The Reich Device

The Reich Device is an action spy thriller by the author and scientist, Richard D. Handy. In this alternative history, 1930s Germany is a hotbed of discovery in atomic physics and rocket science; but spies and assassins compete for a much more sinister prize - the unexpected discovery of nanoparticles leads to a new super-weapon with even more destructive power than the fledgling uranium bomb.
The fictional plot and the real history of 1930s Germany
The aim of this commentary is to show how fiction can be used to promote the public understanding of science and history, as well as to identify the great importance of the scientific discoveries made in the 1930s to our world as it is now. Scientists with access to original documents and authors of historical fiction are especially asked to amend and edit the content of this wiki.
The story begins in Leipzig, May 1933 with a fictional character called Professor Gustav Mayer who is a physicist. In the story he makes a monumental scientific discovery that is years ahead of its time. He confides in his friend, Albert Einstein to determine whether or not he should reveal his discovery to the world. In the real world, European scientists were at the center of a revolution in atomic physics with Enrico Fermi performing experiments to (inadvertently) split the atom (University of Rome. 1934), while Germany hosted some of the brightest minds of the day including Lise Meitner and Otto Frisch who performed similar experiments and are arguably credited with first using the term "nuclear fission."
In the story, the spy Oliver Heinkel is in deep cover in the Standard Oil Company in New York, and using his cover to steal information from US scientists and also swindle the financial institutions of the USA of funds. In the real world, Rockefeller Plaza was in the final phases of construction as one of the largest privately funded ventures in real estate at that time. Standard Oil was also one of the large oil giants of its day.
Characters in the alternative history
Fictional
The hero - Major Danny Nash of the British Secret Intelligence Service (SIS). In his early thirties, tough and resourceful, Nash prefers to work alone. He is adept with a range of firearms, explosives and stabbing weapons; especially his trusty set of stiletto throwing knives. Nash has a darker side and is far from squeaky clean. Coming from a broken home, he joined up as a boy-soldier and now the only family he knows is the army.
Heroine - Emily Sinclair, wild child and stunning beautiful daughter of Nash’s boss (the director of SIS). Emily works in the Admiralty Office in London, she’s in love with Nash and hankers after a more adventurous life.
Villain - Commandant Kessler, a rising star of the Nazi party having served in Hitler’s personal guard during the Munich Putsch. Kessler, the son of a war hero of Verdun, has a lot to live up to. He is an accomplished soldier, intelligent, and a brutal psychopath with ambition.

Scientist - Professor Gustav Mayer, a modest man in his early fifties. He lives alone and dedicates his time to his work in the Physics Department at Leipzig University, at least until the Gestapo comes along.

Money man and spy - Oliver Heinkel is in deep cover at Standard Oil in New York. He is one of Germany’s greatest spies, athletic, and a sophisticated master of deception. Heinkel is under orders delivered by Joseph Goebbels and charged with a task from the Führer himself.
Non-fictional characters with fictional roles in the story.
Karl Dönitz - a navy man at heart, Donitz has the unenviable duty of reporting progress on a number of Germany’s secret projects to the Reich Chancellery. In real life, he later becomes Grand Admiral and Commander in Chief of the entire German Navy.
Sir Hugh Sinclair - he has a fictitious role as the father of Emily Sinclair, and is also Nash’s boss as the director of the British Secret Intelligence Service (SIS). In real life, Sir Hugh Sinclair was a navy man recruited to the intelligence services.
Albert Einstein - a fellow scientist and close friend of Gustav Mayer. In real life, Einstein denounces his citizenship of Germany in spring 1933, never to return to his home. In this alternative history, Einstein stays to help his friend, but at a great personal cost.
John D. Rockefeller - an oil tycoon duped by Oliver Heinkel into funding Nazi Germany with millions of dollars in cash, bonds and gold bullion. In real life, John D. Rockefeller was probably the richest man in the world and kept offices in New York. He was also of German ancestory and known to sympathise with the plight of Germany after the Great War.
Dr Walter Dornberger - a German rocket scientist who is given the task of managing the new ultra top secret project on Mayer’s device. Dornberger is a level-headed pragmatist, who does what he must under orders from the Reich Chancellery. In real life, Walter Dornberger is regarded as one of the founders of rocket science and moved to the United States under the cover of Operation Paperclip. He eventually worked for the Bell Aircraft Corporation.
Reception and reviews of this novel
Goodreads
One Giant Read (British Astronauts promting fiction about space)Historical Novel Society

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