The Nazi rocketeers

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Medical-products scientist Piszkiewicz reveals the dark truth behind the dream of space exploration, exposing how its developers were complicit in Nazi military ambitions. The narrative centers on Werner von Braun, who, as a leading engineer in Hitler's rocket program, joined the SS, was promoted to major, and ingratiated himself with Heinrich Himmler, the architect of the Holocaust. During the war's final years, rockets were built using slave labor in underground facilities overseen by SS General Hans Kammler, who also constructed Auschwitz, and Arthur Rudolf, von Braun's right-hand man. The conditions in these factories were horrific, with thousands perishing from starvation and abuse, and mass executions commonplace. Despite this, von Braun and his associates focused on leveraging their expertise for favorable treatment after the war. Remarkably, they continued their work in America with little disruption. While this account is not entirely new—Rudolf faced exposure as a war criminal in the late 1970s, and von Braun's past was documented but often overlooked—Piszkiewicz sheds light on the moral compromises made in the pursuit of scientific advancement, challenging readers to reconsider the legacy of these figures.