Wernher von Braun's Secret Defection

This episode explores the controversial life of Wernher von Braun, focusing on his transition from a Nazi rocket engineer to a key figure in America's space program.

1. Wernher von Braun was a prominent figure in rocket technology who significantly impacted both military weaponry and space exploration.
2. His work with the Nazi regime, including his involvement with forced labor, contrasts starkly with his celebrated contributions to the American space program.
3. Von Braun's defection to the U.S. was part of Operation Paperclip, a secret plan to leverage Nazi scientists' expertise post-WWII.
4. Ethical questions about von Braun's past and the U.S. decision to employ him despite his history remain contentious.
5. His legacy is a blend of scientific triumph and moral controversy, symbolizing the dual nature of technological advancements.

1: Early Ambitions

Wernher von Braun's childhood fascination with space and his initial experiments with rockets are discussed. Lindsey Graham: "Wernher was a dreamer fascinated by the stars from a young age."

2: The Nazi Collaboration

Details von Braun's involvement with the Nazi regime, developing rockets for military use. Lindsey Graham: "Wernher’s ingenuity was overshadowed by the dark associations of his work."

3: Operation Paperclip

Covers his secretive defection to the United States and subsequent work on the space race. Lindsey Graham: "His shift from a weapon maker to a star-reacher was fraught with moral complexities."

4: Legacy and Controversy

Examines the lasting impact of von Braun's work and the ethical debates it ignited. Lindsey Graham: "His contributions to space travel are monumental, yet his past actions remain a shadow."

1. Learn from the Past: Understand the implications of scientific work beyond its immediate technological achievements.
2. Ethical Consideration: Always consider the moral aspects of scientific involvement.
3. Holistic Education: Educate upcoming scientists on the historical context of their fields to prevent ethical oversights.
4. Public Discourse: Engage in discussions about the ethical dimensions of employing controversial figures in critical roles.
5. Continuous Evaluation: Re-evaluate historical figures as new evidence comes to light to understand their complete impact.

June 20, 1945. In a top-secret operation, the US Secretary of State approves the transfer of Nazi rocket scientist Wernher von Braun to America.

People

Wernher von Braun, Adolf Hitler, Edward Stettinius

Content Warnings:

None

Speaker A
There are more ways than ever to listen to history daily ad free listen with wondery in the Wondry app as a member of R@r.com or in Apple Podcasts. Or you can get all of history daily, plus other fantastic history podcasts@intohistory.com. Dot it's 06:40 p.m. on September 8, 1944, in Chiswick, a suburb of London, England, a teenage girl walks along the sidewalk, her school bag swinging from her shoulder. She has just finished the first week.

Of a new school year and is. Hoping to spend the weekend with her friends. But in these troubled times, she can never be sure of anything. For the past five years, Britain has been at war with Nazi Germany. During the first months of the conflict, children were evacuated from cities for their own safety.

Speaker B
But after the blitz ended in 1941. London wasnt targeted in bombing raids as. Often, and many evacuees like this teenager have returned home. As she rounds the corner onto her own street, she glances up at the dirty gray clouds floating above. It looks like rain.

She quickens her pace, hoping to get home before it begins to pour, but a deafening explosion behind her throws the girl to the ground. The sidewalk beneath her shakes as she unsteadily gets to her feet and looks back the way she came. The sight takes her breath away. Halfway down the street, where a house stood just a few moments ago, is now a crater. Other houses along the street have their windows blown out.

Roof tiles slide to the ground. Walls teeter and collapse. The teenager runs for the shelter of Holm as the eerie sound of an air raid siren drifts across the city. But as she reaches her front door, she glances back up at the sky. She can't hear the heavy drone of plane engines, nor can she see any german bombers in the sky.

The teenager doesn't know what caused the explosion. In fact, very few do.

In the days that follow, british officials insist that the explosion in Chiswick was the result of a gas leak. But when several more buildings suddenly explode without warning, the government is forced to come clean. Britain is under attack from a new type of weapon, a supersonic v two rocket. By the time the war ends, almost 3000 Londoners will lose their lives to such attacks. But the nazi engineer who invented the weapon will never face trial.

