The achievements of Nazi science

I was wondering what people in this forum think about the possibilities of German science in an axis-victory TL. They're often presented as very high-tech by modern pop culture but we know that's not really true at all. Nevertheless they did have some big breakthroughs like ballistic missiles and stealth bombers. I was wondering what you guys would say is the potential for big scientific breakthroughs in a Third Reich that lasts more than 12 years. Specifically, how likely do you think the Nazis are to discover the following technologies, and when?:

1. Nuclear weapons.

2. Space travel (whether launching a missile into outer space, or satellite, or a manned mission, or a moon landing).

3. Jet engine.
 
Correct me if I am wrong but jet engines were already developed but were quite late to have an impact on the war. V2 was intended to be intercontinental missile which could have been augmented during the space race. The fact we need to consider is that the technological advancement during world war or during cold war happened because of competition among superpowers.Had the 3rd Reich continued for more than 12 years, who would have been its competitors and whether the disagreement would have been so much visceral that it would have impacted the way of life of fellow citizens? I don't think so.
 
They didn't make any stealth bombers though, so how is that a breakthrough? They didn't even make any stealth aircraft period, they made three prototypes of a fighter with a flying wing design that was later claimed to have stealth properties but those claims have been debunked and certainly were never the original intention of the design, all because the only other well-known flying wing aircraft is the stealth bomber. And several people, including Germans, had been working on jet engines since the 30's so that discovery kinda already happened.
 
The Nazi nuclear program was heavily hampered by their philosophy of " Aryan Physics", which largely rejected the science that eventually made the bomb, and lack of financing, resources, and especially physicists actually available (most driven out or drafted).
 

trurle

Banned
The top scientists were running away from Germany years before WWII. Albert Einstein flight in 1933 is the prime example. As such, it will be extremely difficult for axis-victory Germany to produce a radical scientific breakthroughs - unless the "brain drain" factor is cancelled by ATL settings. The main problem was the state interference with the scientific affairs, including but not limited to the persecution of Jewish scientists. The problem was not unique though - the Soviet Union had the very similar pattern of state interference at the same time. For Soviet Union, solution was the mass incarceration of engineering/scientific staff who was (correctly or incorrectly) guessed to be prone to running away from country.
 
My guess is that while the Third Reich might be advanced in some areas of research like rockets and space; ultimately given their harsh stances on "non-Aryan" sciences, they'll lag behind the US bloc elsewhere, which would ultimately contribute to retarding tech growth to an extent; all provided if some more "pragmatic" leadership doesn't come to power after Hitler kicks the bucket.
 

ben0628

Banned
What about personal health? Nazis we're anti smoking before everyone else? I would be curious to see how medicine would work out in Nazi Germaby
 

Insider

Banned
They didn't make any stealth bombers though, so how is that a breakthrough? They didn't even make any stealth aircraft period, they made three prototypes of a fighter with a flying wing design that was later claimed to have stealth properties but those claims have been debunked and certainly were never the original intention of the design, all because the only other well-known flying wing aircraft is the stealth bomber. And several people, including Germans, had been working on jet engines since the 30's so that discovery kinda already happened.

Actually it did decreased the detection range and there for time for reaction. So yea, it wasn't stealth like with contemporary stealth aircraft, but it would still create troubles for the defender. It was caused by the airplane configuration, not by anything else. Flying wings simply have small radar cross sections. As for a matter of fact, americans were building huge intercontinental bombers just as well. Northrop YB-35. So I guess that your argument that somebody else did it apply here. Also there is a problem with actually reinventing the flying, with the flying wing configuration. YB-35 started as its development in 1941 and were ready for production only in 1946. Because of having to learn how to control flying wing, which is not easy. Northrop made two small test planes just to figure out the correct configuration.
It was very much possible, but I kind of disbelive if Horten flying wings would enter the active service before 1948. It is simply too much R&D work to do. And again, it would be more of a bomber, rather than fighter. Flying wings tend to be very good economy in level flight, but they tend to bleed a lot of speed when they rapidly turn. More than standard configuration. On the other hand, blendend wing...
 
An enduring Third Reich would develop ways to improve jet engine reliability (time between overhaul) and resistance to stalling when pilots slam throttles.

Their primary motivation would be to reduce dependence on scarce high-octane gasoline. Continued research would iron-out most of the bugs of Trans-sonic flight.

Perhaps a triumphant Germany would develop the first jet-powered airlines. They would be comparitively short-ranged, but still be able to fly vacation-goers from Bergen to Majorca in one hop.

Post-war, engineering development would slow as they rebuild bombed out hulks of cities.
 
Top