sounds like General Groves. Ah, here they are. Fuchs throws the keys to Feynman. He quickly sits up and catches them with one hand. Fuchs breaks into a rare smile as Feynman leaps into a perfect imitation of Groves. Nazi spies are lurking everywhere. Gentlemen, be alert. Don't talk to each other. Wonder which of us he suspects of being the spy. Alas, my friend, you are far too German. And your spectacles far too large. What about you? Do you keep asking for special permission to go to Albuquerque? Ah, yes, you're right. The sick wife is a clever ruse. Well, I'm off to see my spymaster. Thanks for the car. Fuchs listens to Feynman's footsteps fade before getting back to copying Los Alamos secrets. And he's just had an idea for how to get them to the Soviets. By asking for permission to visit his sister, Crystal. One month later. January 1945 Cambridge, Massachusetts. Soviet agent Harry Gold walks slowly through the snow. His eyes are trained on the curtains of the house where Fuchs sister lives. The curtains are half open and that's the signal that tells him it's safe to approach. He takes the three short stairs that lead to the front door and Presses the doorbell. Gold was last here in the autumn. At the time, Crystal claimed not to know where her brother was. But she agreed to call Gold when she next heard from him. After months of silence, she finally phoned last week with news that Fuchs was coming to visit. Crystal opens the door and ushers Gold into the living room where Fuchs is waiting. Gold almost laughs with relief. But something about Crystal's expression stops him. I'm going shopping. She stares at Fuchs. Robert will be back in a couple of hours. Fuchs nods. Crystal grabs her hat and coat and leaves. With Crystal gone, Gold turns to Fuchs. Where the hell were you? You just disappeared. I didn't have any choice. They wouldn't let me contact anyone before I left. Not even Crystal. I'm in New Mexico now. Come upstairs. Fuchs leads Gold into the spare bedroom. On the desk is a large bulging envelope with documents inside. Fuchs unfolds a document lying on top. This is a map of Santa Fe, the nearest town. My next leave is June 2nd. I will meet you here at 4pm Fuchs points to a bus stop on the map. He then notices Gold looking worried. What's wrong, Klaus? I've got a full time job and Santa Fe's a 4,000 mile round trip. I don't have much vacation left. This is the only way I can get information out. I cannot meet you here again. The Americans are close to testing the bomb. We are running out of time. Fuchs spends the next hour running Gold through the progress being made at Los Alamos, including new ways to contain and control the explosion. After running through the details, Fuchs looks intently at Gold, blinking through his glasses. One last thing. I hear the Allies will soon take Kiel and Berlin. Looks that way. The Gestapo will have files on me being a communist. If the British or Americans get those documents, I am finished. Moscow must get to those files first and destroy them. Gol's relief at finding Fuchs is fast turning to acute anxiety. The atom bomb is just months away from completion. They are handling the greatest secret in the world. A secret that could reshape the world order. And just as the secrets they're handling are getting bigger, so are the chances of getting caught.

[Klaus Fuchs]

The holidays are all about sharing with family. Meals, couches, stories. Grandma's secret pecan pie recipe. And now you can also share a cart with instacart family carts. Everyone can add what they want to one group cart from wherever they are. So you don't have to go from room to room to find out who wants cranberry sauce or whether you should get mini marshmallows for the yams or collecting votes for sugar cookies versus Shortbread. Just share a cart and then share the meals in the moments. Download the Instacart app and get delivery in as fast as 30 minutes. Plus enjoy free delivery on your first three orders, service fees and terms apply.

[Audible]

Audible's best of 2024 picks are here. Discover the year's top audiobooks, podcasts and originals in all your favorite genres, from memoirs and sci fi to mysteries and thrillers. Audible's curated list in every category is the best way to hear 2024's best in audio entertainment, like a stunning new full cast production of George Orwell's 1984 heartfelt memoirs like Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson's lovely one. The year's best fiction, like the Women by Kristin Hannah and Percival Everett's brilliantly subversive James Audible. There's more to imagine when you listen. Go to audible.com imagine and discover all the years best waiting for you.

