The Auschwitz Escape, the First Rocket to Space, and the Sack of Baltimore

The Auschwitz Escape, the First Rocket to Space, and the Sack of Baltimore

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Episode description

The Auschwitz Escape, the First Rocket to Space, and the Sack of Baltimore

On 20 June 1942, four Polish prisoners dressed in stolen SS uniforms, armed themselves with stolen weapons, and drove out of Auschwitz concentration camp in the commandant’s personal staff car. It was one of the most audacious escapes of the Second World War, and all four men survived. Two years later, on 20 June 1944, a German V-2 rocket reached 176 kilometres altitude during a test launch, crossing the Kármán line and becoming the first human-made object to enter outer space. The following year, on 20 June 1945, the US Secretary of State approved the transfer of Wernher von Braun and his team of Nazi rocket scientists to America under what became Operation Paperclip. And in the early hours of 20 June 1631, Barbary corsairs raided the Irish village of Baltimore, taking over a hundred men, women, and children captive to be sold into slavery in North Africa. Clare Vale explores these intersecting stories of escape, innovation, moral complexity, and human resilience.

Chapters

  • Introduction Clare introduces three extraordinary events from 20 June across different centuries: an audacious escape from Auschwitz, the first rocket to reach outer space, and a pirate raid on an Irish village.
  • The Auschwitz Escape On 20 June 1942, Kazimierz Piechowski and three fellow prisoners stole SS uniforms, weapons, and the commandant’s staff car, then drove out through the front gate of Auschwitz concentration camp. All four survived the war.
  • Mid-Episode Call to Action Clare encourages listeners to follow the show and share it with others who enjoy curious history.
  • The First Object in Outer Space On 20 June 1944, German V-2 rocket MW 18014 reached 176 kilometres altitude during a test launch, crossing the Kármán line and becoming the first human-made object to enter outer space, two years before the end of the war.
  • Operation Paperclip On 20 June 1945, the US Secretary of State approved the transfer of Wernher von Braun and Nazi rocket scientists to America. Von Braun later became chief architect of NASA’s Saturn V rocket programme despite his wartime record.
  • The Sack of Baltimore In the early hours of 20 June 1631, Barbary corsairs led by Murat Reis the Younger raided the Irish fishing village of Baltimore, taking over a hundred captives to be sold into slavery in North Africa. Most never returned.
  • Closing Clare reflects on how ordinary people respond to extraordinary circumstances, and the enduring human capacity for both audacity and survival.

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