Operation Paperclip: The Secret Intelligence Program that Brought Nazi Scientists to America
The fascinating story of America's secret post-WWII science programs, from the New York Times bestselling author of Area 51 and Biological War. "This book is a remarkable achievement of investigative reporting and historical writing." ―Boston Globe In the chaos following World War II, the U.S. government faced many difficult decisions, including what to do with the Third Reich's scientific minds. These were the brains behind the Nazis' once-indomitable war machine. So began Operation Paperclip, a decades-long, covert project to bring Hitler's scientists and their families to the United States. Many of these men were accused of war crimes, and others had stood trial at Nuremberg; one was convicted of mass murder and slavery. They were also directly responsible for major advances in rocketry, medical treatments, and the U.S. space program. Was Operation Paperclip a moral outrage, or did it help America win the Cold War? Drawing on exclusive interviews with dozens of Paperclip family members, colleagues, and interrogators, and with access to German archival documents (including previously unseen papers made available by direct descendants of the Third Reich's ranking members), files obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, and dossiers discovered in government archives and at Harvard University, Annie Jacobsen follows more than a dozen German scientists through their postwar lives and into a startling, complex, nefarious, and jealously guarded government secret of the twentieth century. In this definitive, controversial look at one of America's most strategic--and disturbing--government programs, Jacobsen shows just how dark government can get in the name of national security. "Harrowing ... How Dr. Strangelove came to America and thrived, told in graphic detail." --Kirkus Reviews ★ "Highly recommended for readers in World War II history, espionage, government cover-ups, or the Cold War." --Library Journal (starred review) ★ "An engrossing and deeply disturbing exposé that poses ultimate questions of means versus ends." --Booklist (starred review) "Darkly picaresque." --The New Yorker "The most in-depth account yet of the lives of Paperclip recruits and their American counterparts." ―New York Times Book Review "Important, superbly written." --USA Today
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Community Reviews
Pro
It really is a good book. There is no denying that at all. It may be too long for some people, but it's a very good book no matter how long it is.
She studied up on the history of former Nazis and requested formerly censored documents. This way she could piece together a story of Operation Paperclip that is more informative than ever before. The US state desperately tried to hide the past of these Nazi researchers but even now they are forced to release new documents. I think in 50 years time we'll know most there is to know about the operation as there are usually timestamps on when they can release documents. For this book they did it 10 years earlier but many documents are still under lock and key and hidden away.
It's interesting that so many of these former Nazis and friends of Hitler who themselves did evil experiments in concentration camps later became well-known, rich, and respected. Several got a prize named after them and most avoided punishment because they were that important to the US army. It makes sense. These are Nazi experts that knew more about their field than anyone else and if the USA didn't take them in Stalin would use them to develop weapons and Soviet technology. Outcompeting USA. USA was actually too slow to take enough researchers in as too many got sent to gulag or used to develop weapons for an evil regime. And most of these researchers were just geniuses without any evil streak to them at all. It's just that the rotten apples were horrifying.
Unfortunately USA was even slower at looking into their pasts and punish the scientists who were actually evil murderers. This was hard to get right. US army knew that if even a single researcher was found to be guilty of horrible crimes then most Operation Paperclip researchers could be lost. And then you don't have the modern advanced USA we see today with Intel, Apple and Microsoft. Obviously, USA would go on but it could be up to some years behind current technological standards in many areas.
Anyhow, the book is great. The author is very smart and did look up a ton of old and new info. This is an information bomb that doesn't get dull as she keeps adding good commentary on everything - most likely taken from old newspaper articles. It's a great book on the topic and recommended for even readers who are not that interested in WW2 or USA. It's actually mostly about the Cold War.
I'm desperate for a TV show about this now. But not some slow-burn drama with dark scenes. Rather an exciting thriller focused docu-series. That would be mindblowing. Like the great movie, Fat Man and Little Boy. But much, much longer with more sets and stories.
