Remembering Wernher von Braun

The Space Review ^ | July 10, 2006 | Anthony Young

[Paul Ross]

A little tardy, but I didn't see this previously posted yet.

[RightWhale]

Von Braun designed rocket programs.

[Hoplite]

Von Braun, a life-long Lutheran, was a believer in intelligent design in the Universe long before it became a catch phrase and a lightning rod of debate.

Paging Mike Godwin. Paging Mike Godwin.

= )

[donmeaker]

The Rockets go up,
But where they come down;
That's not my department,
Said Werhner von Braun.

[Dumpster Baby]

I remember film clips of him just after his capture, and he was sneering at the camera like a typical arrogant Nazi. I guess he had a change of heart soon after, or maybe was told he might be traded to the Russians. Anyway, his attitude sure improved. :o)

[Sam Cree]

*

[kinoxi]

Interesting statement. Completely accurate as far as I can tell.

[RS]

He aimed for the sky - unfortunately many times he hit London.

[appleharvey]

My favorite Von Braun quote, "We can lick gravity, but sometimes the paperwork is overwhelming."

[UncleDick]

Wernher von Braun and Walt Disney



Disney just recently released the DVDs featuring von Braun pitching the idea of space travel back in the 50s. Fascinating stuff.

[donmeaker]

I guess the good news is that there is hope for human redemption.

[AHerald]

I remember film clips of him just after his capture, and he was sneering at the camera like a typical arrogant Nazi. I guess he had a change of heart soon after, or maybe was told he might be traded to the Russians. Anyway, his attitude sure improved. :o)

For what it's worth ... Back in the mid-70s my mother was working as a stewardess for some fancy private East coast airline (the name of which escapes me at the moment), during which time she frequently served von Braun. They became friendly aquantainces. She remembers him as being one of the kindest men she's ever met. She was especially impressed by the lack of arrogance and pretention in the man.

That's her view of von Braun, anyway. I never met the man and know nothing else of his personality or character. Perhaps he was just a charming smoothee making the moves on a good looking stewardess.

[sine_nomine]

I understand the scientists went to the West while the technicians went to Russia. Therefore Russia had hardware first, but we had the brains.

Asked what he expected to find on the moon when America landed, Werner told Congress, "The Russians." He got the funding he wanted.

He was a great man, a real hero in space exploration. It says a lot about America that he worked for the other side and was considered our own scientist later, even with his accent and name.

I heard a story that he became a Presbyterian because it was not right for the leader of the team to go to the same church as the underlings. That may not be correct. It was just a story from a Lutheran church leader.

[Tall_Texan]

Don't say that he's hypocritical
Rather just say that he's apolitical...

[AFreeBird]

I remember film clips of him just after his capture, and he was sneering at the camera like a typical arrogant Nazi. I guess he had a change of heart soon after, or maybe was told he might be traded to the Russians. Anyway, his attitude sure improved. :o)

While I haven't seen the video you mention, and I don't know the context of it; He could very well have been sneering at the Russians that didn't get him. I don't believe Von Braun was really a Nazi, and he WANTED to go with the Americans, and brought his brain trust with him.

He just wanted to build rockets and explore space, that's all he ever wanted to do, and the Nazi's knew he was the best they had. While I don't think he really had a choice - to walk away from them - his desire to build rockets probably overwhelemed the moral compass a bit. Of course, considering his expertise, I wonder if the V1, V2 programs weren't hindered in some areas.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Von Braun was a true pioneer. Like many other scientists he was forced to join the Nazi Party; had he spoken out he probably would have been killed or sent to a concentration camp.

In 1944 he was arrested for allegedly being a defeatist for statements he had made to some friends regarding his view that the war was going badly and being disappointed that they were not workinng on a real spaceship, and for being an alleged Communist sympathizer. This was really part of a larger plot by Himmler to gain complete control of the V2 rocket program and von Braun was his scapegoat. Braun was later released after intevention by Albert Speer.

Von Braun's stated goal was always to help humanity get into space. Von Braun and some of his team surrendered to the Allies after he found an American private and identified himself to him.

In 1976 von Braun learned he had cancer. Von Braun died in Alexandria, Virginia 1977 from internal bleeding as the result of injuries sustained from a crash.

[PC99]

Von Braun deserves rememberance for his amazing accomplishments and vision. That does not excuse his Nazi associations, nor does it imply we should forget them or forgive them either. It takes maturity and wisdom to do both.

[EricT.]

Perhaps he was just a charming smoothee making the moves on a good looking stewardess.

Who isn't?

[Professional Engineer]

From my office.

[EricT.]

Of course, considering his expertise, I wonder if the V1, V2 programs weren't hindered in some areas.

IIRC, there was a program on the History Channel that made this claim. According to them, he would delay production and incorporate as many design flaws as he could without getting shot.