Patented: History of Inventions Wernher Von Braun: Nazi Father of Rocket Science
Aug 20, 2023
Discover the controversial life and legacy of Wernher von Braun, a Nazi member who served in the SS and developed the lethal V-2 rocket bomb. Unveil the hidden history of von Braun's involvement with Hitler, his capture by Americans during World War II, and the debate surrounding the employment of Nazi scientists in the American space program.
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V-2: Breakthrough Weapon And Space Pioneer
- Wernher von Braun led development of the V-2, the first long-range ballistic rocket and an early space vehicle.
- The V-2 combined cutting-edge rocketry with lethal wartime use that reshaped both warfare and spaceflight.
Human Cost Behind The Rockets
- Von Braun used concentration camp slave labor at Nordhausen to continue rocket production after Peenemünde bombings.
- Thousands died building the V-2, making its human cost likely greater than deaths caused by the rockets themselves.
Escape, Hidden Blueprints, And A Bicycle Messenger
- As Germany collapsed von Braun hid V-2 blueprints in a mine and his team fled to the Alps expecting to surrender to Americans.
- His brother Magnus even bicycled to contact American troops to arrange their transfer to US custody.