Part 6/11:
This program, initiated by American intelligence agencies, saw over 1,600 scientists brought to the U.S., including Wernher von Braun, who played a pivotal role in developing the Saturn V rocket used during the Apollo Moon landings. Despite their Nazi affiliations and war crimes, their expertise was deemed crucial in countering Soviet technological advances during the Cold War.
Controversy: The ethics of employing former enemies with questionable pasts sparked debate—a debate that continues today. Nevertheless, Operation Paperclip provided the U.S. with a significant technological edge, but at a moral cost.