Alabama’s Biggest Secret - Operation Paperclip 🇺🇸

In the north of Alabama is the city of Huntsville. It's here where German scientists built NASA in secrecy after World War II. Operation Paperclip is still somewhat not talked about today in Huntsville. And for those who know, there are mixed feelings about it. Today we meet up with the grandson of one of the original German scientists to get an inside look at Operation Paperclip and how it left its permanent mark on the city of Huntsville.

► 🎞️ Video Edited By: Natalia Santenello

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► Headlund - Small Mirage
► Headlund - Red Moon Rising

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Thank You All!!!

All rights reserved © 2024 Peter Santenello

[mannyamaru]

Hey Peter, I'm a U.S.History teacher in middle school and I frequently show my students clips of your videos. The Native American series was great, I showed the Deep South with Booker T. and now I'm definitely going to show clips of this one. I tell my students about Operation Paperclip when we cover the end of WWII, the Cold War and the Space Race. Your videos are really amazing! It's great that I never have to worry about censoring any of your videos due to language or anything. Keep up the great work. I suspect I'm not the only teacher who will be using your material. Thank you!

[nancymayes]

Shades of the past. My father was scripted from TN and placed at Huntsville Arsenal after Pearl Harbor. I remember the attack coming on the radio at my grandfather's house. I was 8.. I remember moving from the wilderness of TN to a real town. I had never seen a town. We had a small house with electricity and running water. We were RICH! Soon my mother went to work at Red Stone, packing shells with explosives. One night she didn't come home. We heard the explosion. We couldn't find out what had happened, and we could not find my mother. Finally my father found that she was at the hospital. She was never quite the same after that. We children ran all over the town finding bottles, papers, anything that would help the "War effort". School kept us out of mischief. Many memories of those days. Father was a teacher and after the war he went back to Huntsville H.S. as Chemistry Teacher. When I was a Freshman at H.S. we migrated back to TN where he continued to teach and finally moved on up as Prof. at a college. Life went on. I married a Marine. I am now 90 yrs and waiting to join him on the "other" side. Many memories of the "old" Huntsville.

[Mari-ggkj]

I grew up about 30 minutes outside of Birmingham, Alabama. I moved to Toronto, Canada, when I was 19. The hardest part was learning that the culture is so different in the bugger cities. Getting into conversations with strangers is considered strange, or even suspicious. The first time I called a cashier ma'am, she yelled at me because she thought I was calling her old. People dont open up here like they do in the south. In Alabama, a lot of people can't afford therapy, so we talk to each other. I had to learn the hard way that opening up in the same way isn't acceptable to a lot of people here. The cities can be cold and cruel. This video makes me miss home. I wish I could move back. Thank you for making these videos and showing the world that people in the south are not what we are often portrayed to be, and thank you for easing my homesickness a little. ❤

[jarrettwollenberg]

I love how her grandson doesn’t say a word when she is talking .. massive respect ! Such respect !

[annevalanche]

This is the kind of journalism we all long for. Peace be with you, deep appreciation.

[carolynrains]

The script was in the Fifty at the mill.
We lived in Huntsville 1960’s, two of our neighbors were the German team. Respected Dr Von Brown. My dad was a POW in Europe in World War II. He
worked as a subcontractor for NASA in Huntsville. This was a special video for me and my children. Thank You, Peter

[melindachisholm]

I have lived here in Huntsville all my life! I’m 60.
My dad retired from NASA
My husband retired from MDA
I just recently retired . I had a hair salon for 38 years. Huntsville is an Amazing place.
Brilliant people.
In fact Bruce Weddendorf and Jo Weddendorf were my clients.
I just randomly ran into this .
So cool

[juicebox]

My favorite part of this video was Theo's trunk stash of history. Absolutely amazing!

[nik]

This is one of the best YouTube channels out today. Even in topics I'm not particularly interested in, I become interested in after watching Peter!

[briancaldwell]

What an absolute gem of a human that woman is. I could sit and listen to her stories for hours!

[solo.st]

Being a German subscriber to your channel, this was a very special episode for me. Dankeschön!

PS: That suitcase with the old documents is a real treasure. I hope, it doesn't get lost after he's gone. Should give it to a museum.

[GoatPilot]

Huntsville resident here 🚀. Im still amazed when I hear people didn't know about Operation Paperclip just from a point of view of space flight history. Great video, sir!

2:20 -Not all of the Nazis went to the ABMA and MSFC. Some were experts in fields other than those pertaining to rocketry.

Might I suggest to anyone interested, the US Space & Rocket Centers YouTube page some AMAZING oral history interviews from Apollo engineers, and its awesome to hear from them.

[loubonaparte]

The Mom was absolutely SALT OF THE EARTH... Lovely human being, with a contagious smile!!!

[lelandstronks]

PETER! Because you’re willing to get off your butt, and go out in these communities, and ask the tough questions. We all have a chance to learn so many different things about America. Thank you for your diligent efforts. I worship educators like you.👍🇺🇸😎

[leopardwoman]

My dad worked at the Redstone Arsenal on the rockets up to the Saturn V. My dad spoke German. He learned German to be able to talk with the scientists. I went to school with the German scientists’ children. Our education was exceptional.

My aunt helped the German families adjust to life in America. She knew Dr. Von Braun personally. She helped him open a checking and savings account at the local bank. The families were given citizenship, a job, a nice house, and money to buy what they needed. The wives and kids loved America. The men, at least some of them, missed their homeland in Germany. My aunt knew all of the astronauts.

When we moved to Cupertino, I continued my exceptional education with more of the Scientists’ children. When we later moved to Southern California, I attended regular school and found it to be years behind my prior education I experienced with the children of the German scientists.

I, myself, went through the beginning of astronaut training and ground school training to be a pilot. I discontinued it due to problems with motion.

[melissabusby]

My family is from Huntsville. This program completely changed the lives of both sides of my family. My mother’s parents enjoyed success as one of the nicest motels that was established by my grandfather who could fill up his rooms due to the space program and the industry surrounding it. My dad’s father went to work in the space industry sometime after he returned from WWII and was an engineer that helped build the space shuttle program. Understand that my great grandparents on both sides were poor people… I’m talking sharecroppers in some instances. In one generation their fortunes dramatically changed. I am proud of my heritage and being born in Huntsville AL. My kids have no understanding of what a privilege it was that I was able to be at Cape Canaveral to see the shuttle launch many times due to my grandfather. My mother has stories of growing up with the children of these German engineers. What a fascinating life many have lived in Huntsville!!! Sweet Home Alabama!

[djgeez]

I’m a 66 year old grandmother of 8, currently living in Tampa, FL. I’m from cape cod, MA and feel deeply that ALL of history is important to the next generations. I use your historically accurate videos to help educate my grandchildren the importance of the struggles and wars, mistakes and evolution that brought us wisdom and freedom (ongoing fight). Pls keep up your incredulous journey so that we can help new generations navigate a stronger and more mindful US.

[Jean]

Please thank this gentleman and his family for sharing the history of North Alabama. It’s interesting. When we moved/retired to this area our family/friends thought we were nuts… why Alabama? They were not aware of the importance of this area to our history, security, defense, and high tech manufacturing. Truly a “quiet” corridor that’s vital and timelessly relevant. Love it here.

[TERRY-cbku]

The guy being interviewed has a wealth of knowledge.

[outcastmotorsports]

In the United States, payment in scrip became illegal in 1938 as part of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Scrip became the unofficial currency of local communities everywhere, but through changes in federal and state laws, along with changing economic realities, the use of company scrip was legally eradicated by late 1950s