Wernher Magnus Maximilian Freiherr von Braun was a German physicist and engineer, and leading figure of the German and American rocket programs. Once a student of Hermann Oberth, he was one of the key personnel for the V-2 rocket program in Nazi Germany. In 1945, he arranged the surrender of himself, and much of his staff to the American forces. He went on to work for the US Army, and then for NASA, including being the first director of the Marshall Space Flight Center, developing the Saturn rockets for the Apollo missions.[1]
Biography[]
In 1936, when challenged that the Nazis would not be able to follow the star charts seen in the Tomb of the Gods, Friedrich von Hassell replied that with men like Oberth and von Braun working for Germany, the Nazis would reach the stars soon.[1]
Behind the scenes[]
According to Mads Mikkelsen, his villainous character Jürgen Voller from Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, the fifth and last Indiana Jones film, was partly inspired on Wernher von Braun due to both being ex-Nazis who were later recruited by the NASA to assist them in the Apollo program.[2] Coincidentally, von Braun was portrayed by fellow Dial of Destiny actor Thomas Kretschmann in the TV series Project Blue Book.
Appearances[]
- Indiana Jones and the Tomb of the Gods (Mentioned only)
- Indiana Jones and the Tomb of the Gods 4 (Mentioned only)
Sources[]
- Robert Goddard - Mr. Rocket Science (Non-fiction source)
