Wernher Von Braun a Scientist in War Time

Wernher Von Braun

A scientist in war time

Visa : Bruno Decriem Educational department

Objectifs pédagogiques

Ce parcours, destiné à des élèves de collège présente le parcours d’un scientifique Wernher von Braun. Parcours pluridisciplinaire, à dominante sciences, il associe Sciences et Histoire, il aborde l’éthique des sciences et techniques et se termine sur une réflexion citoyenne et humanitaire. L’élève doit prélever dans les expositions les informations qui lui permettront de reconstituer le parcours humain et scientifique de Von Braun.

Ce dossier est présenté sous forme de fiches pour que le professeur puisse les adapter à sa propre démarche pédagogique.

Contenu des fiches

Fiche 1 –Von Braun : sa jeunesse Ce jeune scientifique est recruté par l’armée allemande pour construire des armes nouvelles. La fusée A4/V2 et son principe de fonctionnement sont développés pour comprendre l’utilisation de cette nouvelle arme de destruction massive. Des projets inquiétants sont étudiés dans les laboratoires de Peenemünde.

Fiche 2 – Von Braun : sa période nazie

Par opportunisme et pour continuer à pouvoir développer son rêve, Von Braun intègre volontairement et, au plus haut niveau, le parti nazi. Charismatique, charmeur, obstiné et convaincant, il séduit Hitler et obtient des moyens financiers et technologiques considérables pour mettre au point à Peenemünde le premier missile de l’Histoire. Ces armes terroristes sont utilisées contre des civils et provoquent d’énormes destructions à Londres et Anvers.

Fiche 3 – Von Braun : sa période américaine.

A partir de 1945, Von Braun va vivre une nouvelle existence en participant à la mise au point des premiers missiles américains. En 1957, sollicité par Eisenhower, il lance les États-Unis dans la course à l’espace puis devient l’un des acteurs de la course à la Lune. Son charisme lui ouvre les portes des studios de Walt Disney où il enregistre des émissions de vulgarisation sur l’espace.

Fiche 4 – Science et éthique. Après la formidable aventure de la marche sur la Lune, un rappel des souffrances des déportés de Dora doit provoquer une réflexion sur la responsabilité d’un scientifique et de la nécessité de l’élaboration d’une charte d’éthique des sciences. Cette dernière partie peut être remplie en classe au cours d’une discussion collective.

Une fiche « impressions de visite » est proposée en fin de parcours, nous vous serions reconnaissants de nous indiquer vos remarques et suggestions pour l’amélioration et l’adaptation de ce parcours à vos propres attentes pédagogiques.

NAME –First name ……………………………………………… ……………………………………………… 15 minutes left to answer

Wernher Von Braun was born on March 23rd 1912 in the Posnanian province. His father, a wealthy farmer, was a baron and became Minister of Agriculture under the Weimar Republic.

Von Braun’s youth :

1°) Find this picture: [R1-06] Where is Von Braun? (circle his face on the picture) How old is he? What is his passion?

Deutsches Museum - München

2°) The German Army and the Nazies: Von Braun was enrolled by the Imperial Army (the Reichwehr) in 1932. How old was he? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Peenemünde-East : what was the function of this site? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3°) Go to rocket engine: [DR-01] Watch the three-D film which explains the functioning of the engine. It was elaborated in Peenemünde, when did the A4/V2 first successful launching happen? …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Who was the Head of the 6,000 engineers at the Peenemünde center? How old was he? …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. What was the use of this V2 rocket? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

4°) The Peenemünde projects: [R1-11] Find the A10, what was its target? ……………………………………………………………………………………………… Which disastrous event does this project elaborated by Von Braun make you think about? …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

NAME – First name ……………………………………………… ……………………………………………… 15 minutes left to answer

The A4/V2 was considered as a terror weapon used by the Nazi Army to terrorize the British people.

The Nazi period in Von Braun’s life

1° ) Terror weapons

Find this photo: [R2-04] Who is this civilian? What are the soldiers doing?

…………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………… Deutsches Museum-Munchen …………………………………..………………………………………………………… 2°) Von Braun and the S.S.: [R2-08] ………………………………….. June, 28 1943 : what does this date represent for Von Braun?

…………………………………………………………………………………

………..

