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Atomic energy in the Soviet Union (1960)

Author	A.Kramish
Date	1960
Classification	2.34.0.00/03 (RUSSIA - GENERAL)
Front

FOREWORD

Following World War II, the United States and Great Britain issued comprehensive 
reports on the historical and technical development of their atomic energy programs.
These have since been supplemented by periodic progress reports. No similar 
information has been made available by the government of the USSR. It is the 
purpose of this book to correct the deficiency.
In doing so the author has attempted to present a technical and political analysis as 
unbiased as the data permit. It is hoped that the resulting text, when describing a 
particular decision or achievement; will not be taken out of context to indicate Soviet 
superiority or inferiority. Also, as is emphasized several times in the text, there are 
strong recognized differences in economic and political outlook between the USSR 
and the West, and a simple comparison of technical achievement more often than not 
fails in itself to give the true story. Wherever possible in this study the political 
and economic motives have been correlated with the technical data. Admittedly, some of 
the inferences may be somewhat in error and, if responsible Soviet authorities wish to 
break their silence, corrections would be most welcome. The scientific analyses are as 
precise as the Soviet statements on which they are based.
Assembled from the meager scraps of information found during the systematic 
scanning of many thousands of issues of Soviet newspapers and technical journals, 
the account given here is believed to present close to the maximum amount of 
information publicly available and of interest to the general reader. The specialized 
reader is already aware of the more detailed technical data that can be found in 
various Soviet scientific journals, but again, these articles represent a narrow 
selection from the entire body of Soviet nuclear research and development.
This book represents an extensively revised and current version of three research 
memoranda previously published by The RAND Corporation as a part of its research 
program for the United States Air Force. The first of these memoranda was co-
authored with Melville J. Ruggles, now vice-president of the Council on Library 
Resources, Inc. For the early collaborative effort and the stimulating conversations 
on Soviet decision-making processes, the author is most grateful to Mr. Ruggles. 
Anne M. Jonas provided knowledgeable research assistance, and it is a pleasure 
to acknowledge her important contribution. To the many others, within RAND and 
without, whose discussions and comments on draft sections were of considerable 
benefit to the author, a final note of appreciation is due.

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