DOMAINE HISTOIRE CONTEMPORAINE
Niels Rebetez
« Alerter sur le danger
atomique : Apocalypse
de latome (1958) et sa
réception »
SÉRIE : RECHERCHES
NOVEMBRE 2014
WORKING PAPERS N° 002
FACULTÉ DES LETTRES
HISTOIRE CONTEMPORAINE
BUREAU 4133–4135
AV. DE L’EUROPE 20, 1700 FRIBOURG
© 2014 Niels Rebetez
Working Papers - Domaine Histoire Contemporaine, 2014/2
Document préparé par le Domaine d’Histoire Contemporaine, août 2014
Université de Fribourg
Faculté des Lettres
Histoire Contemporaine
Bureau 4133-4135
Av. de l’Europe 20
CH-1700 Fribourg
www.unifr.ch/hc
La collection des “Working Papers Histoire Contemporaine” est une série de cahiers de recherche
présentant les différents travaux menés au sein du domaine d’Histoire contemporaine de l’Université de
Fribourg (Suisse). Cette collection est peer-reviewed et existe depuis 2014. Les thèmes abordés dans ces
working papers reflètent les travaux de recherche encouragés ou réalisés par le personnel académique du
domaine d’histoire contemporaine, soit en lien avec les enseignements ou des conférences organisés par
le domaine. Le contenu de ces travaux nengage que la responsabilité de leurs auteur-e-s.
! ! !
!
"#$%&'(!)*+,$!-.//01!0/23!
!
!
!
!
!
!
«"Alerter"sur"le"danger"atomique":"Apocalypse"de"
l’atome"(1958)"et"sa"réception"»"
-&,45!6,7,8,91!0/23!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
:$*;*&4!$<=&(<!=*'5!4,!>*=$,!=?!@<A&'*&$,!!B!C,$'*'=!D&(#'!,'8$,!4EF$&,'8!,8!4EF>>&=,'8!G!!
HI*58,$!J!@K!0/2L1!)$#M5N!K4*&'!O4*;&,'!,8!O4*?=,!P*?5,$1!=<>,A7$,!0/2LQ!!
!
!
3!
!
Introduction"
R'!2STU1!4,!V#?$'*4&58,!5?&55,!=E#$&(&',!V?$*55&,'',!C,$'*'=!D&(#'!M*&8!+?74&,$!5#'!4&;$,!"#$%&'(#)*!+*!
',&-$.*1!M$?&8!=E?'!$,+#$8*(,!=,!8$#&5!A#&5!*?!W*+#'!5?$!4,!=,58&'!=,5!B!*8#A&5<X,X5!G!=EP&$#5Y&A*!,8!
=,!-*(*5*%&N!ZE#?;$*(,!$,'>#'8$,!?'!<>Y#!>#'5&=<$*74,1!,58!8$*=?&8!,'!+4?5&,?$5!4*'(?,5!,8!5?5>&8,!=,!
'#A7$,?5,5!$<*>8&#'5N!O,!8$*;*&4!=,! 5<A&'*&$,!5E&'8<$,55,!V?58,A,'8! [!4*! =&MM?5&#'!=E"#$%&'(#)*!+*!
',&-$.*!,8![!4E*>>?,&4!\?&!4?&!,58!M*&81!,8!>,![!+4?5&,?$5!'&;,*?]N!!
^',!+$,A&_$,!+*$8&,!=?!8$*;*&4!<8?=&,!4*!=&58$&7?8&#'!=,5!*$8&>4,5!=,!$,+#$8*(,![!4*!7*5,!=?!4&;$,!\?,!
C,$'*'=!D&(#'!*!<>$&85!,8!M*&85!+?74&,$!=*'5!=,!'#A7$,?]!V#?$'*?]!,8!$,;?,5!,'8$,!2ST`!,8!2Sa/N!Z,!
8$*;*&4!5E&'8<$,55,! '#8*AA,'8! *?! 8b+,! =,! +$,55,! +*$! 4,\?,4! 4,! V#?$'*4&58,! =&58$&7?,! 5,5! +*+&,$51!5*!
+#$8<,!,8!4*!+4*>,!\?,!>,5!#$(*',5!=,!+$,55,!4?&!=#'','8N!^',!5,>#'=,!+*$8&,!5E&'8<$,55,!,'5?&8,!*?!
