RichardQ Loc: Colorado

In May, 1945, the U.S. and British armies held more than 6,000 Nazi rocket troops. as well as hundreds of civilian rocket scientists in Occupied Germany.

The British Air Defense Division proposed that some of the Nazi troops be forced to participate in actual preparations and launchings of several V-2 rockets from inside their Occupation Zone. The intent was to document every step of the process. General Eisenhower, as commander of SHAEF (Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Forces) agreed and issued the orders on June 22, 1945.

The project was named Operation Backfire, under the command of British Major-General Cameron. All the Brits needed were some V-2 rockets.

In May and June, the Americans were rushing more than 90 V-2 rockets out of Nordhausen before the Russians took over the Soviet Occupation Zone. When the British realized they were not getting any of those V-2 rockets for their tests, they registered stiff protests. The Americans ignored them.

With stiff upper lips, the British "made do" and succeeded in conducting three V-2 launches -- six months before the Americans and von Braun got their first rocket up in New Mexico. Jolly good!

What made Backfire a special triumph for the Brits was their achievement, during a few weeks in a war-ravaged land, in meticulously recording the Nazi scientists and engineers assembling eight V-2 rockets, using parts scavenged from various locations throughout Germany and other countries. One critical piece had to be dredged out of a river. Reportedly, the hunt used 400 railway cars plus Lancaster bombers to haul some 250,000 parts.

The result was the first ever comprehensive evaluation of the A-4/V-2 rocket. The Nazis never wanted the entire technology to be available in one place. The final Backfire report was published in a five-volume set by the Smithsonian and is available as a FREE public domain download on the Internet -- http.//www.v2rocket.com/start/chapters/backfire.html.

Onsite work began July 22, 1945. The launch site was in the Aldenwalde near Cuxhaven on Germany's North Sea coast. It had served the Krupp steel firm as an artillery gun testing range and was in the process of conversion to a V-2 site when the war ended.

In only three weeks, a force of 2,000 Canadian engineers constructed the V-2 assembly facilities, including a 300-ft. long building with a 10-ton traveling overhead crane, plus test and checkout hangars, using parts of a Bailey bridge for the vertical checkout stand.

Although the German scientists were apprehensive at first (they feared they would miss out on going to America with von Braun), they soon were happy to be working with their skills again, after months of inactivity. Besides, they were well-fed, well-housed, working regular hours, and had access to a beach and a movie theater. Hardly comparable to the Dora concentration camp that housed the slave workers used to manufacture the V-2 rockets in Thuringia.

Three test launches were conducted in October, 1945. The first V-2 roared up into a clear blue sky at 2:41 p.m. on October 2nd. It reached an altitude of 69.4 kilometers and a range of 249.4 kilometers before spashdown in the North Sea -- a perfect launch. The British and Germans were jointly jubilant about the success of their teamwork.

The second launch on October 4 at 2:16 p.m. was less successful, due to engine failure after launch, but the rocket did reach a maximum altitude of 17.4 kilometers and covered 24 kilometers.

For the third launch -- code-named Operation Clitterhouse -- the British invited spectators from Whitehall and the press, as well as the American, French and Russian military. Although the weather was cloudy and windy, the launch was perfect. The V-2 reached an altitude of 64 kilometers and a range of 233 kilometers. Well done!

Only a handful of von Braun's team were drafted for Operation Backfire, but the Americans wanted them back in August. Then it was time for the Brits to obstruct. It took a lot of prodding by the U.S. War Department to eventually win their release, but in return the British demanded that von Braun and several others had to come to London for "thorough interrogation." But they only wanted to drive the Nazis on a tour of the V-2 damage to the city.

I wonder -- were the Nazis ashamed, guilty...or secretly satisfied?

Oct. 2, 1945 - Nazi scientists and rocket troops join British military in V-2 launch in Germany


Operation Backfire was located near Cuxhaven in British Occupation Zone


British, American, French and Russian observers at third V-2 launch on Oct. 14, 1945

Leicaflex Loc: Cymru

Fascinating and most informative.
Thank you for posting.

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

Always interesting. Thanks.

sr71 Loc: In Col. Juan Seguin Land

Well done thank you......

MTG44 Loc: Corryton, Tennessee

Thanks again Richard for the very informative history lessons. Always look forward to them.

Cape Codder Loc: Cape Cod

Always enjoy your bits of history. Thanks for sharing!

Shakey Loc: Traveling again to Norway and other places.

Thanks for posting, Richard. A most informative post.

flathead27ford Loc: Colorado, North of Greeley

Hi Richard. Thanks for the post. Very informative. There is a type in your link to the page. Here it is corrected: http://www.v2rocket.com/start/chapters/backfire.html Cheers.

RichardQ Loc: Colorado

Many thanks for your interest and comments, Leicaflex! Much appreciated!

RichardQ Loc: Colorado

Thanks a lot, John, for your interest and comments! I'm trying to include all the Occupation Zones in my vignettes, not just the American Zone. The U.K. succeeded in bringing German scientists to the then-new guided weapons research center (pardon, centre) at Wescott. Other German aeronautical and aerodynamical scientists were hired for the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough. Reportedly, they made important contributions to the English Electric fighter and the Concorde supersonic passenger jet. Both the U.K. and the U.S. benefitted from the postwar ban on military industries in Occupied Germany. German scientists and engineers had no option but to seek employment outside Germany.

RichardQ Loc: Colorado

Thank you for your feedback, sr! I'm just trying to revive interest in the Military Occupation years, which were buried by the Cold War and the Korean War.

RichardQ Loc: Colorado

Many thanks for the typo correction, Flathead! My arthritic fingers keep fumbling with those cryptic Internet links, even though I check them three or four times.

RichardQ Loc: Colorado

You are very welcome, MTG! I'm glad you find these vignettes informative. I'll try to keep writing them as long as I have my wits and stamina.

RichardQ Loc: Colorado

Many thanks for your interest and comments, Cape Codder! I love reminding folks that history doesn't only consist of names, dates and locations.

RichardQ Loc: Colorado

Thanks for taking the time to comment, Shakey! I note your interests include military history. Were you aware of Operation Backfire?