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Nazi Rocket Scientist Wernher von Braun Converted to Christ, Interviewed by C. M. Ward
Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center ^ | 06/26/2016 | Darrin J. Rodgers

Posted on 07/27/2023 12:18:38 PM PDT by Jan_Sobieski

Wernher von Braun (1912-1977), one of Nazi Germany’s leading rocket scientists, became a pioneer in America’s space program following World War II. But it was von Braun’s conversion to Christ that captured the attention of Assemblies of God radio preacher C. M. Ward. Ward interviewed the scientist in 1966, during which von Braun described the relationship between his newfound faith and his lifework in science.

Von Braun’s interest in rocket science had been sparked by a desire to explore space, but he came to regret that his work was being used to cause tremendous destruction of human life. He had developed the V-1 and V-2 rockets, which allowed Germany to pummel Allied targets up to 500 miles away during World War II. The rockets, manufactured by slave labor, indiscriminately killed thousands of people.

Sensing disloyalty, the Gestapo arrested von Braun in 1944 and charged him with espionage. Von Braun’s work was deemed essential to the success of the war effort, so Nazi leader Albert Speer intervened and ordered the release of the scientist. When American soldiers marched into central Germany in May 1945, they found that von Braun had organized the surrender of 500 of his top scientists, along with plans and test vehicles.

Von Braun and his German scientists were relocated to the United States, where they became indispensable to the development of American military and space programs. Von Braun’s life had changed drastically within the course of a year. But it was in a little church in El Paso, Texas, that von Braun experienced a spiritual transformation that would change him from the inside out…

(Excerpt) Read more at ifphc.wordpress.com ...


TOPICS: Religion; Science
KEYWORDS: 1945; 194505; christ; elias; elpaso; science; scientists; texas; vonbraum
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To: Vermont Lt

No I’m in excellent shape, tall, good looking, white, and make six figures.
Life is easy for me.


61 posted on 07/27/2023 5:47:47 PM PDT by EEGator
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To: GingisK

It’s alright, my skin is thick.
Besides, you were stating your point.
That’s never the wrong thing to do.


62 posted on 07/27/2023 5:49:56 PM PDT by EEGator
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To: sport

I would have to care to be insulted.

Merely correcting your error.


63 posted on 07/27/2023 8:44:21 PM PDT by Jewbacca (The residents of Iroquois territory may not determine whether Jews may live in Jerusalem.)
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To: GingisK

Von braun was an officer in the SS.


64 posted on 07/27/2023 8:46:50 PM PDT by Jewbacca (The residents of Iroquois territory may not determine whether Jews may live in Jerusalem.)
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To: Jewbacca

Have a nice day.


65 posted on 07/27/2023 8:50:04 PM PDT by sport
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To: EEGator

Admiral Canaris was involved in the plot to kill Hitler, near the end of the war they murdered him. On April 9, 1944 German military intelligence (Abwehr) chief Admiral Wilhelm Canari was hanged in Flossenburg Prison. It is said they hung him with piano wire.

My father served in Patch’s 7th Army and Patton’s 3rd Army. Near the end of the war he was near a place called Tegernsee. Close to CZ border, they went 20 miles into CZ before being pulled back. To allow the Russian Army to take Prague. There was a large SS officer’s training facility Tegernsee Cassern. From there he was sent to Munich, he saw Dachau not long after liberation. One of his high school classmates, Lt. Jack Westbrook, was in the unit that liberated that camp.


66 posted on 07/27/2023 8:58:51 PM PDT by Texas Fossil (Texas is not about where you were born, but a Free State of Heart, Mind and Attitude.)
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To: GingisK

ex-Abwehr men

Canaris’s men.


67 posted on 07/27/2023 9:01:32 PM PDT by Texas Fossil (Texas is not about where you were born, but a Free State of Heart, Mind and Attitude.)
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To: Jewbacca

I know. He wasn’t in the chain of command of the labor or factories. Himmler pressured him into the SS because Himmler wanted complete control over the R & D programs. That was part of a power struggle between Himmler and Speers. Von Braun did not care anything about politics or the war, really. It was a means to do rocketry development. The Gestapo arrested and detained Von Braun for about two weeks because Von Braun said their target should be the moon rather than England. Hitler intervened on his behalf.