Instead, Werner von Braun will switch sides and become the brains behind the american space program, a remarkable journey from enemy to ally that will begin in secret on June 20, 1945.

Speaker A
History Daily is sponsored by Audible one of the best compliments I get from. Listeners is that they feel like theyre. There, you know, witnessing history themselves. It can be a powerful illusion because listening goes hand in hand with imagining. Thats why audible is such a great place to let your imagination soar.

When you listen, you can be inspired to imagine new worlds, new possibilities, new ways of thinking. Theres more to imagine when you listen. A great listen that got my imagination going was David Grands newest the wager, a tale of shipwreck, mutiny and murder. As an audible member, you choose one title a month to keep from their entire catalog, and new members can try audible free for 30 days. Visit audible.com historydaily or text history daily to 500 500.

Thats audible.com historydaily or text historydaily to 500 500 History Daily is sponsored by. Claridon I live in Dallas, the fourth. Worst city in the United States for allergies. My condolences to number one, Wichita, Kansas because I cant imagine it any worse than it is here. And remember, I make my living with my voice.

No one wants to hear me sniffly and congested. Luckily for those of us who live. With the symptoms of allergies, we can live Claritin clear with Claritin D. Designed for serious allergy sufferers, Claritin D has two powerful ingredients in just one pill that relieve your allergy symptoms and decongest your nose so you can breathe better. This double action combination of prescription strength allergy medicine and the best decongestant available relieves sneezing a runny nose, itchy and watery eyes, itchy nose and throat, and sinus congestion and pressure with ease.

Ready to live life as if you dont have allergies? Its time to live claritin clear fast, powerful relief is just a quick trip away. Ask for Claritin d at your local pharmacy counter. No prescription required. Go to claritin.com right now for a discount so you can live Claritin clear.

Speaker B
Directed from noiser and airship I'm Lindsey Graham, and this is history daily.

History is made every day on this podcast. Every day we tell the true stories of the people and events that shaped our world. Today is June 20, 1945. Wernher von Braun's secret defection.

It's early morning on March 23, 1926, in Berlin, Germany, 18 years before the first v two rocket hits London. 14 year old Wernher von Braun shuffles into the parlor with his mother behind him, covering his eyes. Its Werners birthday, and hes about to receive a present, but its so big it cant be gift wrapped. On the count of three, Werners mother removes her hands and Werner's face lights up with joy as he sees a brand new telescope standing on the table by the window. In recent years, astronomers have used increasingly powerful telescopes to explore the night sky.

And Werner has become fascinated by the discoveries theyve made. At school, Werner has thrown himself into studying science, hoping to better understand the complex debates about the size of the Milky Way and the universe. Now Werner has a telescope of his own, and he can start making astronomical observations himself. Werner opens the parlor curtains. Its still dark out, so he stoops down and looks through the eyepiece, holding his breath as he adjusts the focal length.

Tiny pinpricks of light appear through the lens. Werner gazes in awe at the cosmos opening before him. Peering through his telescope soon becomes a nightly ritual for young Werner. But his dreams go far beyond looking at the stars. He wants to find a way to reach out and touch them.

Four years earlier, a groundbreaking book by a german engineer suggested that rockets could be used to travel into space. It's an idea that lodged in Werners mind. And two years after receiving his birthday telescope, Werner begins his first experiments with rockets. He attaches fireworks to a toy car and sets them off in the street outside his home. The vehicle speeds along the sidewalk before exploding and showering sparks.

Shocked neighbors call the police, but Werner escapes punishment this time. His parents, however, encourage him to put his efforts into projects that wont get him into trouble from now on. So, seeking a more constructive outlet for his passions, Werner joins the german rocket Society. Surrounded by like minded enthusiasts, Werner thrives. He takes a leading role in the rocket society's tests.

