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DECLASSIFIED AND RELEASED BY .
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENtY
SOURCUMETNOUSEXEMPTION3121
NAZI WARCRINESOISCLOGUNEAti
DATE 2001 2007
Sa44/g% .f/f7
THIS IS AN ENCLOSPRE ------ -
0\ DO HOT DEAL! !! •
Eef No SAI0/6
13 Apr.45
SECRET
SEVENTH ARMY INTERROGATION CENTER
APO 758 US ARMY
11-2 EXPERIMENTS AT PEENEMUENDE
SECRET
:Authl":5G776-Lrmy:
:Init:
:Date: l Apr
AUTOMATIC RANGE-CONTROL'DEVICE.
t.
flOURCE
•
BUCHOLD, Prof Dr, Technical Institute of DARMSTADT, a 45-year old DARMSTADT
ccientist employed by the BROWN-BOVERI Works, MANNHEIM, from 1923 to 1954, when
he accepted a professorehip at the TECHNISOHE HOOHBOHULE, DARASTADT. Reluctant
to give any information when first interrogated (not at this Center), source now
claims to have been authorized by the rector of the school to disclose the details
of his research work to the Allies. He was cooperative during interrogation and
is ready to collaborate with the Allies. . •
Rating: p-2 Date of Information: Spring 45 Interrogato r : A.Z.
I. INTRODUCTION
In Sept 39 the PEENEMUENDE Experimental Center ordered several scientists of
tle Technical Institute of DARASTADT to meet at PEENEAUENDE. During the meeting
these'icientists • were informed of the intended large-scale experiments with
rocket-;propelled Missiles. Each was given specific assignments for developing
variOlie 'parts of the experimental projectiles.
SoUred'Was ‘ assigned.the following:
• . .
. • •
0-A."CiOice . maintaining a constant frequency of 500. cycles in a 27-vOlt current -
of seconaary'importance to the 11-2, according to source.
b) The aUtomatie ' V-2 range-control unit (See III, below).
c) Later, source had the task of developing measuring instruments for the HEIDEL-
BERG cyclotrons:
II. 11-2 EXPERIMENTS AT PEENEMUEFDE
The father of V-2, source states, was Prof VON BRAUN, an engineer of little
im?ortance.before the war who had carried out some rocket experiments in the poet-
World War years together with OPEL Jr. When he proposed his V-2 ideas to the
German General Staff in 1939, he was put in oharge of the PEENEKUENDE laboratories.
Dr STEINHOFF, only recently given the title of professor, and described'by:sourdas
being . exceptionally able, was assigned to work on the axparimento :ad-especialis(
in electrical matters. • •
The reeee.roll ' op V-2 proceeded very slowly at first. In spring:43, Ilth(ever;.
ordere'to'Ispeed Up the experiments arrived. Most of the component parts of 11-2
were built and tried at PEENEAUENDE; only •a few devices were given 'to scidntiets
for development outside the Experimental Center. These were given to the DARM-:
STADT Technical School professors for the most part, because Prof Dr STEINHOF
was a former student at that School.
3ource ' success fully completed the automatic range-control devices for the V-2
by the end of 43; but he was still trying to improve it, as well as finding orsat:
& materials for some of its parts.
Gen DORNBERGER, Knighte' Cross holder, was,OG of the PEENEMUENDE Experimental
0ervIer:
:II. aTOMATIC RANGE-CONTROL DEVICE FOR V-2
Eine° the explosions giving the V-2 missile its forward thrust are irregular,
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2001
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