Operation Paperclip: Nazi Scientists and the US Space Race

Operation Paperclip was a clandestine US program (1945-1959) that secretly recruited over 1,600 German scientists and engineers, many with Nazi affiliations, for post-war American government employment. Initially aimed at leveraging German expertise for the ongoing war effort against Japan and bolstering US military research, the operation's focus expanded to encompass various fields like rocketry, synthetic fuels, and medicine.

Operation Paperclip played a significant role in the development of the US space program and Cold War military technology, but remains controversial due to the ethical implications of employing former Nazis. The program's origins are linked to Operation Overcast, and its success is intertwined with the acquisition of German scientific advancements, especially rocket technology central to the V-2 and Apollo missions. The text details the operation's history, key figures like Wernher von Braun, and the subsequent controversies surrounding the involvement of former Nazi personnel.