Wernher Magnus Maximilian Freiherr von Braun was born into an aristocratic family. His father, Magnus Freiherr von Braun, was a civil servant and later a politician. His mother, Emmy von Quistorp, descended from royalty. These roots would be both a privilege and, later, a complication.

Reading Hermann Oberth's book ignited von Braun's passion for space travel. He was captivated by the possibility of rockets reaching other planets, a vision that would drive his entire career.

As a teenager, von Braun began experimenting with rockets, sometimes causing minor explosions. These early ventures, though rudimentary, demonstrated his practical interest and inventive spirit.

Von Braun enrolled at the Berlin Institute of Technology, where he studied mechanical engineering. He joined the Verein für Raumschiffahrt (VfR) (Society for Space Travel), a group of amateur rocket enthusiasts, giving him a practical outlet for his theoretical knowledge and connecting him with influential figures in early rocketry.

Von Braun successfully completes his first degree, cementing his theoretical understanding of engineering principles. He continued his studies for a doctorate, with his focus shifting to applied research under the aegis of the German military.