Which of the following countries was the first to send an object into space?

Germany, specifically the Soviet Zone of Occupation, was the first to send an object into space due to their advanced rocket technology developed during World War II. Under the leadership of German engineer Wernher von Braun, the V-2 rocket was successfully launched into space on October 3, 1942, marking the first human-made object to reach the boundary of space. The technological expertise gained by Germany during this time laid the foundation for future space exploration endeavors by various nations.