4&;$,![!+$#+$,A,'8!+*$4,$1!'#8*AA,'8!*?]!>$&8&\?,5!4#$5!=,!5*!5#$8&,!,'!<=&8&#'!#$&(&'*4,!M$*'c*&5,!,'!
2STU!,8!*?]!8$*=?>8&#'5!=#'8!&4!M*&8!4E#7V,8!4,5!*''<,5!5?&;*'8,5!d!=#'8!?',!M$*?=?4,?5,N!^'!>Y*+&8$,![!
4*!5?&8,!=,!4E&'8$#=?>8&#'!+$<5,'8,!<(*4,A,'8!4,!4&;$,1!5*!58$?>8?$,!,8!4,5!8Y_A,5!\?&!b!5#'8!*7#$=<51!
*;*'8!=E,'8$,$!=*'5!4*!+$&'>&+*4,!+*$8&,!=?!8$*;*&4!>#'5*>$<,![!4*!=&MM?5&#'!,8![!4*!$<>,+8&#'N!R'M&'1!?'!
8$#&5&_A,! *],! 5,! +,'>Y,! 5?$!4*! $<>,+8&#'! =?! 4,>8#$*8N! e*'5! ?'! >#'8,]8,! =,! D?,$$,! M$#&=,! ,8! =,!
=<;,4#++,A,'8! =,! 4E<',$(&,! '?>4<*&$,1! \?,! >,! 5#&8! [! =,5! M&'5! A&4&8*&$,5! #?! >&;&4,51! =*'5! \?,44,5!
=&5+#5&8&#'5!5,! 8$#?;,! 4,! +?74&>! +#8,'8&,4! =E"#$%&'(#)*! +*! ',&-$.*!f! ZE<8*8! =,! 4E#+&'&#'! ,8! =,5!
<;#4?8&#'5!4&<,5![!4E*8#A,!*?!>#?$5!=,5!*''<,5!2ST/!,8!2Sa/!+,$A,8!=E*;#&$!?',!&=<,!5?$!>,!>#'8,]8,!
,8!5#'!<;,'8?,4!8,$$*&'!M*;#$*74,!#?!'#'![!4*!$<>,+8&#'!=E?'!#?;$*(,!8,4!\?,!>,4?&!=,!C,$'*'=!D&(#'N!
)#?$! >,! 5<A&'*&$,1! 8$#&5! 5#?$>,5! +$&'>&+*4,5! #'8! <8<! >#'5?48<,5N! g4! 5E*(&8! 8#?8! =E*7#$=! =?!4&;$,!
"#$%&'(#)*!+*!',&-$.*21!=#'8!4*!4,>8?$,!*++?&,!4E*'*4b5,!+$<5,'8<,!=*'5!>,!8$*;*&4N!Z*!5,>#'=,!5#?$>,!
,58!4,!M#'=5!=E*$>Y&;,5!<>$&8,5!=,!C,$'*'=!D&(#'1!=<+#5<![!4*!h&74&#8Y_\?,!>*'8#'*4,!V?$*55&,'',N!Z*!
=#>?A,'8*8&#'!5?$!4,!V#?$'*4&58,!,8!5,5!*>8&;&8<5!,58!*7#'=*'8,1!,8!>#'8&,'8!=,!'#A7$,?]!<4<A,'85!
&'8<$,55*'85!+#?$!4,!+$<5,'8!8$*;*&4N!F'!b!8$#?;,!,'8$,!*?8$,5!=,5!,],A+4*&$,5!=,!+?74&>*8&#'!=,!5#'!
$,+#$8*(,! $<*4&5<! ,'! 2ST`! *?! W*+#'! *&'5&! \?E?',! 4&58,! =,5! V#?$'*?]! =*'5! 4,5\?,45! >,88,! +?74&>*8&#'!
5E,58!M*&8,N!^',!*?8$,!+*$8&,!=?!M#'=5!$*55,A74,!=,5!>$&8&\?,5!+$#=?&8,5!4#$5!=,!4*!5#$8&,!=?!4&;$,!,'!
2STU1! 4*! +4?+*$8! ,'! M$*'c*&51! A*&5! <(*4,A,'8! ,'! *44,A*'=1! ,'!&8*4&,'! #?! ,'>#$,! ,'! *'(4*&5N!Z*!
