Field report

Operation Paperclip Investigation

Operation Paperclip Investigation

Overview

The secret post-WWII program that brought more than 1,600 German scientists, engineers, and technicians to the United States for government employment.

Investigation

The program recruited former Nazi scientists, including Wernher von Braun, to harness their expertise in rocketry and medical research for the Cold War and Space Race.

Why it matters

A morally complex operation that fueled American technological supremacy while raising enduring ethical questions about accountability and strategic gain.

Open this case in the interactive archive