Helmut Gröttrup
Encyclopedia
Helmut Gröttrup was a German
electrical engineer and assistant of Wernher von Braun
in the V-2 rocket
-project. Gröttrup was responsible for the guidance system.
After World War II
, Gröttrup decided to work with the Soviet rocketry program, hoping to be its leader rather than an underling of von Braun (with whom he had personality conflicts). From September 9, 1945 through October 22, 1946, Gröttrup worked under the supervision of Sergey Korolyov
in the Soviet Occupation Zone. Then, all scientists and engineers working for the SU were unexpectedly moved to the USSR by train along with their families as part of Operation Osoaviakhim
.
Gröttrup helped Korolev with the R-1 project, a recreation of the V-2 missile using Russian manufacturing and materials. At Kapustin Yar, he helped Korolev supervise the launching of 20 rebuilt V-2 rockets. As a reality check on Korolev's missile proposals, Defence Minister Dmitriy Ustinov
asked Gröttrup and his small team to design several new missile systems, including the R-10 (G-1), R-12 (G-2), and the R-14(G-4) which was in similar to the A9/A10 long range missile von Braun designed during the war. Gröttrup was also asked to consult on the R-13 (G-3) cruise missile. None of these projects went beyond the design stage, but some ideas were incorporated in the R-2 and R-5 missile systems.
On November 22, 1953, Gröttrup was returned to Germany. For security reasons, German specialists were not allowed to work on important missile technologies after 1951, but they were kept in the USSR for 1.5 year "cooling off" period so they could not give timely information to British or American intelligence. Gröttrup and a few other scientists were kept even longer, because of their important position and concern that they would move to West Germany.
Back in Germany, Gröttrup worked for SEL (Standard Elektrik Lorenz) in Stuttgart
(1955–1958). Later he became an inventor and developed the chip card
together with Jürgen Dethloff, a patent
applied in 1968 and granted in 1982. From 1970, he worked for Giesecke & Devrient
for chip cards and banknote processing systems.
Chertok, Boris, "German influence in USSR",
Acta Astronautica, Volume 55, Issues 3-9, August–November 2004.
Ordway, Frederick, The Rocket Team, 1979.
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
electrical engineer and assistant of Wernher von Braun
Wernher von Braun
Wernher Magnus Maximilian, Freiherr von Braun was a German rocket scientist, aerospace engineer, space architect, and one of the leading figures in the development of rocket technology in Nazi Germany during World War II and in the United States after that.A former member of the Nazi party,...
in the V-2 rocket
V-2 rocket
The V-2 rocket , technical name Aggregat-4 , was a ballistic missile that was developed at the beginning of the Second World War in Germany, specifically targeted at London and later Antwerp. The liquid-propellant rocket was the world's first long-range combat-ballistic missile and first known...
-project. Gröttrup was responsible for the guidance system.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Gröttrup decided to work with the Soviet rocketry program, hoping to be its leader rather than an underling of von Braun (with whom he had personality conflicts). From September 9, 1945 through October 22, 1946, Gröttrup worked under the supervision of Sergey Korolyov
Sergey Korolyov
Sergei Pavlovich Korolev ; died 14 January 1966 in Moscow, Russia) was the lead Soviet rocket engineer and spacecraft designer in the Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union during the 1950s and 1960s...
in the Soviet Occupation Zone. Then, all scientists and engineers working for the SU were unexpectedly moved to the USSR by train along with their families as part of Operation Osoaviakhim
Operation Osoaviakhim
Operation Osoaviakhim was a Soviet operation which took place on 22 October 1946, with NKVD and Soviet army units recruiting thousands of military-related technical specialists from the Soviet occupation zone of post-World-War-II Germany for employment in the Soviet Union...
.
Gröttrup helped Korolev with the R-1 project, a recreation of the V-2 missile using Russian manufacturing and materials. At Kapustin Yar, he helped Korolev supervise the launching of 20 rebuilt V-2 rockets. As a reality check on Korolev's missile proposals, Defence Minister Dmitriy Ustinov
Dmitriy Ustinov
Dmitriy Feodorovich Ustinov was Minister of Defense of the Soviet Union from 1976 until his death.-Early life:Dimitry Feodorovich Ustinov was born in a working-class family in Samara. During the civil war, when hunger became intolerable, his sick father went to Samarkand, leaving Dimitry as head...
asked Gröttrup and his small team to design several new missile systems, including the R-10 (G-1), R-12 (G-2), and the R-14(G-4) which was in similar to the A9/A10 long range missile von Braun designed during the war. Gröttrup was also asked to consult on the R-13 (G-3) cruise missile. None of these projects went beyond the design stage, but some ideas were incorporated in the R-2 and R-5 missile systems.
On November 22, 1953, Gröttrup was returned to Germany. For security reasons, German specialists were not allowed to work on important missile technologies after 1951, but they were kept in the USSR for 1.5 year "cooling off" period so they could not give timely information to British or American intelligence. Gröttrup and a few other scientists were kept even longer, because of their important position and concern that they would move to West Germany.
Back in Germany, Gröttrup worked for SEL (Standard Elektrik Lorenz) in Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
(1955–1958). Later he became an inventor and developed the chip card
Smart card
A smart card, chip card, or integrated circuit card , is any pocket-sized card with embedded integrated circuits. A smart card or microprocessor cards contain volatile memory and microprocessor components. The card is made of plastic, generally polyvinyl chloride, but sometimes acrylonitrile...
together with Jürgen Dethloff, a patent
Patent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
applied in 1968 and granted in 1982. From 1970, he worked for Giesecke & Devrient
Giesecke & Devrient
Giesecke & Devrient is a German company headquartered in Munich that provides banknote and securities printing, smart cards, and cash handling systems....
for chip cards and banknote processing systems.
Books and Articles
Siddiqi, Asif, "Russians in Germany: Founding the Postwar Missile Programme," Europe-Asia Studies 56 no. 8 (2004): 1131-56.Chertok, Boris, "German influence in USSR",
Acta Astronautica, Volume 55, Issues 3-9, August–November 2004.
Ordway, Frederick, The Rocket Team, 1979.