Operation Paperclip

In the late stages of World War II, it was obvious to the Allied Forces that Germany had a substantial lead in military technology, especially rocketry. The US and UK engaged in a joint-operation, known as T-Force, to secure German technology that could be used by the Allies. Whenever a German lab, university or research center was secured, the Allies sent T-Force units including scientists to identify and secure designated scientific and industrial targets before they could be destroyed by retreating enemy forces. It was hoped that such technology could be used by the allies to end the war in the Pacific.

In March 1945, the allies discovered the Osenberg list, which identified key German scientists. As the war came to an end, the US was actively recruiting German scientists, engineers and doctors to come to the United States. Part of this was motivated by fear of not wanting valuable scientists to end up in Russian hands.

The program became known as Operation Paperclip. Since it was illegal to recruit known Nazis, many of the scientists were given white-washed backgrounds, deeming them apolitical.

More than 1,600 German scientists, engineers and doctors were recruited to the US as part of Operation Paperclip. The photo above shows 104 rocket scientists stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas in 1945. Wernher von Braun, the top-most scientist on the Osenberg list and developer of the V-2 rockets built at Mittelwerk, is in the front row, right of center, his left hand in his pocket, gazing to his right.

For readers who would like to know more about the recruitment of Nazi scientists to the United States, I highly recommend Operation Paperclip by Annie Jacobsen. No Paperclip scientist were ever found guilty of war crimes in America or Germany, though a handful were forced to leave the country under dubious circumstances.