Great Engineers & Scientists

Werner von Braun was brought to the United States as part of Operation Paperclip. The fictitious Fox Mulder of X-Files fame has described this program as "our deal with the devil". Does von Braun share a measure of Nazi Germany's collective guilt? I'd like to hear some perspectives from CR4'ers.

As opposed to individuals such as Gunter Grass or Pope Benedict XVI, who were pressed into the war effort (as were nearly all young German men), Von Braun consciously worked for and supported the Nazi war machine. So much so that he was an SS officer. Whether or not you buy the arguement that he did everything that was asked of him by the Nazi's (without 'really' supporting them), so that he could carry on with rocketry, you can't dismiss the fact that the V1 and V2 rockets that he designed were some of the most vicious weapons used during the war. Largely useless against military targets (they didn't have accurate trageting systems until very late in the war), they were designed with the full knowledge that they would be used against civilians.

Even worse than that, however, was the use of slave/concentration camp labor at Peenemuende, the factory where the V1s and V2s were tested and manufactured.

Sure he helped the US develop satellite delivery systems and was largely responsible for the US getting to the Moon -great feats indeed, but the man was no saint.

Saint or no saint, Werner von Braun was still a great engineer/scientist! Reminds me a bit of the 'Welt Meister' of Formula 1 - saint or no saint, Michael Schumacher is undoubtedly the greatest living racing driver of all time - up to now, that is!

WVB Those people called to war, and not touched by it are few and far between. When your passion becomes your career, and you are 'forced' to do it by a brutal overlord, it is always easier to take the path of least resistance. When your country is at war, and your friends and relatives are dying in the fields, for the cause, and there is no where to run to, to escape a world at war, where people speak your language, and understand you... you are 99.9% most likely going to accept the positions offered you, in your field of interest and expertise. who wouldn't. He may not be a saint, but his role is forgiveable. I do not call him a war criminal. he was a warrior, and a formidable one, and I respect that. a good man all around.

then, you can say why his deputy was tryed as a war criminal.

You are absolutely correct. I was born and raised in Huntsville, Alabama, and while my Father was born in the United States, he speaks fluent German, many German's sat at our dinner table, and you are absolutely correct. Thank you for setting the record straight.

War is war. A lot more innocent civilians were killed at Hiroshima than in London.

Please! Be quiet about the war and devil stuff. This is a site of science!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As a native Huntsvillian, I have watched as the Space Program grew, had many Germans in my parent's home. The benefits that we have obtained from the Space Program are beyond belief. If you were given a choice of "work on this" or "the death of you and your entire family" - what would you do?

This does not have anything about the famous F1 driver (retiring) Michael Schumacher. Von Braun please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At a time (early 1900's) when Von Braun was a teenager, he was studying calculus and in fact developed equations for rocket powered flight to the moon. Those equations were later verified to be accurate! At that point in time, 'mankind' was still struggling to get a simple aircraft in the air (ie. before Kittyhawk)...

In my estimation, this alone qualifies Von Braun as a genius engineer, and brilliant thinker, on a par with Leonardo Da Vinci's drawings of a flying machine.

I am unaware of any individuals today who are anywhere near so forward thinking, but of course this kind of genius can only be recognized by hindsight!

what is this website used for? geek talk then again im on it

If you're "on it", Guest, then please take the time to register and become a member.

The truly funny part is that these mysterious guests think that they insult us when they call us "nerds" or "geeks"!

Igonorence is bliss,I posted a note inquireing information on other engineers.

My wife's father is an aero space engineer retired. He had hands on paticipation

on Apollo 11 thru 17,He is absolute Heaven to be in his company. My favorite memory from him is the endless stories being apart of such a team. The many

times Vonbraun's college would fly into Kennedy in an ME109, A thirty year old

"Nazi" one of few. jet fighter from WW2.