>#$$,5+#'=*'>,!=#'',!\?*'8![!,44,!?',!&=<,!=,!4E*A+4,?$!=?!$<5,*?!=,!=&MM?5&#'!=,!C,$'*'=!D&(#'!
,8!$,>_4,!?'!>,$8*&'!'#A7$,!=,!=,A*'=,5!+#?$!=#'',$!=,5!>#'M<$,'>,5N!Z*!\?,58&#'!=,5!>#'M<$,'>,5!
,58! *7#$=<,! =*'5! 4E*],! 8$#&5! =,! 4E*'*4b5,N! e,5! >#'8$*85! +#?$! 4*! +?74&>*8&#'! =?! 4&;$,! =*'5! =E*?8$,5!
4*'(?,5!b!M&(?$,'8!<(*4,A,'8N!^'!*?8$,!M#'=51!4*!8$#&5&_A,!5#?$>,!>#'5?48<,!,8!=<+#5<,!>,88,!M#&5i>&![!
4*!C#8#58&M8?'(!=,!"&'8,$8Y#?$1!$,($#?+,!4,5!*$>Y&;,5!+Y#8#($*+Y&\?,5!=?!V#?$'*4&58,1!=#'8!?',!7#j8,!
5?$!5#'!;#b*(,!*?!W*+#'!,'!2ST`N!O,!>*$8#'!>#'8&,'8!4,5!+Y#8#5!\?E&4!*!$<*4&5<,5!+#?$!5#'!,'\?k8,!
B!*+#>*4b+8&\?,!G! ,8! =,5! &A*(,5! \?E&4! *! 8&$<,5! =E*$>Y&;,5! V*+#'*&5,5N!ZE?8&4&5*8&#'! =,! >,5! &A*(,5! ,58!
*?55&!8$*&8<,!=*'5!4E*$(?A,'8*8&#'!*?8#?$!=,!4*!=&MM?5&#'!,8!=,!4*!$<>,+8&#'!=E"#$%&'(#)*!+*!',&-$.*N!
Apocalypse*de*l’atome""ou"évoquer"l’enfer"atomique"
OY*\?,! V#?$! ?'! +,?! +4?5! '#?5! '#?5! ,'M#'c#'5! =*'5! 4E,'M,$! *8#A&\?,! 5*'5! AkA,! '#?5! ,'! $,'=$,!
>#A+8,N! OY*>?'! =E,'8$,! '#?5! M&'&$*! 7&,'! ?'! V#?$! +*$! k8$,! 4E*8#A&5<! =,! \?,4\?E?'N! Z,! =,58&'! =,5!
B!,]+#5<5!G! =EP&$#5Y&A*1! +?&5\?,! >E,58! *&'5&! \?E#'! *++,44,! 4,5! ;&>8&A,5! =,5! $*=&*8&#'51! +$<M&(?$,! 4,!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2!6<M<$,'>,!>#A+4_8,!l!D&(#'1!C,$'*'=!l!"#$%&'(#)*!+*!',&-$.*N!)*$&51!e,4!e?>*!2STUN!
T!
!
'm8$,N!e<'#'>,$!4,5!=*'(,$5!\?&!=<>#?4,'8!=,5!,55*&5!*8#A&\?,51!>E,58!#7<&$![!?'!$<M4,],!&'58&'>8&M!l!
=<M,'=$,!5*!+,*?0N!!
C&(?$*'8!=*'5!4E&'8$#=?>8&#'!=E"#$%&'(#)*!+*!',&-$.*1!>,5!A#85!+$<M&(?$,'8!4,!8#'!,8!4*!8,',?$!=?!4&;$,!
=,! C,$'*'=! D&(#'N! @*! ;*58,! ,'\?k8,! 5?$! 4,5! >#'5<\?,'>,5! =,5! 7#A7*$=,A,'85! *8#A&\?,5! 5?$! 4,5!
;&44,5! =EP&$#5Y&A*! ,8! =,! -*(*5*%&! ,'! *#n8! 2S3T!*! <8<! +,'5<,! ,'! +*$8&>?4&,$! +#?$! +$,'=$,! ,'!
