When large numbers of German scientists began to be discovered in late April, Special Sections Subdivision set up the Enemy Personnel Exploitation Section to manage and interrogate them. T-Force examined 5,000 German targets with a high priority on synthetic rubber and oil catalysts, new designs in armored equipment, V-2 (rocket) weapons, jet and rocket propelled aircraft, naval equipment, field radios, secret writing chemicals, aero medicine research, gliders, and 'scientific and industrial personalities”. In February 1945, Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF) set up T-Force, or Special Sections Subdivision, which grew to over 2,000 personnel by June. Many of these personnel were former members and some were former leaders of the Nazi Party. Conducted by the Joint Intelligence Objectives Agency (JIOA), it was largely carried out by special agents of the U.S. for government employment after the end of World War II in Europe, between 19. 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. Johnson in 1962 at a briefing at Blockhouse 34, Cape Canaveral Missile Test Annex Debus, a former V-2 rocket scientist who became a NASA director, sitting between U.S. If such a claim sounds dubious, Jacobsen persuasively shows that it in fact happened and aptly frames the dilemma in terms of “Who would be hired, and who would be hanged?” Rife with hypocrisy, lies, and deceit, Jacobsen’s story explores a conveniently overlooked bit of history the significance of which continues to resonate in the national security issues of today. Needless to say, what to do with potentially useful war criminals posed an unusual predicament. In fact, even an appearance at Nuremburg didn’t rule out a trip to the States.

government to help prepare for an ostensibly impending “total war” with the Soviets. For just as some Nazis awaited trial at Nuremburg, others-namely prominent, potentially useful scientists-were secretly smuggled into the country by the U.S. Though Americans are quick to remember the United States’ heroic feats in WWII, they tend to be more amnesic (or allergic) toward some of our nation’s shadier activities in the effort-one of which seems to have been forgotten altogether.

As comprehensive as it is critical, this latest exposé from Jacobsen (Area 51) is perhaps her most important work to date.

Operation paperclip jacobsen