Mushroom Cloud

By Alan Whichello

Set during the 2nd World War, Mushroom Cloud is an account of what could have happened if Germany had developed the nuclear bomb before America and the Americans could not support, or help Britain anymore. What if Adolf Hitler had such a hold over Britain that Churchill had to surrender to Germany? What would have become of the Royal Family, the Prime Minister and the government? But most importantly, what would have happened to the British people and their way of life?

This gripping, sometimes harrowing story follows the lives of four different groups of people as they react to a cataclysmic event in war-torn Europe. In the cause of freedom, some risk their lives, some lose their lives and others find true love.

Alan Whichellos first novel demonstrates a natural story-telling ability, which will have the reader hooked from the start

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: May 24, 2012
• ISBN: 9781466932548

Alan Whichello

From a Boy to a Man is Alan's 7th book following on from three novels and three ever popular children's books. Alan Whichello was born in London in 1948. He retired from the building industry in 2011 and began writing, in between his other hobbies. He lives in Oxfordshire with his wife Gillian.

Book preview

Mushroom

Cloud

A short story by

Alan Whichello

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© Copyright 2012 Alan Whichello.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

isbn: 978-1-4669-3253-1 (sc)

isbn: 978-1-4669-3255-5 (hc)

isbn: 978-1-4669-3254-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012907679

Trafford rev. 05/14/2012

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Contents

Introduction

Part 1

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Part 2

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Part 3

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Epilogue

Conclusion

About the author

Introduction

This is a story about love, hate, triumph and heartache. Set during the 2nd World War, it is an account of what could have happened if Germany had developed the nuclear bomb before America and the Americans could not support, or help Britain anymore.

What if Adolf Hitler had such a hold over Britain that Churchill had to surrender to Germany?

What would have become of the Royal Family, the Prime Minister and the government?

But most importantly, what would have happened to the British people and their way of life?

Part 1

Chapter 1

It was late in 1944 and Germany was losing the war. Britain was beginning to command the skies over Europe, led by Air Marshal Arthur Harris who was in charge of Bomber Command. Hamburg and Berlin had come under intensive carpet bombing, which had left both cities in ruins and the German people in despair. The war was still raging in Africa, the USSR, and many smaller countries, but Hitler had ground control over most of Europe.

England was being battered by the V-1 rockets, but the anti-aircraft defences along the south coast could shoot many of them down over the English Channel, long before they got over land. The rockets that were not shot down had to contend with the Spitfires which could out-manoeuvre and flip the V-1s off course, but still half of the rockets managed to hit London and the surrounding areas.

Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister had called a meeting at 10 Downing Street with his Chiefs of Staff.

We have a problem, he told the assembled men. I have just received news that the Germans are developing a bigger, longer range rocket, the V2 and that they are ready to launch an attack on London.

Can’t we destroy the factory where they are being assembled? asked Field Marshall Brooke.

It’s not as easy as that replied the Prime Minister, The factory is built underground into a hillside, at Peenemünde on the Baltic Coast.

Could we mount an air strike and bomb the place? asked Air Marshal Harris. I am sure our boys back at the lab can produce a bomb that could penetrate their defences.

Yes, that might be possible said the Prime Minister, I will contact Barnes Wallis. Perhaps he could adapt the design of the bouncing bomb that destroyed the German dams. I’ll ask him to get his team working on it right away.

The Prime Minister paused. I also have news from our American friends, he continued, they are working on a programme called The Manhattan Project. A chap called Oppenheimer and his team are constructing a new type of bomb, codenamed The Gadget, which could help win the war.

That’s not going to help us at the moment, said General Ismay, It could be months before Oppenheimer’s bomb is ready and if Hitler has this bigger rocket, who knows what else he’s developing? We must bomb the rocket site now, before they have a chance to launch this new rocket. The staff all agreed and left to organize the operation.

Chapter 2

Adolf Hitler had summoned his staff for an urgent meeting. We are losing the battle in the skies over Germany. British bombers are penetrating our defences and destroying our cities, we must win back control in the air before it’s too late. We have too many front lines and our men are spread out too thinly. We must pull our soldiers back and make a stand in Europe, he said. How long before the new bunker in Spain will be finished?

It will not be completed for some months yet reported Werner von Braun head of the V2 rocket programme, but part of it could be operational by early next week.

That’s good news said Adolf, we must start moving all our equipment and scientists there as soon as possible. Our spies in America have informed me that the Americans have been testing an atomic bomb. We must develop our own bomb before the Americans or else the war will be lost.

Our scientists are very close said Erich Schumann, head of the Nuclear Programme, the big advantage we have over the Americans is that they have no means of transporting their bomb. Their rocket programme is a long way behind ours; they would have to use bombers to carry it. Our scientists are also developing radar that can detect aircraft over 100 miles away, so we can shoot them down before they reach us.

Good, replied Adolf, I have instructed Dr Walter Dornberger to build a new rocket, the V-3 which has a 3,000 mile range and is capable of carrying an atom bomb in the fuselage. If we can build these rockets in the underground bunker at Pontevedra along the north west of Spain, then Western America will be within our range and no American bomb will be a threat.

Chapter 3

In America, General Henry Arnold, head of the American Air force, was having a talk with Oppenheimer and his team. We are assembling the atom bomb, and it should be ready early next week reported Oppenheimer. The first underground test in the Nevada Desert was very successful

That’s great news, said Arnold, I will get our boys to convert the bombers so the bomb can be strapped underneath.

Meanwhile back in England, despite the RAF bombing of the German rocket sites and sabotaging the solid fuel factories, the first V2 rocket smashed into a street in South London and more followed the next day. Britain was in despair and urgent meetings took place at 10 Downing Street.

We cannot sustain these attacks for much longer, said Brooke. How are the Americans getting on with the Manhattan Project?

Apparently said the Prime Minister, "they are going to drop their bomb on Japan in an attempt to end the conflict there.

Good! said Brooke, perhaps they could then bomb Germany and end this war.

Just then