Deutsches Museum – Munchen

3°) Find this photo: [R2-15] Who are the two men on the photo? Was Von Braun an opposant to Hitler?

………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………

Deutsches Museum Deutsches München

………………………………………………………… Complete the sentences showing the most important………………………………………………………… dates in Von Braun’s first part of life 1932: He was enrolled in ………………….………………………………………………………………….……….. ………………………………………………………… 1935: He became the Head of …………………………………………………..……………………. ………………………………….. 1937: He got registered at the …………………… party.

1940: He was enrolled in ………………………………………………………………………….……………………….

1942: He got the rank of ………………………………………………………………… in the S.S.

1943: He was nominated ……………………………………………………………………………. by Hitler.

4° ) Watch the computer reconstitution of the Mittelwerk underground factory. Who worked in this factory? (to assemble the rockets)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Implementing of the secret weapon: 5°) Which towns were the targets of the V2? [R3-29] and [R3-33] What do you think of the damages caused by this weapon?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

6 NAME – First name ……………………………………………… ……………………………………………… 15 minutes left to answer

The American period

1°) Where did Von Braun arrive in 1945? ……………………………………….…………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….…….…………

When did he get the American nationality? ………………………………………………………

Imperial War Museum – London NASA

2°) Was Von Braun badly considered by the American people? [R4-03] …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………..…………………………………………………………………………..…………………………………………….. 3°) Which event allowed Von Braun to be accepted by the Americans? …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

3°) Watch the film [DR.05]: How do you feel after watching the Dora concentration camp photos? What did the deported do in this camp?

…………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………… ……

4°) What did Von Braun on TV? [R4-07]

………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………… NASA

Watch the film

5°) What does this photo represent? [R4-10]

………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………

NASA

6°) Von Braun was the inventor of the Saturn V rocket. Observe the fantastic SaturnV model (read the information). What did this rocket do?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………………………………………………

What is written on the wall behind the model? Which picture can you see simultaneously?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

8 NAME –First name ……………………………………………… ……………………………………………… 15 minutes left to answer

Dora- The Mittelwerk

7°) What is your opinion about the life conditions in Dora? …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. How many rockets were manufactured at Mittelwerk? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……………………………………………..

The first steps of a man on the moon were possible thanks to Von Braun but also by making thousands of deported people suffer. Von Braun accepted to work for the Nazi army, he said he wanted to defend his country and had no choice. Did the deported people from Dora have any opportunity to choose? On your opinion, why wasn’t Von Braun brought to justice during the Nuremberg trial? Did the Americans refuse that he was issued with a summons/was he summoned? …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………………………… Comment this quotation from Rabelais: « Science without conscience is nothing but the ruin of your soul.…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… »

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………….………

Other scientists realized that their inventions could be used to destroy mankind (Oppenheimer- Einstein). They worked in order to limit the armament (the Einstein-Russell manifesto) and created the first ethical committees. Who has to be responsible for scientific discoveries and their use?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………………

9 Name: ...... First name:...... Form: ...... School: ...... Satisfaction survey ...... for students and teachers

Your visit: …………………………………………………………….……………………

1 • About the organisation

a) – The visit was  Too long, why? ...... ……………… ………......  Too short, why? ...... ………………………......  Satisfying, why? ………………………………………..………………… b) – The activities were  Too difficult, which ones and why? ……………………………………………  Too easy, which ones and why? ……………………………......  Rather easy, which ones and why? ………………………………………………. c) – You found your way easily  with difficulties 

2 • About the contents

a) – The visit you chose was interesting  yes  no Say why …………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………… b) – Would you prefer another visit?  yes  no Which one ? ……………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………… c) – Would you like to visit LA COUPOLE again?  yes  no If Yes, would you come:  alone  with the school (next year for example)  with your parents If No, say why …………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3 • Additional comments

a) – Have you got any suggestions about the visit, the activities, free time for personal visit…

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………… b) – Are there any activities you would like to do? Give ideas. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

10 …… …………………………………………………………………………………………………

www.lacoupole-france.com

BP 40 284 – WIZERNES 62504 SAINT-OMER CEDEX FRANCE

Tél : + 33 (0)3 21 12 27 30 Fax : + 33 (0)3 21 39 21 45 E-mail : [email protected]

E-mail : [email protected]