Dark side of the moon : Wernher von Braun, the Third Reich, and the space race

A stunning investigation of the roots of the first moon landing forty years ago. This illuminating story of the dawn of the space age reaches back to the reactionary modernism of the Third Reich, using the life of "rocket scientist" Wernher von Braun as its narrative path through the crumbling of Weimar Germany and the rise of the Nazi regime. Von Braun, a blinkered opportunist who could apply only tunnel vision to his meteoric career, stands as an archetype of myriad twentieth century technologists who thrived under regimes of military secrecy and unlimited money. His seamless transformation from developer of the deadly V-2 ballistic missile for Hitler to an American celebrity as the supposed genius behind the golden years of the U.S. space program in the 1950s and 1960s raises haunting questions about the culture of the Cold War, the shared values of technology in totalitarian and democratic societies, and the imperatives of material progress. Title and Author : Dark Side of the Moon: Wernher von Braun, the Third Reich and the Space Race by Wayne Biddle ISBN : 9780393059106 Formats : PDF A Stunning Investigation Of The Roots Of The First Moon Landing Forty Years Ago, This Illuminating Story Of The Dawn Of The Space Age Reaches Back To The Reactionary Modernism Of The Third Reich, Using The Life Of Rocket Scientist Wernher Von Braun As Its Narrative Path Through The Crumbling Of Weimar Germany And The Rise Of The Nazi Regime. Von Braun, A Blinkered Opportunist Who Could Apply Only Tunnel Vision To His Meteoric Career, Stands As An Archetype Of Myriad Twentieth Century Technologists Who Thrived Under Regimes Of Military Secrecy And Unlimited Money. His Seamless Transformation From Developer Of The Deadly V2 Ballistic Missile For Hitler To An American Celebrity As The Supposed Genius Behind The Golden Years Of The U.s. Space Program In The 1950s And 1960s Raises Haunting Questions About The Culture Of The Cold War, The Shared Values Of Technology In Totalitarian And Democratic Societies, And The Imperatives Of Material Progress. A Junker's Life -- Memories Of Deeat -- Highly Technological Romanticism -- An Heir Of Credibility -- Childhood's End -- Fingers In The Pie -- Supreme Zeal -- Grand And Horribly Wrong -- Depravity -- A Psychologicsal Block. Wayne Biddle. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. A stunning investigation of the roots of the first moon landing forty years ago. This illuminating story of the dawn of the space age reaches back to the reactionary modernism of the Third Reich, using the life of "rocket scientist" Wernher von Braun as its narrative path through the crumbling of Weimar Germany and the rise of the Nazi regime. Von Braun, a blinkered opportunist who could apply only tunnel vision to his meteoric career, stands as an archetype of myriad twentieth century technologists who thrived under regimes of military secrecy and unlimited money. His seamless transformation from developer of the deadly V-2 ballistic missile for Hitler to an American celebrity as the supposed genius behind the golden years of the U.S. space program in the 1950s and 1960s raises haunting questions about the culture of the Cold War, the shared values of technology in totalitarian and democratic societies, and the imperatives of material progress. A New York Times Book Review "Editor's Choice" 12 illustrations. Cover Page......Page 2 Table of Contents......Page 3 Title Page......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Introduction......Page 7 Acknowledgments......Page 11 1 A Junker’s Life......Page 14 2 Memories Of Defeat......Page 29 3 “Highly Technological Romanticism”......Page 44 4 An Heir Of Credibility......Page 56 5 Childhood’s End......Page 66 6 “Fingers In The Pie”......Page 79 7 Supreme Zeal......Page 104 8 Grand And Horribly Wrong......Page 115 9 Depravity......Page 127 10 “A Psychological Block”......Page 144 Epilogue......Page 161 Notes......Page 168 Selected Bibliography......Page 247 Photograph Credits......Page 254 Index......Page 255