[Indira Varma]

Spring 1945 New Mexico amid the cool forest canopy and rocky outcrops of the Jess Falls, Jenya Peels and some of the other wives from Los Alamos are picnicking with their children. This place is so beautiful. The children will never want to go back to England, one wife grimaces. Our husbands won't want to go back. Tom thinks it's a scientific paradise. He wouldn't notice if I walked around the house naked. Another wife raises an eyebrow archly. Find someone else then. There's plenty of bachelors here. Naughty. Perhaps I'll stop batting my eyelids at that lovely Klaus foots. Klaus, you can't be serious. He's got the sex appeal of a kipper. He sits in a corner all night saying nothing. Zhenya smiles. She's seen this reaction to Fuchs before. Klaus is a penny in the slop, man. You need to put something in to get anything out. When you do, he's quite different. He's completely forgettable. I never remember what he looks like until I see him. Let's hope my husband thinks the same thing when he finds him in my bed. Klaus is very principled. I won't have you terrible women corrupting him. Besides, he's working 18 hour days like the rest of them. It's only us. With so much time on our hands, the laughter and smiles die, one of the wives sighs. Let's just hope they've nearly finished that damn bomb so we can all go home. Two months later. June 2, 1945 Santa Fe. In the welcome shade of some trees, Harry Gold sits at a bus stop, pretending to read a newspaper. Its pages are full of reports about Germany's defeat. But Gold's eyes are focused, focused on the passing cars. A Buick driven by Fuchs pulls over, folding his paper. Gold approaches the car and slides into the passenger seat. Fuchs gets straight to business as he drives out of Santa Fe. The bomb's almost ready. They plan to test it next month. Oppenheimer has named it Trinity. Gold gapes at Fuchs privately. He never thought they'd manage it. Fuchs pulls over on a deserted road in the middle of the desert. The heat haze shimmers off the road in front of them. How powerful is it? The same as 10,000 tons of TNT. The shockwave will cause damage for miles. The radiation fallout will be significant and last for many days. But it won't set the Earth's atmosphere on fire. Gold whips his head around to stare at Fuchs. What? What do you mean by that? We thought it would create enough heat to set the atmosphere on fire, but that was a miscalculation. We're confident that won't happen. How confident? Quite confident. Fuchs ignores Gold's worried look, opens his briefcase and removes a wad of classified documents. Here are the blueprints for Trinity. Everything Moscow needs to build it. Gold takes the documents gingerly, almost afraid to touch them. He tucks them into his own briefcase. I don't get it, though. Germany surrendered. Why are they still building it? I believe they intend to use it in the Pacific to force Japan into a quick surrender. Where? I don't know. Gold looks out across the barren landscape and imagines a city of Japanese people, unaware they are living their final days. ONE MONTH LATER Moscow. Igor Kurchatov, the scientific head of the Soviet nuclear weapons program, strokes his long beard before him. Laid out on his desk are the documents that Fuchs smuggled out of Los Alamos. Amazing, of course. Use a polonium and beryllium initiator and uranium as a tamper. It's brilliant. In his excitement about the science, Kurchatov's forgotten about the other man in the room. He's Lavrenchy Beria, head of the nkvd, the Soviet Union's feared secret police. So this information is useful? Useful? It's invaluable. The Americans and the British have made an incredible breakthrough. And so quickly he stops himself. Admiration for capitalist scientists is dangerous in front of this man, which makes it a serious threat to the safety of our nation. A weapon of this Magnitude would make America the most powerful nation on earth. We must inform Stalin. Barrier raises an eyebrow. Stalin will ask why America has such a weapon and your team has not given him the same weapon. Kurchatov squirms in his seat. It was not possible before. Our budget is inadequate. The scale needed to make these breakthroughs is enormous. The Americans have many thousands of people working on it. But now you have this information from my sources, you will no doubt make rapid progress. Yes, Certainly. Good. Then that is what we will tell Stalin. As Barrier leaves, Kurchatov gulps. If Stalin is promised rapid progress, he better deliver it. Otherwise he'll end up dead or in a Siberian Labor Camp. July 16, 1945. Campania Hill, New Mexico. Fuchs watches as the first rays of dawn break over the distant hills. He takes a long drag on his cigarette as he sits on the hard ground nearby, his next door neighbor, Richard Feynman, beats out a rhythm on his bongos. Some of the other scientists are taking bets. But the festive atmosphere conceals the nervousness. Just 20 miles away, Trinity. The first atomic bomb is about to be detonated over the radio. The countdown starts. The bongos and conversation stops. People lie down on their mats and put on welders glasses to protect their eyes. