By: HISTORY.com Editors

1945

Americans seize 1,100 pounds of uranium in effort to prevent Soviets from developing A-bomb

HISTORY.com Editors

Published: November 05, 2009

Last Updated: May 27, 2025

On April 17, 1945, U.S. Lieutenant Colonel Boris T. Pash commandeers over half a ton of uranium at Strassfurt, Germany, in an effort to prevent the Soviets from developing an A-bomb.

Pash was head of the Alsos Group, organized to search for German scientists in the postwar environment in order to prevent the Soviets, previously Allies but now a potential threat, from capturing any scientists and putting them to work at their own atomic research plants. Uranium piles were also rich “catches,” as they were necessary to the development of atomic weapons.

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Citation Information

Article title: Americans seize 1,100 pounds of uranium in effort to prevent Soviets from developing A-bomb
Author: HISTORY.com Editors
Website Name: History
URL: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/april-17/americans-seize-1100-pounds-of-uranium

Date Accessed: August 14, 2025
Publisher: A&E Television Networks
Last Updated: May 27, 2025
Original Published Date: November 05, 2009

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