The German patriotic ended with Tragic, a scientist named Fritz Haber

Frizt Haber might be better known as a scientist who developed poison gas in the First World War. Even so, he was still selected as a Nobel Prize winner. Maybe you ask? "Isn't that wrong? Developing poison gas, why did you even get a Nobel Prize?" still want to know?

In 1868 Fritz Haber was born of Jewish ancestry in the city of Breslau, which was then still a part of the German Empire. Now the city is named Wrocław (Poland). Since his youth, he was known to be very fond of science, especially chemistry. However, due to the lack of a chemical laboratory in his school, he often did "his own research" in his room.

At a very young age of 22, he won a "doctorate" in "Organic Chemistry" from Friedrich Wilhelm University (Germany). Someone who won the "doctorate" degree in Chemistry in Germany, with the title "cum laude", at the age of 22, what else would it be if it were not "GENIUS"?

Frizt then married another Jew, who was no less a genius. The lucky girl, named "Clara Immerwahr", was the first woman in all of Germany to receive the title "doctor" in chemistry, with the title "cum laude". maybe many of us feel, this pair of genius scientists, of course, will've a happy life, what kind of genius would they do?

Entering the 20th century, humans faced a serious threat, which continues to be the subject of discussion by scientists at that time. Maybe you still remember the demographic, named Thomas Malthus. He predicted that one day in the future, the "Food Crisis" would definitely occur. He clarified "This will occur, when the limit of nourishment creation is never again capable, satisfying human needs in numbers, keeps on expanding every now and then". According to Malthus the solution to this problem is to reduce the number of births (contraception), increase the number of deaths (war or disease outbreaks).

In 1900 alone, the number of people in the world had reached 1.6 billion people. In order to meet their food needs, existing agricultural land must continue to produce. The problem is that as fertile land continues to be used for agricultural activities, the level of "fertility" will also decrease, one of them is nitrogen content. Nitrogen is one of the most significant supplements for plant development.. The reduced nitrogen content in the soil will greatly affect crop productivity, which in turn can cause starvation.

Various countries in Europe, trying to solve this problem, by importing animal manure, in very large quantities. Keep in mind at that time, chemical fertilizers and pesticides were still not found, "everything is still organic" Yup! You are not mistaken to hear, at that time "everything is still organic". "Luck" seems to benefit a country in Latin America, called Chile. Chile is known as a country that exports "GUANO". GUANO is a kind of fertilizer from animal manure, which is famous for being rich in nitrogen.

So you can imagine, even though "food security" from developed countries is very dependent on imports of "animal waste" from other countries. For those who study agriculture, "Food Security" is very important for every country. Continue to depend on imports, to meet food needs, may not be a good and wise choice. Even then, scientists already knew that there was a lot of nitrogen in the air, which was a problem, nothing could turn it into fertilizer. Really "ironic" humans have managed to see a solution but could not reach a solution, as the saying goes "rats die in rice barns."

In 1908, scientists understood the problem, they also understood the solution, what was needed at that time was "just" making it happen. The fact that turning solutions into reality isn't easy. It was then that Frizt Haber, a Jewish scientist from Germany, succeeded in changing history with his extraordinary discovery, which came to be known as the "Haber Process". The "Haber Process" is basically a "Nitrogen Fixation" process that is able to convert the element nitrogen, hydrogen, to produce ammonia (NH3) synthetically.

With his discovery, ammonia that has been produced can be converted into nitrogen fertilizer, which can then be used to meet various agricultural needs. Maybe someone ask? "Just changing" the chemical elements, is that great? "

Some of us might believe, the name of agriculture is not far from these six things, namely hoeing, planting seeds, watering, planting plants, fruiting, then harvesting deh. Though agriculture also involves many other things, such as knowledge of soil, plants, weather, and others. With a thorough understanding of agriculture, one can definitely become a genius strategist.

What has changed from Fritz Harber isn't just a chemical element. He succeeded in changing what he did. Known as the "Nitrogen Cycle". A cycle that is very important for agricultural activities. We all certainly believe that there is fertile land and some less fertile. What distinguishes it?

