The Einstein-Szilard Letter

The Einstein-Szilard Letter was a 1939 letter signed by physicist Albert Einstein and physicist Leo Szilard, addressed to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It warned that Nazi Germany might develop atomic weapons and emphasized the importance of the United States exploring nuclear fission research. The letter helped persuade the U.S. government to initiate the Manhattan Project, which ultimately led to the development of the first atomic bombs. This document is considered a key moment in scientific and historical efforts around nuclear technology and the onset of the atomic age.