A brief history of the nuclear weapon

This work analyses the milestones in the design of the nuclear bomb at the turn of the 1940s. The most significant moments of the fission discovery, the German and American contributions and the nuclear tests are highlighted. The attempts of some scientists to slow down the race for the atomic bomb are linked to the ancient reflection on pacifism. A website designed primarily for school communities as a tool for active citizenship education on disarmament issues is presented. Finally, a forum with Japanese institutions and protagonists of disarmament campaigns on the 80th anniversary of the bombing of Japan is reported.