Neutronenbom

Artist Joke Ziegelaar Netherlands, born 1943

Date1977

Dimensions23 1/4 x 16 1/2 in. (59.1 x 41.9 cm)

ClassificationsPoster

Credit LinePoster House Permanent Collection

Terms

Object numberPH.7866

DescriptionWhile the development of the neutron bomb dates back to 1958, it was not until 1977 that the United States announced its plans to produce it for deployment. Scientifically known as enhanced radiation weapons (ERWs), these bombs were more targeted than their predecessors, creating a smaller blast but releasing a more direct amount of lethal radiation. At the time of this development, the Soviet Union had a larger stockpile of conventional weapons than countries belonging to NATO. As such, military planners believed that in any conflict, Western Europe could easily be overrun. Building up an arsenal of neutron bombs would allow short-range missiles in the area to incapacitate Soviet forces by penetrating tanks and other heavy military equipment with massive doses of radiation. Although NATO officials were in favor of producing the neutron bomb, protest groups focused on the concept that it was a particularly capitalist weapon in that it would kill people but leave property intact—thus the tagline in this Dutch poster, “no business damage.” While neutron bombs were built and tested by multiple countries, the public’s strong resistance to their large-scale development led to European governments backpedaling on their deployment. In 1978, the Carter administration in the United States also canceled plans for using them.

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