
This figure, from Feodosiev's book, shows the trajectory of a V-2 or R-1 class rocket. A lot people have a mental image of how a rocket travels, usually pointing nose first with rocket engines blasting. Of course, that only happens during the first 40 seconds, and the rocket is in free fall after that. During most of the flight, the rocket tumbles aimlessly in the vacuum of space. As it approaches the target it undergoes the most stressful part of the flight (many V-2's broke apart from reentry overloads). It is at this point that the tail fins really serve their primary function, to orient the rocket nose first before impact.
(And why is the image shrunk again? Hmm. Right-click and save it, if you want to see it properly.)