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. A flash of light blinds them. It's so bright it seems to bore into their bodies. Fuchs raises a hand to shield his face and then lowers it in wonder as a huge, unearthly and silent globe of fire mushrooms up into the sky. Strange flashes of blue, green and red pulsate across its surface. The early morning desert chill has been replaced by a tremendous heat. Then he hears a sound like thunder as the shock wave sends a tsunami of dust, smoke and fire rushing towards them. Vibrates so loud his chest cavity feels as if it will explode. Fuchs can sense the blast was far bigger than their estimates. This weapon is a destroyer of cities. One of the scientists near him finally speaks. Now what will happen? How will we use this? Fox turns away. It's too late to ask that. Eight days later. Potsdam, Germany. In a mock Tudor country house, the leaders of the usa, the UK and the USSR are deciding Germany's future. As the morning's negotiations wrap up, America's white haired president Harry Truman remains at the table writing a note. He watches as Soviet leader Joseph Stalin moves to a corner of the room with his advisors. Truman knows the Soviets are discussing his refusal to give in to their demand demands. But he now knows about the successful test of Trinity. America's got the bomb. He no longer needs the Soviets to defeat Japan. Truman decides it's time to strengthen his negotiating position. He rises from the table and sidles alongside the khaki clad bulk of Stalin. Generalissimo Stalin, I wanted to let you know something. Yes, what is it? We have a new weapon, a bomb of unusual destructive force. Truman watches for Stalin's reaction, but is disappointed. The Soviet leader merely nods. Then I hope you will make good use of this bomb against Japan. Stalin walks away, followed by his entourage. One of Truman's aides approaches. Well, sir, how did he respond? Not much of a reaction. That will change when he sees it in action, sir. But Truman feels a niggle at the corner of his mind. It's almost like he wasn't surprised at all. Impossible, sir. Security was watertight. He just didn't want to give you the satisfaction. Truman tries to shake off his doubt. He was briefed on the security measures himself. His vision of a democratic capitalist future depends on America being the world's sole nuclear power. Stalin can't possibly know anything about the atomic bomb, can he? Wondery plus subscribers can binge full seasons of the Spy who early and ad free on Apple podcasts or the Wondery app from Wondery. This is the second episode in our new series, the Spy who Started the Cold War. A quick note about our dialogue. We can't know everything that was said or done behind closed doors, doors particularly far back in history. But our scenes are written using the best available sources. So even if a scene or conversation has been recreated for dramatic effect, it's still based on biographical research. We've used various sources to make this series, including Trinity by Frank Close, the Spy who Changed the World by Mike Rossiter and Atomic Spy by Nancy Thorndike Greenspan. The Spy who is hosted by me, Indra Varma. Our show is produced by Vespucci with writing and story editing by Yellowant for Wondery. For Yellow Ant, this episode was written by Judy Cooper and researched by Louise Byrne. Our managing producer is Jay Priest. For Vespucci, our senior producers are Natalia Rodriguez and Philippa Gearing. Our sound designer is Iver Manley. Rachel Byrne is the supervising producer. Music supervisor is Scott Velasquez. For Frisson Sync. Executive producers for Vespucci are Johnny Galvin and Daniel Turkin. Executive producer for Yellow Ant is Tristan Donovan. Our managing producer for Wondery is Rachel Sibley. Executive producers for Wondery are Estelle Doyle, Chris Bourne, Morgan Jones and Marshall Louis.