US troops discover a Nazi concentration camp with smoldering corpses and enslaved laborers making V2 rockets. Wernher von Braun escapes, trying to switch sides. The podcast unfolds the grim realities of the V2 rocket program during WWII and von Braun's controversial legacy in space exploration.

Cautionary Conversation: Did a Nazi put America on the moon? To celebrate the launch of his mini-series on the V-2 rocket, Tim Harford sits down with Pushkin’s resident V-2 expert, Ryan Dilley. They discuss the so-called “Father of Space Travel”, Wernher von Braun, and satirist Tom Lehrer’s musical lampooning of him. A three-part mini series on the V-2 rocket is available now for Pushkin+ subscribers. We’ll be back again on August 4th with a brand new episode of Cautionary Tales on the main feed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nazi rocket scientist Wernher von Braun's secret defection to the US in 1945. The podcast explores his transition from developing V-2 rockets to space exploration, his controversial legacy, and the ethical dilemmas surrounding his past.

Wernher von Braun, a nearly-forgotten genius, and his impact on space exploration. His early life, involvement in rocketry, and rise to technical director of German military rocketry. The challenges he faced in achieving his goals in NASA, his decline, and the impact of societal changes. The difficulties Elon Musk might encounter in colonizing Mars. The need for a reinvigorated space exploration program, embracing risk-taking, and learning from failures. The factors that led to the success of NASA's Apollo program and the cultural changes needed for ambitious goals in space exploration.

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.