...who were war criminals far worse than many, and light years worse than Von Brauns alleged crimes, who died of old age or are still around today.

The first US troops across the Rhein were notoriously savage and as the Germans started more prominent retreating - many rapes and executions of people for things like their gold fillings started happening.

As the survivors from villages fled east they warned others what was happening and I know of an instance where two women had someone's grandfather pull their gold filled teeth ahead of time, before the Americans arrived. Some younger women had their hair cut short and were intentionally pre-beaten so as to make them less attractive with black eyes and cropped hair. The most precious of family heirlooms were buried and yet some valuables were retained as an "offering" to the US troops.

Naturally, this is what happens in war - especially on the front lines of a long, hard war.

The subsequent waves of US troops were much better folks.

War is all about destruction. Wernher Von Braun may have been aware that many things were going on around him. But in those days - you didn't look for trouble, because trouble was already looking for you.

War crimes tribunals should go after the instigators and the policy setters first - then after the sadists who gleefully executed their assigned duties. Middle management types and the rest should generally be left alone - they usually already have enough burdens - and many actively tried to counter the unacceptable tasks and make a difference for the positive. The ACLU would have had an easy time portraying many folks as "victims" of the system.

Naturally, had Germany won the war - they would have committed "no" war crimes - while the US, France and Britain would of course have every instance of criminal activity brought to the light.

That's the way the game is played.

Wernher was neither a true hero nor the antichrist - but a man. A man with great insight and talent, who was well ahead of his time - and apparently even our time, which has nowhere near the enthusiasm and commitment to space exploration and rocket development as he had.

Charging him with war crimes would have been very stupid.

SDAI-Tech1