Roughly there are 2 factors, namely the first, how big the nutritional content. Second, how fast the rate of return of nutrients if the land is used for agricultural activities. As an example of handling the Egyptian crisis in the era of the pharaoh, One of the things he used was the Nile River. Is it right?

The Nile is a river that is very predictable, where the cycle by the Egyptians is divided into periods namely "Peret", "Shemu", and "Akhet". The existence of the Nile supports a variety of life, such as crocodiles, hippos, birds, fish and other animals. Dirt from these animals, which play a very important role, in restoring nutrients for agricultural activities. This is what is in agriculture, known as the "agricultural cycle" (Planting, Harvesting, and Recovery).

Congratulations! You have learned one of the most important principles in agriculture!

The Nile gave ancient Egypt access to fertile agricultural land, which made it one of the most advanced civilizations in history, while allowing it to build pyramids. Now imagine, at that time the discovery of Frizt Haber, could create similar conditions, wherever humans wanted. If the Egyptians needed "animal dung" to help their agriculture, now farmers only need to use synthetic fertilizers. This makes human dependence on nature far less. In addition, food production produced by farmers also increased. As a result humans can produce more food, use less land. This is the time to get to know the term "Agricultural Intensification".

After his success, he collaborated with another chemist, named Carl Bosch. Bosch worked for BASF, which at the time was one of the biggest chemical companies in Germany. trying to increase the production of synthetic ammonia from a laboratory scale, to an industrial scale. That is why the Haber Process is also known as the Haber-Bosch Process.

In 1911, after going through various trials, the BASF company decided to build the first synthetic fertilizer factory in the Oppau Region, the German Empire. This plant has been operating since 1913, with the aim of producing large quantities of nitrogen fertilizer. Like magic, through his discovery he succeeded in significantly increasing food production. But most importantly, he succeeded in preventing starvation, which always threatened humans, from time to time.

Thanks to his discovery, Malthus and his prediction of starvation, is now just a bedtime story. In addition to the "Haber Process", Fritz also contributed to research in other fields, such as when he developed the chemical pesticide, which was given the name "Zyklon". Pesticides have an active ingredient called "Hydrogen cyanide", and are modern mass-produced pesticides, to combat agricultural pests. Through these two discoveries, he was perhaps classified as the most meritorious scientist, in turning traditional "all-organic" agriculture into modern agriculture.

In his book "Enriching the Earth", Vaclav Smil declared the "Haber Process", the most important discovery of the 20th century, which provided food needs, for at least ½ of the human population living today. Maybe there are still many who don't recognize the character named "Vaclav Smil", "Vaclav Smil" is a very influential scientist from Canada, his works are highly recommended by Bill Gates, to be read by the public." Bill Gates, who has read almost all of his work, once stated, "I am waiting for his latest works, like the public is waiting for the latest film from Star Wars." In addition, in this book Fritz Haber was also praised for his discovery, which succeeded in "copying" Moses,in delivering "bread from the air." If books from Oxford alone, set out to compose sentences that way, this is absolutely no joke.

At this time, you might begin to understand or even agree, if Frizt Haber gets a Nobel prize for his great achievements in chemistry. Even so as a scientist, he also once said, "I believe in peacetime, a scientist serves the world, but during war, a scientist serves his country." Those are the most famous words from Fritz.

Haber Fritz is a scientist, whose findings can significantly increase agricultural production. Thanks to his findings, mankind escaped hunger even today, in 1914 despite all the progress possessed by humanity. The First World War will continue and Fritz Haber will soon find his new job.

In the 20th century, developed countries in Europe were so connected to each other that the conflict seemed hopeless, England, the British sea ruler who had long held the title of a superpower, began to be harassed by his old friends. Like the Soviet Union and America in the Cold War or America with China today, Britain and Germany, which were once very close, are slowly becoming rivals. Both Britain and Germany basically have a lot in common. Both are equally advanced in various fields such as knowledge, technology, and industrial capacity.

Despite having many similarities Basically Britain still outperformed Germany. Especially in terms of access to resources obtained from his imperial territory. A luxury, which isn't owned by Germany. In various wars, Britain ruled over the sea, As if holding the key Anyone who dared to oppose it must be prepared to face the sea blockade which determines access to resources and the economy.

