Dan Snow's History Hit Hitler's V1 & V2 Rockets
Sep 3, 2024
Murray Barber, a historian and author focused on A4 rocket development, dives into the chilling world of Hitler's V1 and V2 rockets. He discusses how these 'Revenge Weapons' aimed to break civilian morale rather than secure battlefield victories. The impacts on London are explored, including catastrophic explosions. Barber also highlights the technological evolution from the V1's vulnerability to the V2's advancements, and the post-war legacy, where German innovations influenced future missile technology despite their dark origins.
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Hitler’s Late Wonder Weapons Obsession
- Hitler's obsession with wonder weapons grew only after German failures, especially in Russia.
- These weapons aimed to break enemy morale, not to win battles on the field.
How the V1 Flying Bomb Worked
- The V1 was a rudimentary cruise missile launched from ramps with a pulse jet engine.
- Its simple timing mechanism cut the engine and caused it to fall after a set distance.
V2 Rocket’s Revolutionary Technology
- The V2 rocket was the first man-made object to enter space, reaching over 60 miles altitude.
- It traveled supersonically, was impossible to intercept, and used an accelerometer for automatic engine cutoff.