Secret Agenda: The United States Government, Nazi Scientists, and Project Paperclip, 1945 to 1990

by Linda Hunt

Here, Hunt, a former CNN investigative reporter, tells a shocking tale: how a branch of the US government deliberately thwarted attempts to bring to justice Nazi scientists who were guilty of war crimes, and who, in at least one case, actually participated in fresh atrocities in the US. While it is common knowledge that the US used Nazi scientists during the cold war, Hunt reveals for the first time that the project to recruit and utilize Nazi scientific talent- -code-named ``Paperclip''--continued until 1973. In addition, while former Nazi scientists (like Werner von Braun) contributed greatly to the development of rockets, jet planes, and other prodigies of technology, Hunt convincingly demonstrates that several such scientists also participated in ``Dachau-like experiments on over seven thousand U.S. soldiers'' on the effects of LSD and other chemicals at Edgewood, Maryland, between 1947 and 1966. Moreover, Hunt explains that the US avidly recruited many Nazi scientists, despite their war crimes--including utilization of slave labor and execution of prisoners--and despite the continuing devotion of many to Nazi ideology. Hunt also relates the sordid details of the intelligence community's attempts to prevent bringing these scientists to justice. And, in at least one case, she shows that the program was inimical to US interests--the man who conceived and ran Paperclip was ultimately convicted of selling American defense secrets to the Soviet Union. An engrossing examination of how a small clique of defense and intelligence officials deliberately subverted stated US policy.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Conspiracy Theories, Technology, Science, Espionage

340 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1991

Reviews

[Jon Adler · Rating 5 out of 5]

phenomenal work of reporting. a good reminder of what journalism can accomplish, and that good reporters can change history.

this book is an amazingly comprehensive overview of Operation Paperclip, which is when various branches of the US government brought Nazi scientists over to work here after WWII. reading how over and over again, government officials forged paperwork, obfuscated records of war crimes, and turned a blind eye to anti-american behavior from said scientists really drove home how huge the fear of communism was during the cold war. so much of what happened was justified on the grounds that we could not afford to lose these German minds to the USSR.

tragic to read about how former Nazi chemists continued their experiments (with toxins, deadly gases, LSD and other drugs) on none other than AMERICAN SOLDIERS on American soil through the ‘60s and ‘70s. i had no idea the Edgewood Arsenal experiments happened, and could not believe that the military was willing to subject their own troops to such diabolical treatment without fair warning.

interesting too was how important we viewed going to the moon; how even as it was happening, high ranking government officials would consistently say that saving former Nazis from being tried in Germany was worth it because we got to the moon first. Wernher von Braun’s high-ranking roles at NASA particularly bring this into focus. Bonkers part of Americsn history.

highly recommended for anyone who wants a fuller picture of how the US government handled things in the wake of the second world war, and anyone curious as to the clear historical throughline from WWII to the Cold War (and, of course, even today).

grateful for Linda Hunt’s bravery in covering this topic, and that the FOIA exists.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent history of Project Paperclip. Connects Nazi doctors to subsequent human experimentation on U.S. soldiers at Edgewood Arsenal. Also includes valuable information on largely successful coverup and concealment efforts by military and intelligence agencies.

[Thom Dunn]

Project Paperclip.

[Denny Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the subject of Paperclip this book could be rightly considered required reading. The research is impressive. My only complaint is the holocaust koolaide, but I think it would’ve been hard to get her book published if she had taken a sharper view on that part of the story. Anyway, it doesn’t detract much from the content and thoroughness.

[Dana Slaughter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really scary statement of the loss of boundaries deemed excusable after WWII. Opened y eyes to so much of our military and technological advances since then, but also brings up questions as to how secrets are kept in our country!

[RRex · Rating 1 out of 5]

Standard anti-Nazi tripe.

It seems no one can tell a story about WWII, et al, without offering their typical and unwelcome opinion about the Third Reich.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating! I learned a ton about nuclear weapon history.