A10. Operation Paperclip: How German Scientists Were Brought to the US after World War II

Operation Paperclip was a secret United States intelligence program in which more than 1,600 German scientists, engineers, and technicians were taken from the former Nazi Germany to the U.S. for government employment after the end of World War II in Europe, between 1945 and 1959.  US agents would attach a paperclip to the folders of those German rocket experts whom they wished to employ in the United States. Many of these personnel were former members and some were former leaders of the Nazi Party.  The course will feature PowerPoint slides and video clips and will especially focus on the career of rocket scientist Wernher von Braun.  We will discuss the legal, ethical and moral principles involved in the hiring of former Nazis.

Instructor: David Nevard grew up in suburban Boston and has always been fascinated by history – especially the postwar era. He attended UMass Amherst and worked as an IT professional for over 30 years. Since retirement, David has been an instructor at WISE and other area lifelong learning programs. 

Optional reading: 

1. Secret Agenda: The United States Government, Nazi Scientists, and Project Paperclip, 1945 to 1990, by Linda Hunt. No longer in print. A pdf file of the book is available at archive.com
2. Operation Paperclip: The Secret Intelligence Program that Brought Nazi Scientists to America, by Annie Jacobsen,ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0316221031 - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0316221030