A Deterrent Weapon

Director & Producer: Jakob Gottschau
Produced by: Express TV-Produktion
Year of Production: 2008
Duration: 38 min. Also available: 28 min.
Original Title: Et Skræmmende Våben

The 28 min. version is compatible with the series Late Lessons from Early Warnings.

When the US exploded two nuclear bombs over Japan in 1945, it was perhaps the largest demonstration of power in the history of civilisation. But there was more to follow, for the devastating explosions over Hiroshima and Nagasaki were just the starting point of a desperate arms race between the US and the Soviet Union – and during the next 40 years, the nuclear stockpiles of the super powers would grow at an alarming rate leading, on several occasions, to the world being so close to a nuclear war.

It was not until the end of the cold war that thousands of nuclear bombs were disarmed – and the world could once more, breathe easily. At least for a while. Today, the number of countries with atomic weapon arsenals is on the increase ¬and alongside the likelihood that terrorist groups could, any day, get their hands on this deadly technology, is greater than ever.