German Rocketeers in the Heart of Dixie : Making Sense of the Nazi Past During the Civil Rights Era

This thought-provoking study by historian Monique Laney focuses on the U.S. government–assisted integration of German rocket specialists and their families into a small southern community soon after World War II. In 1950, Wernher von Braun and his team of rocket experts relocated to Huntsville, Alabama, a town that would celebrate the team, despite their essential role in the recent Nazi war effort, for their contributions to the U.S. Army missile program and later to NASA’s space program. Based on oral histories, provided by members of the African American and Jewish communities, and by the rocketeers’ families, co-workers, friends, and neighbors, Laney’s book demonstrates how the histories of German Nazism and Jim Crow in the American South intertwine in narratives about the past. This is a critical reassessment of a singular time that links the Cold War, the Space Race, and the Civil Rights era while addressing important issues of transnational science and technology, and asking Americans to consider their country’s own history of racism when reflecting on the Nazi past. This Thought-provoking Study By Historian Monique Laney Focuses On The U.s. Government-assisted Integration Of German Rocket Specialists And Their Families Into A Small Southern Community Soon After World War Ii. In 1950, Wernher Von Braun And His Team Of Rocket Experts Relocated To Huntsville, Alabama, A Town That Would Celebrate The Team, Despite Their Essential Role In The Recent Nazi War Effort, For Their Contributions To The U.s. Army Missile Program And Later To Nasa's Space Program. Based On Oral Histories, Provided By Members Of The African American And Jewish Communities, And By The Rocketeers' Families, Co-workers, Friends, And Neighbours, Laney's Book Demonstrates How The Histories Of German Nazism And Jim Crow In The American South Intertwine In Narratives About The Past. From Enemy Aliens To Valued Citizens -- Huntsville Becomes The Rocket City -- I Never Thought Of Him As A Foreigner -- Becoming Americans -- We Just Did Not Move In The Same Circles -- The Rudolph Case -- Vergangenheitsbewältigung In Huntsville. Monique Laney. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 263-292) And Index. This thought-provoking study by historian Monique Laney focuses on the U.S. government–assisted integration of German rocket specialists and their families into a small southern community soon after World War II. In 1950, Wernher von Braun and his team of rocket experts relocated to Huntsville, Alabama, a town that would celebrate the team, despite their essential role in the recent Nazi war effort, for their contributions to the U.S. Army missile program and later to NASA's space program. Based on oral histories, provided by members of the African American and Jewish communities, and  by the rocketeers'families, co-workers, friends, and neighbors, Laney's book demonstrates how the histories of German Nazism and Jim Crow in the American South intertwine in narratives about the past. This is a critical reassessment of a singular time that links the Cold War, the Space Race, and the Civil Rights era while addressing important issues of transnational science and technology, and asking Americans to consider their country's own history of racism when reflecting on the Nazi past. Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 10 List of Abbreviations......Page 16 Introduction......Page 20 1 From Enemy Aliens to Valued Citizens......Page 42 2 Huntsville Becomes the “Rocket City”......Page 62 3 “I Never Thought of Him as a Foreigner”......Page 90 4 Becoming Americans......Page 113 5 “We Just Did Not Move in the Same Circles”......Page 144 6 The Rudolph Case......Page 164 7 Vergangenheitsbewältigung in Huntsville......Page 183 Epilogue......Page 220 Notes......Page 226 Bibliography......Page 282 B......Page 312 D......Page 313 G......Page 314 H......Page 316 J......Page 317 M......Page 318 R......Page 319 V......Page 320 Z......Page 321 This book focuses on the U.S. government-assisted integration of German rocket specialists and their families into a small southern community soon after World War II.--Publisher's description