Overview

Hitler's Miracle Weapons Volume 3 explores one of the most controversial and least understood chapters of Second World War technology -- the Third Reich's secret quest to develop intercontinental weapons and even the world's first space-based military capabilities. Following the success of the V-2 rocket, Germany's rocket scientists at Peenemünde and beyond turned their attention to far more ambitious projects. Among them was the A9/A10 'Amerika Rocket', a two-stage missile intended to strike targets on the east coast of the United States from European launch sites -- a concept that foreshadowed the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) by over a decade. Drawing on archival documents, Allied intelligence reports, and post-war testimony, this book examines how far these programmes progressed and whether the technical barriers were closer to being overcome than has traditionally been acknowledged. But the ambitions did not stop at ICBMs. The book reveals plans for orbital platforms, space stations, and even theoretical weapons intended for use from space -- including concepts akin to the post-war 'Star Wars' missile defence systems. Were these merely fantasies, or were concrete steps taken toward their realisation? Friedrich Georg navigates these questions with a rigorous yet accessible approach, tracing the technical, political, and operational aspects of Germany's late-war rocket and space ambitions. The narrative also explores the clandestine networks of underground factories, secret test sites, and the shadowy roles played by figures like Wernher von Braun, whose post-war careers would shape the space race between the USA and USSR. This volume challenges long-held assumptions about the limits of Nazi Germany's technological capabilities and raises provocative questions about how close the Third Reich came to transforming the strategic landscape of the Second World War -- and perhaps even the post-war era. Richly illustrated with rare photographs, technical drawings, and maps, Hitler's Miracle Weapons Volume 3 is an essential addition to the literature on military technology, rocketry, and the hidden histories of the Second World War. 25 colour photos & illustrations, 66 b/w photos and illustrations

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9781804519387

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