Operation Paperclip: The Scientists Who Switched Sides After WWII

S1E7 - Operation Paperclip: The Scientists Who Switched Sides After WWII

Published: February 27, 2026

Duration: 6:51

In the final days of World War II, as Allied forces closed in, a secret and ruthless competition began. But the prize wasn't a city or a fortress—it was the enemy's greatest minds. What would you do with the brilliant scientists who built weapons for the Nazis? The United States made a shocking, world-altering choice. This episode dives into the morally complex reality of Operation Paperclip. We explore how, even as denazification was proclaimed as policy, U.S. intelligence raced to recruit over 1,600 German scientists, engineers, and technicians. Many had deep Nazi affiliations, yet they were quietly brought to Am...