Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford Into the Black Lair: V2 Rocket (Part 2)
33 snips
Feb 16, 2024 Wernher von Braun, a brilliant young scientist pivotal in developing the V2 rocket, recounts the tumultuous journey of rocket research in 1930s Germany. He shares how he turned initial failures into a coup for funding from the army and navigated a deadly political maze under Nazi rule. The tension between ambition and the dire consequences of the regime, including brushes with figures like Heinrich Himmler, highlights the ethical dilemmas faced in the pursuit of innovation during a dark time.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Von Braun's Introduction
- In 1929, Germany was enthusiastic about space travel, with the Society for Spaceship Travel promoting exploration.
- A young Wernher von Braun impressed Willy Ley, the Society's leader, with his self-assured piano playing.
Army Proposal
- The Society, underfunded and struggling, received a proposal from the German army in 1932.
- The army offered funding for rocket research if the Society developed rocket weapons.
Securing Funding
- Walter Dornberger, impressed by von Braun's intellect, became his boss and together they secured funding through clever tactics.
- They disguised a pencil sharpener and typewriter as experimental apparatus, highlighting the lack of understanding around their work.
