Wernher von Braun: the story on HearLore

Nazi Party Membership And V2 Development

Von Braun joined the Nazi Party on the 12th of November 1937 receiving membership number 5,738,692. He was an opportunist who joined to continue his work on rockets for Nazi Germany. In 1940 he joined the SS horseback riding school as an SS-Anwärter leaving the following year. That same year he joined the Allgemeine-SS receiving rank of Untersturmführer with membership number 185,068. By June 1943 he had been promoted three times by Himmler to SS-Sturmbannführer (Major). In 1939 von Braun was appointed technical advisor at Peenemünde Army Research Center on the Baltic Sea. An artillery captain named Walter Dornberger arranged an Ordnance Department research grant allowing him to work next to existing solid-fuel rocket test sites. His actual thesis titled Construction Theoretical and Experimental Solution to the Problem of the Liquid Propellant Rocket detailed A2 rocket design remaining classified until 1960. By end of 1934 his group successfully launched two liquid fuel A2 rockets reaching heights of 2.2 kilometers. On the 3rd of October 1942 the first successful launch of an A-4 took place becoming well known as the V-2. Adolf Hitler ordered production of the A-4 as a vengeance weapon on the 22nd of December 1942 targeting London. Following von Braun's the 7th of July 1943 presentation of a color movie showing an A-4 taking off Hitler made him a professor shortly thereafter. Over nights of 17, the 18th of August 1943 RAF Bomber Command dispatched raids dropping 1,800 tons of explosives killing engine designer Walter Thiel and Chief Engineer Walther delaying the program. The V-2 became first artificial object to travel into space crossing Kármán line with vertical launch MW 18014 on the 20th of June 1944. First combat A-4 renamed V-2 for propaganda purposes was launched toward England on the 7th of September 1944 only 21 months after project commissioning.

When was Wernher von Braun born and where did he grow up?

Wernher von Braun was born on the 23rd of March 1912 in the small town of Wirsitz within the Province of Posen. His family moved to Berlin in 1915 where his father worked at the Ministry of the Interior.

What role did Wernher von Braun play during World War II regarding Nazi Germany?

Wernher von Braun joined the Nazi Party on the 12th of November 1937 receiving membership number 5,738,692 to continue his work on rockets for Nazi Germany. He became a technical advisor at Peenemünde Army Research Center on the Baltic Sea in 1939 and led the development of the V-2 rocket which Hitler ordered as a vengeance weapon on the 22nd of December 1942.

How did Wernher von Braun contribute to the United States space program after 1945?

U.S. Secretary of State Edward Stettinius Jr. approved transfer of Wernher von Braun and specialists to the United States on the 20th of June 1945. He later established the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville Alabama and directed the Saturn V rocket program that enabled six teams of astronauts to reach the surface of the Moon during the Apollo missions.

When was Wernher von Braun naturalized as a citizen of the United States?

Wernher von Braun became a naturalized citizen of the United States on the 15th of April 1955. This occurred after he had worked with the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps since September 1945 and moved his team from Fort Bliss Texas to Huntsville Alabama in 1950.

What were the religious beliefs and family life of Wernher von Braun?

Wernher von Braun underwent a religious conversion to Evangelical Christianity in 1946 at the church in El Paso County Texas. He married Maria Luise von Quistorp on the 1st of March 1947 and they had three children including Iris Careen born on the 8th of December 1948, Margrit Cécile born in 1952, and Peter Constantine born in 1960.

Operation Paperclip And American Relocation

U.S. Secretary of State Edward Stettinius Jr. approved transfer of von Braun and specialists to United States on the 20th of June 1945 announced publicly the 1st of October 1945. Von Braun and Peenemünde team signed work contract with U.S. Army Ordnance Corps in September 1945. On the 20th of September 1945 first seven technicians arrived at New Castle Army Air Field south of Wilmington Delaware flying to Boston then boat to Fort Strong in Boston Harbor. Except for von Braun men transferred to Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland sorting documents enabling continued experiments. Finally von Braun and remaining staff transferred to Fort Bliss large Army installation north of El Paso Texas. He found it hard to develop genuine emotional attachment to new surroundings. His chief design engineer Walther Reidel became subject of December 1946 article exposing presence of German scientists drawing criticism from Albert Einstein and John Dingell. Requests to improve living conditions like laying linoleum over cracked wood flooring were rejected. Von Braun remarked at Peenemünde they had been coddled while here counting pennies. Whereas thousands answered to him at Peenemünde he was now subordinate to pimply 26-year-old Jim Hamill possessing only undergraduate engineering degree. Every proposal for new rocket ideas dismissed while loyal Germans addressed him as Herr Professor but Hamill called him Wernher. While at Fort Bliss they trained military industrial and university personnel in rocket intricacies. As part Hermes program they helped refurbish assemble and launch V-2s shipped from Allied-occupied Germany to White Sands Proving Ground in New Mexico. Since not permitted leave Fort Bliss without military escort von Braun and colleagues referred themselves half-jokingly as PoPs Prisoners of Peace. In 1950 start of Korean War team transferred to Huntsville Alabama his home next 20 years. From 1952 to 1956 led Army rocket development team at Redstone Arsenal resulting in Redstone rocket used first live nuclear ballistic missile tests conducted by United States.