Con
The audiobook is long and it contains a ton of names and personal events. The first ¾ part of it is very engaging and fascinating. But the last ¼ of the book feels samey and just too much new info to a degree. Much of it is still great but it very much loses the huge engagement factor. The first few chapters are just thrillers with drama, intrigue, and secrets on every corner. Amazing fun. At the end this intrigue is over with and we just hear about what these researchers did later on in life. It's extremely important info for historians but for me it's not something I'll remember in details. So it's not dry but does become long. I especially noticed this as other reviewers pointed it out. It's why the book doesn't have more 5 star ratings. But it's very much not a big deal. The main problem is just how much time it will take to get through. There is nothing to do about that. But even at the end of the book there are amazing passages and great stories.
The names? I'll remember some but without photos and videos I'll forget most. Also, it's interesting how little of the book was about Wernher von Braun's work. We hear a few interesting stories about him but mostly the research she focuses on is military research into poisons. I frankly didn't know it was such a huge thing. It's shocking. But I still feel the rocket research is more fascinating. Though I already know about that so I guess it doesn't matter much that I didn't read about it here.
I think the best thing and worst thing about the book is the lack of moral lessons being expanded upon. On one hand I'd have rated it ⅗ stars if it tried to lecture me about anything moral. It needed to stay neutral. We know Nazis are bad because they did bad things. On the other hand it did need to explain why these researchers were extremely crucial for USA. I get why but she could have described their extremely high IQ and extreme expertise and how much it meant to USA overall and even regular people. We just learn that they are experts but don't learn about how important high IQ people are to all people in the country.
This "lack" of info means it's not always clear why even the worst criminals are accepted and respected by companies and the state itself. I get why you need a guy to build rockets so that you can go to space. But then why do you need a doctor who possibly did operations on Jews in Auschwitz? Why not keep him working in Germany for some US department or even have him working from prison? It seems like a few of these experts are evil psychopaths who just caused trouble yet they were also frantically defended. My point here is something I read in another review of the book "Why did USA do this? Why not just train Americans to do this research?" Some people don't understand how rare genius is. You can't just train a regular American guy to be a genius. Most people can't invent new mathematical solutions or extremely advanced technology.
Conclusion
This is a very interesting book. If it wasn't this long it would be a smash hit. As it is now it still is, but you just need to make time for it. The audiobook solves that problem. It's not a must-read as a history lesson because we already know about this. So the moral lectures are known to people like me. The documentary, The World at War, presents most of these lessons just as well. WW2 is just so well-known already that the moral and educational lessons are clear already. Yet they are hugely important even so. I just think reading about the French revolution for the first time would be a greater lesson still so it counts a bit against the value of the book overall in comparison to other history books. I guess.
It's crucial USA got these researchers yet it wasn't done the right way and is not only a positive event. It could have been if there was 100% openness about it. That's the moral lesson. Always be 100% open with the voters or you'll ruin your image forever and never get it back. For USA's government that's too late now. People will never trust the politicians again. They made their bed and are now lying in it.
Go read the book if you have the energy for it. It's very much a big information bomb.
It really is a good book. There is no denying that at all. It may be too long for some people, but it's a very good book no matter how long it is.
She studied up on the history of former Nazis and requested formerly censored documents. This way she could piece together a story of Operation Paperclip that is more informative than ever before. The US state desperately tried to hide the past of these Nazi researchers but even now they are forced to release new documents. I think in 50 years time we'll know most there is to know about the operation as there are usually timestamps on when they can release documents. For this book they did it 10 years earlier but many documents are still under lock and key and hidden away.
It's interesting that so many of these former Nazis and friends of Hitler who themselves did evil experiments in concentration camps later became well-known, rich, and respected. Several got a prize named after them and most avoided punishment because they were that important to the US army. It makes sense. These are Nazi experts that knew more about their field than anyone else and if the USA didn't take them in Stalin would use them to develop weapons and Soviet technology. Outcompeting USA. USA was actually too slow to take enough researchers in as too many got sent to gulag or used to develop weapons for an evil regime. And most of these researchers were just geniuses without any evil streak to them at all. It's just that the rotten apples were horrifying.