And when a group of german army officers observe a rocket launch in 1932, it's 20 year old Werner who impresses them the most. After a successful test, Werner is offered a job in the army developing rockets for military use. Werner accepts. In his new role, Werner sets up a research laboratory under the supervision of Captain Walton Doernberger. But a year after Werner commits to military research, theres a radical power shift in Germany.

Adolf Hitler is appointed chancellor and soon maneuvers his nazi party into absolute power. Werner has no interest in politics and the machinations of Hitler. Hes focused only on his experiments building rockets that can fly further and faster than ever before. But as hitlers foreign policy takes on a more aggressive approach approach, the prospect of war in Europe becomes more likely. And the army takes a growing interest in Werners work.

They move his research lab to a purpose built secret base on Germanys north coast. At the same time, Werner applies for membership in the nazi party. Its a practical decision for him. Werner has to prove his loyalty to the german regime, because thats the only way hell be allowed to continue his research. And when world War two begins, Werners experiments take on a new urgency.

The longer the conflict goes on, the worse Germanys prospects seem. The Allies have superior manpower and a vastly bigger industrial capacity. What the Germans need is a miracle, and Werners rockets seem to promise just that. In 1942, Werners team conducts the first successful test of a new rocket. They dubbed the a four.

It flies at 3500 miles an hour and becomes the first man made object to reach the threshold of space before crashing back to earth, 120 miles from the launch site. Werner is delighted by the test, as are his military superiors. They hope this new rocket will be a wonder weapon that will turn the tide of the war. Adolf Hitler himself is so excited by its potential that he visits Werners remote research complex and awards him the Iron Cross, one of Germany's most prestigious military decorations. Soon, the a four ballistic missile will be redesignated the v two.

But before this new rocket can be deployed in battle, Werner will face a new fight of his own, one to prove his loyalty.

Speaker A
History Daily is sponsored by Mint Mobile thought experiment. You're hungry and there on the street are two vendors. But the two vendors serve exactly the same thing. How do you choose? Well, once you're convinced that they're really identical, same food, same quality, then it's just price, right?

If one is less expensive, your decision is made simple. So why is it that you havent switched to mint mobile yet? Unlimited talk, text and data identical to other big wireless providers, but for just $15 a month? Because they sell online, cutting the costs of retail stores and passing those savings to you. That was perfect for resurrecting an old phone for my daughter.

And I promise you, the emojis she sends her friends are identical to those sent on other, more costly services. To get this new customer offer and your new three month unlimited wireless plan for just $15 a month, go to mintmobile.com historydaily. That's mintmobile.com historydaily. Cut your wireless bill to $15 a month@mintmobile.com. historydaily $45 upfront payment required equivalent to dollar 15 a month new customers on first three month plan only.

Speed slower above 40gb on unlimited plan. Additional taxes, fees and restrictions. Apply Cmint mobile for details. When it comes to protecting what matters most, your home and the people you love, it's probably not the best time to test out the latest trending fading. Go with what's tried and true.

Speaker C
No one does it better than a leader of the home security category. ADT ADT systems now feature Google Nest products to help keep your home safer and smarter. Check in on your home and manage your security system from virtually anywhere. Their latest technology features everything from motion sensors to Google Nest cams and Nest doorbells. With no long term contracts for self setup systems, you can get intelligent alerts customized to your daily routine with tailored packages or build your own options.

ADT makes it easy to install their smart home security system. Leave it up to the ADT pros or do it yourself. No heavy duty tools needed. Protecting your home shouldn't be complicated, and ADT makes finding that peace of mind simple. When the most trusted name in home security adds the intelligence of Google, you've got a home with no worries.

Go to adt.com today or call 1800 ADT asaP. Google and Nest Cam are trademarks of Google LLC. ADT brilliantly safe.

Speaker B
It'S March 15, 1944, at the nazi rocket Research facility in northern Germany, four and a half years after the start of World War, 231 year old Wernher von Braun leans over a table covered in papers. He places sheets side by side, comparing data from the most recent round of tests on the v two rocket. After the successful first launch 18 months ago, Adolf Hitler personally decreed that the rocket project should continue as quickly as possible. So over the past few weeks, Werners engineers have conducted several more tests from a launch pad in occupied Poland. But theres still plenty more to do before the rocket is ready to be deployed.