>#'5&=<$*8&#'!4E*5+,>8!Y?A*&'!=,!>,5!<;<',A,'85!\?&!#'8!M*&8!=*8,!=*'5!4EY&58#&$,!l!!
!g4! ,]&58,! =<V[! 5?$! 4*! $*=&#*>8&;&8<! ?'! A*8<$&,4! >#'5&=<$*74,! \?,! +,?! =EY#AA,5! 5#'8! >*+*74,5! =,!
=#A&',$N!I*&5!&4!',!;*?8!$&,'!5*'5!5#'!5?++#$8!Y?A*&'N!OE,58!+#?$!7o8&$!?'!+#'8!,'8$,!4,5!+$#74_A,5!
+?$,A,'8!5>&,'8&M&\?,5!,8!4*!;&,!,44,iAkA,!\?,!VE*&!+*55<!8$#&5!A#&5!*?!W*+#'1!+*b5!=,5!*8#A&5<5LN!!
I*&5! 5#'! +$#+#5! ;*! +4?5! 4#&'! \?,! 4,5! 7#A7,5! 4*$(?<,5! 5?$! 4,! W*+#'! =?$*'8! 4*! e,?]&_A,! D?,$$,!
A#'=&*4,N! O,! \?&! &'8<$,55,! C,$'*'=! D&(#'1! *?i=,4[! =,5! >#'5<\?,'>,5! =&$,>8,5! ,8! &'=&$,>8,5! =,5!
$*=&*8&#'5!*8#A&\?,5!\?E&4!*!#75,$;<,5!#?!=#'8!&4!*!>#''*&55*'>,1!>E,58!4*!+#?$5?&8,!d!,'!+*$8&,!5#?5!4,!
5>,*?! =?! 5,>$,8! d! =?! =<;,4#++,A,'8! =,5! *$A,5! '?>4<*&$,5! =*'5! 4,! A#'=,! ,8! =*'5! ?',! >,$8*&',!
A,5?$,!<(*4,A,'81!=,!>,88,!<',$(&,!=*'5!4,!=#A*&',!>&;&4N!
!
K;*'8!=,!$<*4&5,$!5#'!$,+#$8*(,!*?!W*+#'!,8!=E<>$&$,!5#'!"#$%&'(#)*1!C,$'*'=!D&(#'!*!=<V[!B!8#?>Y<![!
4E*8#A,!GN!g4!=<>4*$,1!+*$A&!4,5!8$#&5!$*&5#'5!=<>$&8,5!=*'5!5#'!&'8$#=?>8&#'1!*;#&$!>Y#&5&!>,!8Y_A,!=?!
M*&8!=?!5,>$,8!,'8#?$*'8!4,5!&'M#$A*8&#'5!$,4*8&;,5!*?]!$*=&*8&#'5N!g4!>&8,!,'!,],A+4,!?',!>#'M<$,'>,!
5>&,'8&M&\?,!\?&!*!,?!4&,?![!D,'_;,!,'!2ST`1!=?$*'8!4*\?,44,!4,5!5*;*'8X,X5!B!#'8!=n!+$<5,'8,$!4,?$5!
$*++#$85![!Y?&5!>4#5N!I&,?]!;*?8!8*&$,!4*!;<$&8<1!+,'5,'8!7,*?>#?+!=,!+#4&8&>&,'5!G3N!g4!',!+$<>&5,!+*5!
5E&4! <8*&8! +,$5#'',44,A,'8! [! >,88,! $<?'&#'N! )*$! >#'8$,1! &4! <8*&8! 7&,'! [! 4*! +$,A&_$,! O#'M<$,'>,!
&'8,$'*8&#'*4,!5?$!4E?8&4&5*8&#'!=,!4E<',$(&,!*8#A&\?,![!=,5!M&'5!+*>&M&\?,5!H*?55&!*++,4<,!O#'M<$,'>,!
B!K8#A,5! +#?$! 4*! )*&]!GQ1! [! D,'_;,! <(*4,A,'81! ,'! *#n8! 2STTN!e,! >,88,! >#'M<$,'>,! &4! *! +$#=?&8! ?'!
*$8&>4,!\?&!*!<8<!+?74&<!=*'5!/,0''1)-23!=?!0T!*#n8!2STTTN!O,8!*$8&>4,!*!+$#7*74,A,'8!,?!?',!&'M4?,'>,!
