OTTO HAHN AND WERNER HEISENBERG IN THE NUCLEAR AGE: ANALYZING THE POSTWAR LEGACIES OF TWO FORMER NAZI GERMANY ATOM BOMB PROJECT MEMBERS, 1945-1957

This thesis examines two scientists, Otto Hahn and Werner Heisenberg, analyzing both their similarities and the evolution of their differing legacies in the period between 1945 to 1957. This will be done in a comparative manner, which in turn will reveal advantages to scholars. This involves the re-evaluation of sources such as Samuel Goudsmit’s Alsos, and how to alleviate the lack of secondary scholarship regarding Otto Hahn. Thus, this thesis argues that future scholars need to consider jointly analyzing two scientists, for new methods of understanding them can arise.