Operation Paperclip: The Secret Intelligence Program That Brought Nazi Scientists To America (2014) - Plot & Excerpts
I was glad that I read 2/3 of this book because I learned a lot about the scientists who used their considerable gifts to further the German war machine. I also learned that our own government had to choose between punishing the guilty and hiring them to further our own scientific and military advances. Many were happy to switch sides as long as they could continue their work. I also learned that our own government had done horrible medical experiments on humans also, even though those who did so for Germany were tried at Nuremburg.It was frightening to read how close Germany was to having biological and chemical weapons that would have made it almost impossible for another country to make a stand against them.The book is stuffed with names, agencies, and other facts to the point where I had trouble keeping them all straight. After I was most of the way through the book, I felt that I got the idea and stopped reading. I really didn't want to spend any more time with these men. I certainly wouldn't have wanted to make the decision whether to try them in court or hire them. ". . .in the aftermath of the German surrender more than sixteen hundred of Hitler's technologists would become America's own.""How did this happen, and what does this mean now? Does the accomplishment cancel out past crimes?"This book covers the 'How did this happen' - the other questions are left for the reader to decide although I think the author's point of view is evident when every time one of the German 'technologists' is mentioned so is what she feels is the most salient negative detail or incident of their Nazi past. Perhaps this was done harmlessly as an aid for keeping the large number of names straight but after a while it seemed pushy and unnecessary to me.The book covers the Nazi period as the war came to a close in order to introduce the characters, the Nuremberg trials (briefly), the fact that the Soviet Union is no longer an Allie (in passing), and the careers of selected Nazis in the employment of the United States in some detail. The genesis of the CIA is mentioned and the convoluted number of intelligence agencies comes as no surprise. I was surprised that any of this history is still either classified or being withheld. Also amazing is the chaotic state of the archives (they are in the possession of the multitude of original agencies and committees rather than centralized in the U.S. Archives. This project was classified at the highest level. Even the president was not let in on more than could be avoided. It did leak however, first in East and West Germany and later in the U.S. A giant purge of government records is mentioned at least twice. This is one of several books on the subject. There was also a government review which resulted in a document available to the public. I kept wondering if this was the best version of the story - a symptom that I was not completely enthralled by the presentation. It did make me want to read more about the intelligence agencies in the U.S. and the cold war from both sides.
What do You think about Operation Paperclip: The Secret Intelligence Program That Brought Nazi Scientists To America (2014)?
good book a bit tedious but readable - the author has a definite point of view so be aware of it.
—Zoe
Interesting topic, appalling information, suffers from too much minutiae/density.
—leshae
okay, but way too long. Point was made early on and beaten to death.
—Aomohamed
Shocking. Definitely want to do more research on this topic.
—LilLovah
