10. Operation Paperclip (1945-1959)
Operation Paperclip was a covert U.S. program that changed the trajectory of the Cold War. By secretly recruiting more than 1,600 former Nazi scientists—including rocket pioneer Wernher von Braun—the United States gained a technological edge in both the arms race and the emerging space race. The operation’s ethical dilemmas remain controversial, but its impact on American military and space achievements is undeniable.