So Werner is annoyed when his work is interrupted by a loud hammering at his door. He gets up from his desk and angrily storms to the door and opens it, but falls silent when he sees that its a squad of SS soldiers whove come to place Werner under arrest. Werner is allowed only to lock away his papers and grab his coat before hes marched off to a nearby secure location, where SS interrogators reveal that Werner has been under surveillance for the past six months. A few weeks ago, an undercover agent overheard him declare that Germany is losing the war and that Werner wished he was building rockets to go into space rather than for the army. Werner struggles to defend himself because its clear that Germany is losing the war.

Speaker A
And its no secret that hed prefer. To be part of a space program rather than a weapons program. But after ten nervous days in a cell, Werner is freed and the charges are dropped. His lucky escape comes courtesy of Walter Dornberger, the officer who recruited Werner into the military. Dornberger is now a general and carries considerable influence, and he told the SS that the rocket program could not succeed without Werner at the helm.

Speaker B
So Werner is reinstated and his V two rockets begin attacking targets in the fall of 1944. But the miracle weapon is too little, too late for the Nazis. As german troops are forced back on all fronts, Werner and his team are evacuated from their research station to a small town in the alps. There, Werner gets word that Hitler has ordered SS guards to kill him rather than allow the Allies to capture him. Unwilling to be sacrificed in the dying days of hitlers regime, Werner flees into the mountains.

Its the first step in an epic journey that will take Wernher von Braun to the other side of the Atlantic.

Its June 20, 1945 in Washington DC. Almost two months after Wernher von Braun abandoned his weapons research for the Nazis. In his office, US Secretary of state Edward Stettinius scans through a long list of german names. The list has been compiled as part of Operation Overcast, a top secret plan to recruit nazi scientists to continue their work. But on american soil.

Edward has been informed that the individuals on this list possess knowledge that might prove useful to the United States in the post war world. And as he reads the list, he pauses at one name in particular. Wernher von Braun is noted to be a prominent rocket scientist, and a symbol next to Werners name indicates that he is already in american custody. After fleeing from his SS minders in the alps, Werner hid for several days until he spotted a platoon of american soldiers. He raised his hands and surrendered, openly admitting his identity and role in the nazi war machine.

News of Werners capture was quickly passed up the chain of command until it reached the desk of Edward Stettinius. Now Edward is the man with the power to decide Werners fate. And with a quick stroke of his pen, Edward puts a check next to Werners name. He then signs the bottom of the page and places the document in a folder and passes it off to his clerks. Edward has just offered Werner passage to the United States, an immunity from prosecutions for his actions during the war, but only if he continues his research for America.

Its not an offer Werner is in a position to turn down. Soon. He lands in his new home at Fort Bliss, Texas. At first, he recreates his work on V two rockets for the US army. But he makes even quicker progress when his workforce expands.

In November 1945, Operation Overcast is renamed Operation Paperclip, and restrictions on the recruitment of former Nazis are loosened. Under the new regulations, hundreds of Werners former colleagues are shipped across the Atlantic to join him. Initially, the german scientists and engineers work in austere conditions and have little freedom to leave their research facility. But as time passes, Werner and his colleagues prove themselves to their american hosts and their conditions improve. Freed from the constraints of the nazi party, Werner will refocus his research and no longer will he develop guided missiles for military use.

Instead, he'll achieve his lifelong ambition and design rocket ships to take humanity to the stars.

Speaker D
Get in the car, kids. We're going to T Mobile. I thought we were going to grandma's. Nope, we're switching to T Mobile. We're getting four 5g smartphones, and T Mobile is covering the cost.

Speaker E
Can I get one with a bigger screen for video games? Can I get a pink one? Can we get the deal where we. Get four lines for $25 per line a month? Wait, does that mean I get a bigger allowance?

