Into the Black Lair: V2 Rocket (Part 2)

Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford

16-02-2024 • 38 mins

In the 1920s, Germany’s Society for Spaceship Travel boasted some of the sharpest scientific minds – like the incandescently brilliant young Wernher von Braun. But it had very little money, and progress was slow.

Then, in 1932, the army made a proposal: it would fund more serious research if the enthusiasts at the Society would develop a rocket weapon.

Despite a string of failures to launch, von Braun was able to convince key powerbrokers in Nazi Germany that they couldn’t afford to ignore rocket technology. How did he do it? And what happened when the murderous Heinrich Himmler made a play for the rocket program?

For a full list of sources for this episode, visit timharford.com.

Do you have a question for Tim? Send it to tales@pushkin.fm and we'll do our best to answer it in a Q&A episode.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You Might Like

History Daily
History Daily
Airship | Noiser | Wondery
The Ancients
The Ancients
History Hit
Dark History
Dark History
Audioboom Studios
The Rest Is History
The Rest Is History
Goalhanger Podcasts
Rachel Maddow Presents: Ultra
Rachel Maddow Presents: Ultra
Rachel Maddow, MSNBC
Lore
Lore
Aaron Mahnke
History Extra podcast
History Extra podcast
Immediate Media
Gone Medieval
Gone Medieval
History Hit
Tides of History
Tides of History
Wondery / Patrick Wyman