Аннотация: Publications about Wernher von Braun. The note.
Publications about Wernher von Braun. The note.
There is no shortage of publications about Wernher von Braun. As for biographical books about Wernher von Braun in Russian, I met only one (translated from English).
All publications speak of von Braun's relative closeness to the Nazi leadership.
Most publications provide a biographical version of how von Braun became an SS officer.
In some publications there is information about von Braun's involvement in solving administrative issues related to the use of slave labor of concentration camp prisoners in the course of missile development.
Almost all publications contain information about von Braun's successes. The most brief description of the achievements includes two points: the V-2 rockets and the landing of a man on the Moon.
In the biographical book about von Braun there is a consistent listing of his life stages, along which he walked from the beginning to the end of his life.
And, nevertheless, after reading the publications about von Braun, you come to the conclusion that there is almost no information about his personality in them.
Von Braun has shown himself (after moving to the United States) to be a skillful specialist in media relations and with the general public (which consuming a media product). From the media, the general public learned that von Braun is an outstanding specialist in the field of rocketry, and that he recommends that space exploration be as active as possible.
In one of his journal publications, von Braun drew a parallel between NASA and the Portuguese prince Henry the Navigator (1394-1460).
Von Braun's personal communication was limited - in large part - by his family and the staff of his rocket project.
In none of publications did I come across any detailed recollections about von Braun from those who knew him closely, from those with whom he regularly communicated.
What were the views of this man? What did he like? What did he despise? What was he dreaming of? What was his belief system?
The answers to these questions remain, in general, unanswered.
Attention could be directed to von Braun's desire to preserve the established team. Apparently, one can assume the presence of some kind of collectivist spirit.
Wernher von Braun, who had already moved to the United States, went to Germany on February 14, 1947 to get married. The wedding ceremony took place at the Lutheran Church in Landshut on March 1, 1947. Von Braun married his maternal first cousin Maria Luise von Quistorp. These actions may indicate von Braun's commitment to religion and his respect for family values.
What is this Lutheran Church? When was it built? Why did he have to fly from the USA to Germany to organize a wedding ceremony?
Maybe draw a parallel between von Braun and a noble German nobleman who delved into science and became an alchemist? Or to see in von Braun a noble medieval knight who distanted from the battles on horseback and began to develop some wonderful weapon on his estate (with the support of the feudal environment)?
With this line of thought, one can recall the Portuguese Prince Heinrich the Navigator, about his direction of thoughts and actions, about his achievements.
However, there are grounds for moral doubts, for questions about political correctness.
Academician Boris Raushenbach compared Sergei Korolev with a commander (of highest level) - with a minimum of information, Korolev had to make important (correct) decisions and (successfully) lead complex teams.
Even if we assume that the leaders of missile projects are partly similar to military leaders, then even with this assumption from the publications about Wernher von Braun, it remains unclear what he believed in, and what was the system of his beliefs and passions.
Apparently, the restraint of Wernher von Braun himself and his inner circle leaves the public without information about his inner world, but with facts from his biography.
July 4, 2021 12:33
Translation from Russian into English: July 4, 2021 15:22.
Владимир Владимирович Залесский "Публикации о Вернере фон Брауне. Заметка".