The Edgewood Arsenal

Prepare to have your perspective shifted because Maru's revelations about the United States' secret plans for chemical warfare are about to blow your mind.

You might think the Manhattan Project was ground zero for America's dive into the atomic age, but think again. Maru's uncovered documents reveal a clandestine history, showing the U.S. was gearing up for chemical warfare on a colossal scale long before the first atomic bomb was even a twinkle in a scientist's eye.

The architects of America's nuclear arsenal were savvy strategists, eager to distance the atomic bomb from the tainted legacy of chemical weapons. They orchestrated a media blitz around the Hiroshima bombing, playing up the explosive impact while downplaying the deadly radiation fallout, all to ensure the public saw nukes as a whole different ball game.

But behind the scenes, military brass knew better. They recognized the eerie parallels between chemical and atomic warfare, and they were all too aware of America's formidable capabilities in the former arena. Thanks to lessons learned in World War I, the U.S. had honed its chemical warfare prowess to a razor's edge.

Enter the American University, ground zero for chemical research. It became the nerve center for coordinating studies across the nation, culminating in the lightning-fast construction of the Edgewood Arsenal, a behemoth of a facility that churned out poison gas like there was no tomorrow.

Picture this: 300 buildings sprawled across miles of railways and roads, buzzing with hundreds of scientists and assistants tirelessly tinkering with thousands of chemicals to concoct the perfect war gas. And if that wasn't enough, America's private chemical companies got in on the action too, cranking out mustard gas by the ton.

But the real kicker? The U.S. had grand plans for mustard gas in France, enough to turn entire cities into ghost towns at the push of a button. It was a chilling vision of mass destruction, one that likely played a role in Germany's decision to call it quits and sign an armistice.

So, next time you think about America's wartime arsenal, remember: it wasn't just about bombs and bullets—it was about chemical cocktails and catastrophic consequences. And thanks to Maru's sleuthing, the truth is out in all its jaw-dropping glory.