Operation Backfire (WWII)
Encyclopedia
Operation Backfire was a military scientific operation during and after World War II
, which was performed mainly by British staff. It was part of the Allies' scramble to loot as much German technology as they could.
For this operation, four V-2 rocket
s were launched during October 1945 from a launch pad at 53°50′50"N 8°35′32"E north-east of Arensch
near Cuxhaven in Germany
, in order to demonstrate the weapon to Allied personnel.
The Americans had already taken away most of the V2 rocket technology from the German underground Mittelwerk
factory at the Mittelbau-Dora
concentration camp near Nordhausen
. Before the Soviets took control of that area, the British were given the opportunity to gather material. They were able to assemble parts sufficient to build eight V2 rockets. Some parts were still missing and there was a search throughout Germany. Some 400 railway cars and 70 Lancaster
flights were used to bring the quarter-of-a-million parts and 60 specialized vehicles to Cuxhaven, the most elusive part being batteries to operate the guidance gyros. The US supplied some tail assemblies from those that they had taken. Many of the rockets and the hydrogen peroxide fuel used in the operation was provided by T-Force
, a secretive British Army unit that had, in spring and summer 1945, searched for German military technology and scientists.
The handling and launch procedures were unknown, so German personnel were ordered to perform these, which for the most part they did willingly . The launches were filmed and because the personnel wore their original uniforms and the rockets were painted in near to their original livery, this footage (often used for documentaries) has been mistaken for footage of wartime German launches.
At the site of the former launchpad there is a trough and some remnants of shelters.
During and after the launches, the British attempted to recruit German personnel, even those transferred from US custody and due to be returned, to assist with their own missile programme.
According to the Report on Operation Backfire, there were three Cuxhaven launches. Backfire Rocket One was prepared for launch on 1st October but proved unwilling. Backfire Rocket Two was prepared for launch on 2nd October and was launched without difficulty. The second Cuxhaven launch took place on 4th October with our previously reluctant virgin Backfire Rocket One. A third and final rocket was launched for representatives of the press and Allies on 15th October under the name Operation Clitterhouse. (Report on Op Backfire, Vol One, Section 7, paras 100-106)
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...
, which was performed mainly by British staff. It was part of the Allies' scramble to loot as much German technology as they could.
For this operation, four 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...
s were launched during October 1945 from a launch pad at 53°50′50"N 8°35′32"E north-east of Arensch
Arensch
Arensch is a local part of Cuxhaven, a town in Lower Saxony, Germany. In the proximity of Arensch between 1945 and 1964 various rocket attempts were accomplished...
near Cuxhaven in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, in order to demonstrate the weapon to Allied personnel.
The Americans had already taken away most of the V2 rocket technology from the German underground Mittelwerk
Mittelwerk
Central Works was a World War II factory that used Mittelbau-Dora forced labor in 2 main tunnels in the Kohnstein. The underground facility produced V-2 rockets, V-1 flying bombs, and other Nazi weapons.-Mittelwerk GmbH:...
factory at the Mittelbau-Dora
Mittelbau-Dora
Mittelbau-Dora was a Nazi Germany labour camp that provided workers for the Mittelwerk V-2 rocket factory in the Kohnstein, situated near Nordhausen, Germany....
concentration camp near Nordhausen
Nordhausen
Nordhausen is a town at the southern edge of the Harz Mountains, in the state of Thuringia, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Nordhausen...
. Before the Soviets took control of that area, the British were given the opportunity to gather material. They were able to assemble parts sufficient to build eight V2 rockets. Some parts were still missing and there was a search throughout Germany. Some 400 railway cars and 70 Lancaster
Avro Lancaster
The Avro Lancaster is a British four-engined Second World War heavy bomber made initially by Avro for the Royal Air Force . It first saw active service in 1942, and together with the Handley Page Halifax it was one of the main heavy bombers of the RAF, the RCAF, and squadrons from other...
flights were used to bring the quarter-of-a-million parts and 60 specialized vehicles to Cuxhaven, the most elusive part being batteries to operate the guidance gyros. The US supplied some tail assemblies from those that they had taken. Many of the rockets and the hydrogen peroxide fuel used in the operation was provided by T-Force
T-Force
T-Force was an elite British Army force which operated during the final stages of World War II. Originally used to secure and exploit targets that could provide valuable intelligence of scientific and military value, they were later tasked with seizing Nazi German scientists and businessmen in the...
, a secretive British Army unit that had, in spring and summer 1945, searched for German military technology and scientists.
The handling and launch procedures were unknown, so German personnel were ordered to perform these, which for the most part they did willingly . The launches were filmed and because the personnel wore their original uniforms and the rockets were painted in near to their original livery, this footage (often used for documentaries) has been mistaken for footage of wartime German launches.
At the site of the former launchpad there is a trough and some remnants of shelters.
During and after the launches, the British attempted to recruit German personnel, even those transferred from US custody and due to be returned, to assist with their own missile programme.
Launch details
Three rockets were launched, as follows:| Date | Time | Maximum height | Length of flight | Remarks |
| October 2, 1945 | 14h41 | 69.4 km | 249.4 km | |
| October 4, 1945 | 14h16 | 17.4 km | 24 km | Engine failure shortly after launch |
| October 15, 1945 | 15h06 | 64 km | 233 km | Some sources indicate launch took place on October 14, 1945 |
| October 17, 1945 | 80 km | Final Flight |
See also
- Arthur RudolphArthur RudolphArthur Louis Hugo Rudolph was a German rocket engineer and member of the Nazi party who played a key role in the development of the V-2 rocket. After World War II he was brought to the United States, subsequently becoming a pioneer of the United States space program. He worked for the U.S...
- Cuxhaven
- Operation PaperclipOperation PaperclipOperation Paperclip was the Office of Strategic Services program used to recruit the scientists of Nazi Germany for employment by the United States in the aftermath of World War II...
- Remnants of launchpads in GermanyRemnants of launchpads in GermanyIn Germany, military test rockets were launched in Peenemünde and Cuxhaven, and larger non-military rockets were launched in Hespenbusch, Cuxhaven and Zingst....
- Rocket experiments in the area of CuxhavenRocket experiments in the area of CuxhavenBetween 1933 and 1964 numerous rocket experiments were carried out in the area of Cuxhaven, Germany.-1930s and 1940s:*In April 1933 Gerhard Zucker launched a mail rocket, which was to fly from Duhnen to the island of Neuwerk, but which fell to Earth after flying a few meters.*During World War II...
According to the Report on Operation Backfire, there were three Cuxhaven launches. Backfire Rocket One was prepared for launch on 1st October but proved unwilling. Backfire Rocket Two was prepared for launch on 2nd October and was launched without difficulty. The second Cuxhaven launch took place on 4th October with our previously reluctant virgin Backfire Rocket One. A third and final rocket was launched for representatives of the press and Allies on 15th October under the name Operation Clitterhouse. (Report on Op Backfire, Vol One, Section 7, paras 100-106)
External links
- According to Renewal due for rocketservices.co.uk on 17 October 1945 there should have been a fourth launch of a V2.
- Alles ueber Modellraketenbau
- V2ROCKET.COM - The A-4/V-2 Resource Site - The V-2 Rocket
- Relikte in Niedersachsen und Bremen
- Renewal due for rocketservices.co.uk
- Satellite photograph of former launch site on Google.com