In May 1930 when Wernher was 18, he was employed at the rocket field Reickendorf in Berlin, Germany. He worked there for two years, and in November of 1932 he quit and transferred over to the Army Proving Ground, German Ordnance Department in Kummersdarf, Germany. The start of World War II prompted Hitler to use the greatest german scientists to build rockets as weapons, and as such, Wernher was transferred to the Army Rocket Center, German Ordnance Department in April 1937. Here Wernher worked as technical director, and he achieved what he is most commonly known for, which is the invention of the V-2 rocket. After working there for 8 years, Wernher could see that the germans were not going to win the war, so in May 1945, Wernher and a small group of scientists surrendered themselves over to the Americans, and as such, were sent to America.
The picture above shows the small team of scientists that surrendered to the americans with Wernher.