Public Advocacy And Disney Collaborations

The 14th of May 1950 headline of The Huntsville Times Dr. von Braun Says Rocket Flights Possible to Moon marked beginning of public efforts. Von Braun's ideas rode publicity wave created by science fiction movies and stories. In 1952 he first published concept of crewed space station in Collier's Weekly magazine series titled Man Will Conquer Space Soon! Articles illustrated by space artist Chesley Bonestell spreading his ideas widely. Frequently worked with fellow German-born space advocate Willy Ley publishing concepts heavy on engineering anticipating technical aspects later becoming reality. Space station constructed using rockets with recoverable and reusable ascent stages was toroid structure diameter 3,000 feet spinning around central docking nave providing artificial gravity. Ultimate purpose provided assembly platform for crewed lunar expeditions over decade later movie version of 2001: A Space Odyssey drew heavily on design concept visualization. Von Braun envisioned these expeditions as very large-scale undertakings total 50 astronauts traveling three huge spacecraft each long and driven by rectangular array of 30 rocket propulsion engines. Upon arrival astronauts establish permanent lunar base Sinus Roris region using emptied cargo holds shelters exploring surroundings eight weeks including expedition pressurized rovers crater Harpalus Mare Imbrium foothills. At time also worked out preliminary concepts human mission Mars using space station staging point. Initial plans published The Mars Project 1952 envisaged fleet 10 spacecraft each mass 3,720 metric tonnes three uncrewed carrying one 200-tonne winged lander nine crew vehicles transporting total 70 astronauts. Before technically formalizing thoughts on human spaceflight to Mars wrote science fiction novel set year 1980 rejected by 18 publishers. In hope involvement bring greater public interest began working Walt Disney studios technical director initially three television films about space exploration. Initial broadcast devoted space exploration Man in Space first went air the 9th of March 1955 drawing 40 million viewers.

NASA Leadership And Saturn V Program

In 1957 launch Sputnik 1 belief grew United States lagged behind Soviet Union emerging Space Race. American authorities chose use von Braun German team missile experience create orbital launch vehicle originally proposed 1954 denied at time. NASA established law the 29th of July 1958. One day later 50th Redstone rocket successfully launched Johnston Atoll south Pacific Operation Hardtack I. Two years later NASA opened Marshall Space Flight Center Redstone Arsenal Huntsville Army Ballistic Missile Agency development team led von Braun transferred. Face-to-face meeting Herb York Pentagon made clear would go NASA only if development Saturn allowed continue. Von Braun became center first director the 1st of July 1960 holding position until the 27th of January 1970. Early years included failed 4 inch mission the 21st of November 1960 uncrewed Mercury-Redstone rose mere 4 inches settling back onto pad creating nadir morale Project Mercury. Launch failure determined power plug one prong shorter worker failed fit causing cut-off signal engine safety system stopped launch. After success Mercury-Redstone 2 mission January 1961 mere two months after failed 4 inch mission NASA morale improved. Still new string problems emerged insisting on one more test before Redstone deemed man-rated overly cautious nature brought clashes others involved program arguing MR-2 technical issues simple resolved shortly flight. Overruled them so test mission involving Redstone boilerplate capsule flown successfully March. Stubbornness blamed inability U.S. launch crewed space mission before Soviet Union putting first man space following month. Three weeks later the 5th of May team successfully launched Alan Shepard into space naming Freedom 7. Marshall Center first major program development Saturn rockets carry heavy payloads beyond Earth orbit. From Apollo program crewed Moon flights developed initially pushed flight engineering concept calling Earth orbit rendezvous technique approach argued building space station. In 1962 converted lunar orbit rendezvous concept subsequently realized. During Apollo worked closely former Peenemünde teammate Kurt H. Debus first director Kennedy Space Center. Dream help mankind set foot Moon became reality the 16th of July 1969 when Marshall-developed Saturn V rocket launched crew Apollo 11 historic eight-day mission. Over course program Saturn V rockets enabled six teams astronauts reach surface Moon.

