There is ongoing debate among historians about whether the German army’s interest in rockets as weapons was motivated by the omission of rockets in the Versailles Treaty. Some argue that the German army’s disregard for the treaty’s prohibition on using rockets in chemical warfare suggests that legality was not a significant factor. Additionally, the German army was secretly researching various banned weapons, both in Germany and in other countries like the Soviet Union. It was believed that powerful rockets could potentially replace long-range and short-range artillery.
Before World War I, there was a prevailing anti-technology sentiment in the military.
After the Nazis came to power, there was an increase in budget allocation for rocket development as they became more focused on military armament. The military wanted to keep rocket development a secret until ballistic missiles were fully developed, as a surprise tactic. However, there were also individuals who advocated for incremental progress and practical applications.
World War II then began, and Hitler started to take an interest in rocket development once the military indicated that rockets were nearing practical use for warfare. The researchers, on the other hand, preferred more time for development.
As resources were allocated towards practical implementation, the project became entangled in Nazi bureaucracy. This meant dealing with labor resources, including the use of forced labor, which involved Heinrich Himmler. The concept of Nazi bureaucracy is described as a “collection of warring bureaucratic empires” by Michael Neufeld, with each department prioritizing its own interests. Hitler avoided making difficult decisions by creating new priority levels, but this only provided temporary solutions. “Führer orders” were also common, regardless of their authenticity. It is important to determine whether there were specific orders from the Führer regarding rockets, as it could serve as justification for the topic of study.
The chaotic bureaucracy had an impact on the rocket program, particularly in terms of acquiring the necessary resources.
In “The German V2,” Dornberger writes that Hitler had a remarkable memory for weapons-related details but did not closely follow the developments in rocket technology.