5?$!4,!>Y#&]!=?!$,+#$8,$1!=,?]!*'5!+4?5!8*$=1!=,!+*$8&$!+#?$!4,!W*+#'N!O*$!,'!2STT!=<V[1!5,5!>$*&'8,5!
4&<,5! *?]! ,55*&5! *8#A&\?,5! ,8! [! 4E#>>?48*8&#'! =,! 4,?$5! >#'5<\?,'>,5!,58! M4*($*'8,N! g4! &'=&\?,!
<(*4,A,'8!*;#&$!;?!?'!M&4A!5?$!4,5!;&>8&A,5!=?!7#A7*$=,A,'8!*8#A&\?,!=EP&$#5Y&A*1!+$#V,8<!=?$*'8!
4*!>#'M<$,'>,!=*'5!?'!>&'<A*!(,',;#&5N!Z*!>#'>4?5&#'!=,!4E*$8&>4,!,'8$,!*&'5&!,'!$<5#''*'>,!*;,>!4,5!
+$,A&_$,5!4&(',5!=E"#$%&'(#)*!+*!',&-$.*!l!!
Z*!O#'M<$,'>,!*8#A&\?,!=,!D,'_;,!*!5*8&5M*&8!8#?5!4,5!5*;*'85!,8!4,5!#$(*'&5*8,?$5N!g45!+,?;,'8!k8$,!
M&,$5! =,! >,88,! ,]>,+8&#'',44,! $<?55&8,N! I*&5! 4EY#AA,! d! ;#?5! ,8! A#&! d! $,58,! ,'M,$A<! =*'5! 5#'!
&('#$*'>,!,8!5*!>$*&'8,N!O,4*!*?55&1!&4!M*44*&8!4,!=&$,N!!
e*'5! >,8! *$8&>4,! ,'>#$,1! C,$'*'=! D&(#'! A,'8&#'',!K47,$8! R&'58,&'! ,8! 5*! B!A*?;*&5,! >#'5>&,'>,!GN!
OE,58! *;,>! 4?&! \?,! 5E#?;$,! 4*! +$,A&_$,! +*$8&,! =?! 4&;$,1! B!Z,5! *?8$,5!G1! *;,>! ?'! >Y*+&8$,! &'8&8?4<!
B!R&'58,&'1!>$<*8,?$!=,!4*!7#A7,!B!K!G1!<>$&8!5#'!=<5*$$#&![!5,5!*A&5!V*+#'*&5!G!=*'5!4,\?,4!&4!,]+#5,!
4*! =#?4,?$! =?! 5*;*'8! M*>,! [! \?&! *! <8<! M*&8! =,! 5#'! &';,'8&#'N! K+$_5! R&'58,&'1! 4,! >Y*+&8$,! 5?&;*'8! ,58!
>#'5*>$<!*?]!#MM&>&,$5!*A<$&>*&'5!\?&!#'8!4*$(?<!$,5+,>8&;,A,'8!4*!+$,A&_$,!,8!4*!=,?]&_A,!7#A7,!
*8#A&\?,!5?$!4,!W*+#'N!C,$'*'=!D&(#'!b!<;#\?,!4E*75,'>,1!=?!A#&'5!#MM&>&,44,1!=,!$,($,85!+*$A&!4,5!
A,A7$,5!=,5!=&MM<$,'8,5!<\?&+,5![!7#$=!=,5!*;&#'5!>Y*$(<5!=,5!7#A7,5!l!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
0!D&(#'1!C,$'*'=!l!$#4!%5-41!p+N!`qN!
L!g7&=,AN!
3!g7&=,AN!
T!hOW1!C#'=5!C,$'*'=!D&(#'1!7#j8,!2/T!O#'M<$,'>,!*8#A&\?,!2STU!HD,'_;,QN!OE,58!4,!5,?4!*$8&>4,!$,4*8&M![!4*!O#'M<$,'>,!=,!
2STT!HA*4($<!4,!8&8$,!=?!>*$8#'Q!\?&!*!<8<!$,8$#?;<N!O,!\?&!'E,]>4?8!+*5!\?,!C,$'*'=!D&(#'!*!M*&8!+?74&,$!5#'!+*+&,$!=*'5!
=E*?8$,5!V#?$'*?]N!
1 / 19 100%