What was the american reaction to the soviet atomic bomb?

Answer 1

Absolute flabbergasted surprise that those backward Russians could actually do such a thing in 1949. The earliest prediction was that they might have an atomic bomb in 1952 but many predicted that it was not possible for at least another decade.

Answer 2

The Soviets detonated their first device in '49. The US simply had to have a better weapon to counter it. The cold war was heating up (arm's race). The August 29, 1949 first device detonation was not dropped from an airplane! Like the US July 16, 1945 Trinity first device detonation, it was a tower shot. The Soviet Union's first atomic bomb that was actually dropped from an airplane did not occur until October 18, 1951 (their third atomic bomb test).

Answer 3

intensifying efforts to develop a hydrogen bomb

Answer 4

I dont know. Maybe

Answer 5

extreme panic