Avoiding Accountability: The US Government and Wernher von Braun

Abstract This article examines the history and implications of the decision to keep Wernher von Braun in the United States without judicial review, despite his history and applicable guidelines and regulations. Relevant questions include: What did the US government know about von Braun, and when did they know it? What factors influenced the Army’s response when the problematic aspects of von Braun’s history became apparent? How did the decisions made in 1947 affect the actions of both the US government and von Braun in the decades that followed? How did both parties promote a sanitized version of von Braun’s wartime activities? How did the declassification of related records after his death affect the official government position on von Braun? Ultimately, neither von Braun nor the US government have been held accountable for their actions, yet accountability is essential to prevent future moral and ethical lapses by individuals and government agencies.