Season 4 Episode 6 - Operation Paperclip

Hacking the Gibson

What would you do you win a war? What would you do after you won a war? The US had to face those questions, but in the reverse order. Seeing both the Nazi crimes and the science and weapons they developed, they were faced with a choice. Knowing that the confrontation with the Soviets was on the horizon, they chose to give a way out to a number of Nazi scientists regardless of their crimes. They started Operation Paperclip. We found that some of that science was cruelty dressed up as science, but also fundamental work that served as building blocks for the coming decades. The US took the devil’s bargain, and the devil delivered. We were left with a stain on our national character, but anything to win a war right? Right?