Not everything is so black and white, of course.
Wernher Von Braun was a rocket scientist whose talents enabled America to land men on the Moon. He was certainly brilliant, but his moral character is at question. He developed the V2 rocket for Nazi Germany in World War II, which killed thousands of British civilians. His work on this rocket utilized concentration camp labor, and he was well aware of this. After the allies won the war, Von Braun and his team defected to America, where they began working on American rocket technologies. He was largely responsible for the development of the Saturn V rocket, which was the instrumental tool in the race to reach the Moon.
Please complete these guided notes as you learn about this shadowy figure.
We will watch the following in class:
Some background on the V2 Rocket:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lQKCZRbJy4
http://londonist.com/2009/01/london_v2_rocket_sitesmapped.php
A segment from Walt Disney's television show, Man In Space:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fautyLuuvo
Comedian Tom Lehrer's song, Werner Von Braun:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEJ9HrZq7Ro&feature=kp
Wernher Von Braun: Rocket Man for War and Peace documentary:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqmlDqiHYWU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1HgwUIs6BQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoNRPkm4EaA
Please read the following sources:
PBS's Hunt for Nazi Scientists article on Von Braun:
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/secrets/features/hunt-for-nazi-scientists/wernher-von-braun/101/
V2 Rocket history page on Von Braun:
http://www.v2rocket.com/start/chapters/vonbraun.html
Review of Dark Side of the Moon: http://www.history.ac.uk/reviews/review/909
Now, your task. Answer the following: Should America have relied on Wernher Von Braun to help us get to the Moon? Be sure to discuss Von Braun's work with Nazi Germany, his scientific aspirations, and his work in America. Your writing can be on paper or electronic, and a minimum length of three paragraphs is required.
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