Speaker D
Whoa. That's a lot of questions, but yes. Yes, absolutely and probably not. It's better over here. Get four 5g phones on us and four lines for $25 a line per month when you switch with eligible trade ins at T Mobile, all on America's largest 5g network.

Speaker G
Minimum four lines for $25 each per month with auto pay using debit or bank account. $5 more per line without auto pay. Up to $830 off each phone via 24 monthly bill credits, plus taxes and fees for well qualified customers. Contact us before canceling account to continue bill credits or credit stop imbalance on a required finance agreement. Due dollar 35 per line connection charge applies.

Speaker H
Ctmobile.com dot let's talk about mymochi ice cream. Why? Because friends do not let friends miss out on something this good. My mochi is premium ice cream wrapped in sweet, soft dough, and the flavors are amazing, like my mochi double chocolate with rich, chocolatey bits. It's a chocolate lover's dream.

Or don't get me started on my mochi strawberry ice cream. It's cool, creamy and bursting with natural berry flavor. And the sweet, luscious flavor of my mochi mango will send your taste buds straight to the tropics. My mochi is gluten free, perfectly portioned, and only around 90 calories per piece. Taste the joyfully chill sensation of mymochi ice cream today.

Find mymochi at Walmart or visit mymochi.com to locate a grocery store near you.

Speaker B
It's July 24, 1969, in Huntsville, Alabama. 24 years after Wernher von Braun was recruited by the United States. 57 year old Werner waves to a cheering crowd as he walks through town. Despite the baking heat, hundreds have congregated to celebrate Huntsville's most famous resident. Three days ago, these same people watched grainy black and white footage of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin becoming the first humans to walk on the moon.

But the people of Huntsville have even more reason than most Americans to be proud of that achievement. The Apollo eleven mission was blasted into space by the Saturn V rocket. And the driving force behind the design, testing and construction of that huge machine was Huntsvilles very own Wernher von Braun. As Werner makes his way down the street, countless hands slap his back in congratulations. Then Werner feels his feet leave the ground before he can stop them.

Several men have hoisted Werner onto their shoulders, and he is paraded through the crowd to cheers and applause. Thanks to Werners expertise in rocket science, his adopted nation has triumphed in the space race. But not everyone will view Werners achievements in the same way as his neighbors in Huntsville. Some will question whether the american authorities were right to ignore Werners past contributions to the nazi war effort. And they will complain when Werner was never punished for his role in creating a weapon that killed 9000 civilians, nor for the deaths of 12,000 laborers in the work camps that built the V two rockets.

But Werners postwar efforts in the space race will define his legacy more than his wartime service for Germany. Werner will have american streets and buildings named after him. And in 1990, 417 years after his death, a lunar crater will be named in his honor. A fitting tribute to the scientists who helped America win the race to the moon after he was freed from army customs with a stroke of a politicians pen on June 20, 1945.

Next on History daily June 21, 1582. A japanese warlords hopes of ruling the nation are brought to an end when he is betrayed by one of his closest allies.

From noiser and airship. This is history daily. Hosted, edited, and executive produced by me, Lindsey Graham. Audio editing by Mohammad Shazib. Sound Design by Molly Bach Music by Thrum this episode is written and researched by Rob Scragg.

Edited by Scott Reeves. Managing producer Emily Burke. Executive producers are William Simpson for airship and Pascal Hughes for r.

It's better over here. You can count on T Mobile to help keep you connected. We've invested billions to light up America's largest 5g network, from big cities to small towns across the country, including right here in your town. And great coverage is just the beginning. Right now, when you switch to T Mobile, you can keep your phone and we'll pay it off up to $800 per line.

Speaker F
That's right. You keep your phone and we'll pay it off. Up to $800 per line. With a network and savings like this, there's never been a better time to switch to T Mobile. It's better over here.

Stop by your local T Mobile store today or use our savings calculator to see how you can save on every plan. Versus Verizon and at and t@tmobile.com acrossAmerica.

Speaker G
Up to four lines via virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days qualifying unlocked device credit service port in 90 plus days with device ineligible carrier and timely redemption required. Card has no cash access and expires in six months.