Unfortunately USA was even slower at looking into their pasts and punish the scientists who were actually evil murderers. This was hard to get right. US army knew that if even a single researcher was found to be guilty of horrible crimes then most Operation Paperclip researchers could be lost. And then you don't have the modern advanced USA we see today with Intel, Apple and Microsoft. Obviously, USA would go on but it could be up to some years behind current technological standards in many areas.
Anyhow, the book is great. The author is very smart and did look up a ton of old and new info. This is an information bomb that doesn't get dull as she keeps adding good commentary on everything - most likely taken from old newspaper articles. It's a great book on the topic and recommended for even readers who are not that interested in WW2 or USA. It's actually mostly about the Cold War.
I'm desperate for a TV show about this now. But not some slow-burn drama with dark scenes. Rather an exciting thriller focused docu-series. That would be mindblowing. Like the great movie, Fat Man and Little Boy. But much, much longer with more sets and stories.
Con
The audiobook is long and it contains a ton of names and personal events. The first ¾ part of it is very engaging and fascinating. But the last ¼ of the book feels samey and just too much new info to a degree. Much of it is still great but it very much loses the huge engagement factor. The first few chapters are just thrillers with drama, intrigue, and secrets on every corner. Amazing fun. At the end this intrigue is over with and we just hear about what these researchers did later on in life. It's extremely important info for historians but for me it's not something I'll remember in details. So it's not dry but does become long. I especially noticed this as other reviewers pointed it out. It's why the book doesn't have more 5 star ratings. But it's very much not a big deal. The main problem is just how much time it will take to get through. There is nothing to do about that. But even at the end of the book there are amazing passages and great stories.
The names? I'll remember some but without photos and videos I'll forget most. Also, it's interesting how little of the book was about Wernher von Braun's work. We hear a few interesting stories about him but mostly the research she focuses on is military research into poisons. I frankly didn't know it was such a huge thing. It's shocking. But I still feel the rocket research is more fascinating. Though I already know about that so I guess it doesn't matter much that I didn't read about it here.
I think the best thing and worst thing about the book is the lack of moral lessons being expanded upon. On one hand I'd have rated it ⅗ stars if it tried to lecture me about anything moral. It needed to stay neutral. We know Nazis are bad because they did bad things. On the other hand it did need to explain why these researchers were extremely crucial for USA. I get why but she could have described their extremely high IQ and extreme expertise and how much it meant to USA overall and even regular people. We just learn that they are experts but don't learn about how important high IQ people are to all people in the country.
This "lack" of info means it's not always clear why even the worst criminals are accepted and respected by companies and the state itself. I get why you need a guy to build rockets so that you can go to space. But then why do you need a doctor who possibly did operations on Jews in Auschwitz? Why not keep him working in Germany for some US department or even have him working from prison? It seems like a few of these experts are evil psychopaths who just caused trouble yet they were also frantically defended. My point here is something I read in another review of the book "Why did USA do this? Why not just train Americans to do this research?" Some people don't understand how rare genius is. You can't just train a regular American guy to be a genius. Most people can't invent new mathematical solutions or extremely advanced technology.
Conclusion
This is a very interesting book. If it wasn't this long it would be a smash hit. As it is now it still is, but you just need to make time for it. The audiobook solves that problem. It's not a must-read as a history lesson because we already know about this. So the moral lectures are known to people like me. The documentary, The World at War, presents most of these lessons just as well. WW2 is just so well-known already that the moral and educational lessons are clear already. Yet they are hugely important even so. I just think reading about the French revolution for the first time would be a greater lesson still so it counts a bit against the value of the book overall in comparison to other history books. I guess.
It's crucial USA got these researchers yet it wasn't done the right way and is not only a positive event. It could have been if there was 100% openness about it. That's the moral lesson. Always be 100% open with the voters or you'll ruin your image forever and never get it back. For USA's government that's too late now. People will never trust the politicians again. They made their bed and are now lying in it.
Go read the book if you have the energy for it. It's very much a big information bomb.
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