Of the countries that opposed it, Before the First World War About 38% of the total food needs In this case the wheat consumed by Germany was fulfilled by imports. Likewise, the agricultural sector, where the need for nitrogen fertilizer is still largely dependent on Chile's "Guano Bats".

When the first world war broke out, Germany had to face a sea embargo from the British Royal Navy. The embargo decides access to Germany's much-needed resources to meet its food and industrial needs. Britain, already imagined that Germany, would soon experience a crisis of food and industrial raw materials. Then, Germany will surrender. If you think of Serem as well yes, a plan made by the British.

However, history says differently. As a result of technological advances, and thanks Fritz Haber's findings. Germany is able to replace its various food and military needs. Because, besides making fertilizer. It turns out that the Haber process can also be used to produce explosives and ammunition.

After the battle lasted long enough. Both sides, both of them were trapped in a trench war. The Germans realized that it was impossible to win the war of attrition with allies. A breakthrough is clearly needed for Germany to win this war. But how do you achieve it?

For Germany Of course with advances in science, Germany therefore employs Fritz as head of chemistry. In his war service, Fritz and his group got a new assignment, which used science as a weapon to defeat the enemies of Germany, as did Einstein in the second world war.

As a scientist, and like a patriot. Fritz believes that for Death it is demise that no matter what causes it and what the process is, he believes the use of chemical weapons has the potential to shorten the course of the war, while making Germany able to achieve victory. For him, a shorter war is the same as saving more people who don't have time to join this war.

At first, the Germans had difficulty finding officers who were willing to try weapons. Some of them felt poison gas as a weapon that wasn't a knight, some even doubted the ability of this new weapon. But in the second battle Under the supervision of Fritz for the first time While saying the phrase "God punishes England" Germany uses more than 150 tons of poison gas on the Western Front. In the battle, around 70 thousand allied forces were killed. Elmer, a Canadian soldier who survived this attack told me that chlorine gas would cause the victim to feel drowned, it only sank on land. Survivors will at least experience health problems that aren't worth fighting for and must be rested in the hospital.

On May 2, Fritz returned to his home to celebrate the achievement of his discovery. The next day he would immediately go to the eastern front to oversee other poison gas attacks. His wife Clara, who is also a genius scientist, continues to try to prevent her husband from using his genius to kill and injure others.

When Fritz remained in his position, she (Clara) decided to end her life by shooting herself using a gun owned by her husband. The death of his wife, Not changing his stance, Fritz still went to the eastern front to oversee other poison gas attacks.

Then he even developed a more dangerous poison gas than before. However, despite all his efforts. Germany, still losing the first world war. This defeat hit Fritz very much. He even said he would pay war compensation from Germany.

Come to think of it, that's kind of crazy. But yes that's history. Previously, Fritz succeeded in making synthetic fertilizer from nitrogen contained in the air. This time, he wants to use chemistry to make other things. Namely, taking gold reserves contained at sea to pay all war compensation from Germany.

But it seems that Fritz's miracle has run out. His research also ended in failure. The emergence of Hitler and the Nazi Party in Germany made Fritz's life more difficult, even though he was a scientist who was very meritorious and loved Germany. In the eyes of the Nazis he was still a Jew.

Pressed by the situation, Fritz was forced to move from Germany and eventually live in England. There, he met Chaim Weizmann, a prominent Jewish scientist and rival in the first World War, in contrast to Fritz Weizmann, a Zionist leader who would later become the first president of the state of Israel. Weizmann, who saw the British situation as increasingly unfavorable for Fritz, a German expert. Then offered the position of head of the Institute of Science Daniel Sieff to Fritz Haber. Fritz accepted the offer, but soon he died in Switzerland of heart failure on his way to Israel.

The tragic story of Fritz Haber might make us think, how he and his various inventions managed to save so many people. But on the other hand his invention was also used to kill many people including his own people, science is neutral depending on how humans use it, just as alcohol can be used for drunkenness or medical purposes, so it can be death or birth.