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The Pros And Cons Of Operation Paperclip

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Operation Paperclip, originally known as Operation Overcast was the capturing and hiring of Hitler's weapons makers for US military interests (Jacobsen). During World War II, the Nazis had developed an impressive Arsenal far superior to that of the Allies. It was much coveted, and the US believed necessary addition to their Arsenal (Lewis). These weapons were advanced in all areas of warfare. They were kept a secret through most of the war until the occupying Allies discovered German secret stashes. “As World War II was entering its final stages American and British organizations teamed up searching occupied Germany for military, scientific, and technological development… in this operation 1600 of these German scientists were brought along …show more content…
These actions were justified as necessary due to the obvious Cold War, they allowed this seemingly apparent necessity to overcome the immorality of the situation. This program was much disputed between those in power, it was however classified and kept from the general public. Today many consider Operation Paperclip unethical because the crimes against humanity committed by these men were ignored and even rewarded (Schumm). Some of these men were brought to the US and were important components of major scientific advancements, for example in the Apollo program. They were also Nazi’s, supportive and responsible for some of the horrors experienced by victims of Holocaust. Operation Paperclip left a questionable impression on society (Lewis). The US government mistakenly allowed the circumstances of the after-effects of World War II to overcome their morals and as a result, the integration of the Nazi scientists corrupted the …show more content…
Von Braun was famous in World War II for helping develop the V2 rocket. Von Braun was acquired by the US when he allegedly surrendered to the US when he saw the war was lost for Germany (“Wernher von Braun.”) The V2 assembly plant at Mittelwerk used people from the Dora Concentration Camp as slave labor. This was not uncommon among other German wartime production sites. Wernher von Braun was a member of the Nazi party and an SS officer, yet was also arrested by the Gestapo in 1944 for careless remarks he made about the war and the rocket, “His responsibility for the crimes connected to Rocket production is controversial... Following World War II, Von Braun worked with our US Army in the development of missiles. He was initially installed with a group of one hundred and twenty-five German scientists at Fort Bliss, Texas. They also worked on the rockets for the US Army at White Sands Proving Grounds in New Mexico. The Saturn V launch vehicle was his specialty at this time. This was part of the rocket that would eventually propel the Americans to the Moon (Harbaugh). The German scientists became in the 1950s the spokesmen for children who had a dream to go to outer space. Think about the implication these evil men were an influence on and heroes to the youth of this country. “From the earliest days, space travel would be intertwined with war-making. It still is” (Jacobsen 396). More importantly is the history

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