Moral Controversies And Slave Labor Allegations

SS General Hans Kammler engineer constructed several concentration camps including Auschwitz had reputation brutality conceived idea using concentration camp prisoners slave laborers rocket program. Arthur Rudolph chief engineer V-2 rocket factory Peenemünde endorsed April 1943 labor shortage developed. More people died building V-2 rockets killed weapon. Von Braun admitted visiting plant Mittelwerk many occasions called conditions repulsive stated never personally witnessed deaths beatings although clear by 1944 deaths occurred. Denied ever visited Mittelbau-Dora concentration camp where 20,000 died illness beatings hangings intolerable working conditions. Some prisoners state von Braun engaged brutal treatment approved Guy Morand French resistance fighter prisoner Dora testified 1995 apparent sabotage attempt ordered prisoner flogged Robert Cazabonne another French prisoner stated stood prisoners hanged chains suspended cranes accounts may case mistaken identity. Former Buchenwald inmate Adam Cabala stated went concentration camp pick slave laborers. Later stated aware treatment prisoners felt helpless change situation asked if could have protested brutal treatment team member Konrad Dannenberg Nazi party since 1932 told Huntsville Times opinion would shot spot. Heinrich Himmler had von Braun come Feldkommandostelle Hochwald HQ East Prussia February 1944 increase power-base within Nazi regime conspiring use Kammler gain control all German armament programs including V-2 program Peenemünde. Therefore recommended work more closely Kammler solve problems V-2. Von Braun replied problems merely technical confident solved Dornberger assistance. Under SD surveillance October 1943 secret report stated colleagues Klaus Riedel Helmut Gröttrup expressed regret engineer house one evening early March 1944 not working spaceship felt war going well considered defeatist attitude young female dentist SS spy reported comments. Himmler unfounded allegations branding communist sympathizers accusing sabotaging V-2 program coupled regular piloting government-provided airplane facilitate escape Britain led arrest Gestapo. Unsuspecting von Braun detained the 14th of March or the 15th of March 1944 taken Gestapo cell Stettin now Szczecin Poland held two weeks knowing charges against him. Through Major Hans Georg Klamroth charge Abwehr Peenemünde Dornberger obtained conditional release Albert Speer Reichsminister Munitions War Production persuaded Hitler reinstate continue turn into V-4 program Rheinbote short-range ballistic rocket impossible without leadership.

Religious Conversion And Personal Life

First half life nonpracticing perfunctory Lutheran throughout younger years showed signs religious devotion interest things related church biblical teachings known friends merry heathen fröhlicher Heide. In 1945 explained decision surrender Western Allies rather Russians influenced desire share rocket technology people followed Bible. In 1946 attended church El Paso El Paso County Texas underwent religious conversion Evangelical Christianity. On motives behind conversion Michael J. Neufeld opinion turned religion pacify own conscience University Southampton scholar Kendrick Oliver moved desire find new direction life after moral chaos service Third Reich concluded one bad bargain Devil perhaps felt need God securely side Gideon conference 2004 W. Albert Wilson former pilot NASA employee talked about Christian faith working believed conversation instrumental conversion. Later joined Episcopal congregation increasingly religious Those who knew through 1960s 1970s noticed new element began surface conversations speeches writings growing interest religious thought. Publicly spoke wrote complementarity science religion afterlife soul belief God Through science man strives learn mysteries creation religion seeks know Creator interviewed Assemblies of God pastor C.M. Ward stated farther probe space greater faith met privately evangelist Billy Graham civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. Charismatic personality known ladies man student Berlin often seen evenings company two girlfriends once later succession affairs secretarial computer pool Peenemünde. January 1943 engaged Dorothee Brill physical education teacher Berlin sought permission marry SS Race Settlement Main Office engagement broken mother opposition. Later 1943 affair French woman Paris preparing V-2 launch sites northeastern France imprisoned collaboration war became destitute. During stay Fort Bliss proposed marriage Maria Luise von Quistorp the 10th of June 1928 the 20th of January 2025 maternal first cousin letter father married Lutheran church Landshut Bavaria the 1st of March 1947 received permission return Germany wife 35 new bride 18. Shortly converted Evangelicalism returned Manhattan the 26th of March 1947 wife father mother. On the 8th of December 1948 first daughter Iris Careen born Fort Bliss Army Hospital couple had two more children Margrit Cécile born 1952 Peter Constantine born 1960. On the 15th of April 1955 naturalized citizen United States.

Wernher von Braun.