68 posted on 07/28/2023 5:30:17 AM PDT by GingisK
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To: Texas Fossil
Canaris’s men.

Yes. Canaris was actually pretty cool.

69 posted on 07/28/2023 5:32:01 AM PDT by GingisK
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To: MNDude

Many Nazi scientists were not recruited, a lot were just kidnapped outright and either brought to the US or Britain (Depending who did the kidnapping) to prevent the Soviets from doing the same.


70 posted on 07/28/2023 5:40:10 AM PDT by rollo tomasi
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To: GingisK

Maybe so. I doubt it, though. I think he was happily complicit at worst or a sociopath who just didn’t care at best.

Of course, I admittedly take a dim view of Nazis for obvious reasons.

While fully understanding the need to grab good minds like this after the war. His brain rightfully saved him from the hangman’s noose.

But I see no reason to lionize (at best) an amoral piece of garbage like von Braun. He’s garbage and his name should be forgotten.


71 posted on 07/28/2023 5:43:20 AM PDT by Jewbacca (The residents of Iroquois territory may not determine whether Jews may live in Jerusalem.)
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To: Jewbacca

Speer is the other one. Biggest conman ever.


72 posted on 07/28/2023 5:44:22 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: Jewbacca

I disagree with everything in your post, for scholarly reasons.


73 posted on 07/28/2023 5:47:17 AM PDT by GingisK
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To: GingisK

Yes, I’ve studied his history. Have an extensive biography of him done by Heinz Hohne in my library. Canaris was Prussian and despised Hitler from the beginning, but was good at playing his hand.

He and Wild Bill Donovan were counter parts, some suspect they had some contact at a point.


74 posted on 07/28/2023 6:29:31 AM PDT by Texas Fossil (Texas is not about where you were born, but a Free State of Heart, Mind and Attitude.)
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To: Texas Fossil

There’s some speculation, that had it not been for the Munich Agreement, the Generals were planning a coup against Hitler in 1938, but had to call it off after Munich.


75 posted on 07/28/2023 6:30:53 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: dfwgator

No question that was planned. The failed bombing caught up a number of people in the leadership. Canaris was not caught easily, but just before fall of the 3rd Reich. Cruelty was the trademark of that creature of the great evil.


76 posted on 07/28/2023 6:43:32 AM PDT by Texas Fossil (Texas is not about where you were born, but a Free State of Heart, Mind and Attitude.)
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To: sport

“Bullshit! He was the head of the V weapons program. he knew that the V2 was built with slave labor in underground factories.”

I think you are looking at the poster I quoted, not my response. I very much agree with:

“He was the head of the V weapons program. he knew that the V2 was built with slave labor in underground factories.”


77 posted on 07/28/2023 7:51:05 AM PDT by TheThirdRuffian (Orange is the new brown)
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To: EEGator

“Doing what you have to so you can get by doesn’t make one a true believer.”

Eh, he was happily advancing his career by helping the Nazis.

Big difference between doing unpleasant things to survive and getting ahead by doing unpleasant things.


78 posted on 07/28/2023 7:53:08 AM PDT by TheThirdRuffian (Orange is the new brown)
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To: TheThirdRuffian

I’m sure you would have stood your ground, right?


79 posted on 07/28/2023 7:56:19 AM PDT by EEGator
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To: ifinnegan

“What’s your deal? Virtue signaling?”

Pointing out the truth in response to a lie posted that Von Braun was “not a Nazi”.

No, Von Braun was not only a member of the Nazi Party, but an officer in the SS, a known associate of Himmler and other high-ranking Nazis, who was very much aware of the slave labor used to support his manufacture of terror weapons.

White-washing the past is for Democrats.

Operation Paperclip was a deal with the Devil. Probably a necessary deal, but it serves no good to pretend they were great guys.


80 posted on 07/28/2023 7:59:39 AM PDT by TheThirdRuffian (Orange is the new brown)
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