On the night of August 17-18, 1943, nearly 600 Royal Air Force (RAF) bombers unloaded their deadly load over the northern tip of the island of Usedom. The target of the attack:Peenemünde. In the previous years, one of the biggest secret projects of the National Socialists had been built in the sleepy fishing village:the Army Research Institute (HVA) and the "Peenemünde-West" Air Force Test Center.
Fatal pact with the National Socialists
Since 1936, scientists have been working there under the direction of rocket pioneer Wernher von Braun on the military development of rockets. Even as a young man, the equally musically and scientifically talented engineer dreams of shooting a rocket to the moon one day. In Peenemünde, out of opportunism, von Braun makes a fatal pact with the National Socialists, who provide him with almost unlimited funds for his research.
Decapitate the multi-headed beast
Von Braun and the other scientists are also the main target of "Operation Hydra" - the name of the British mission. Based on the Greek myth, the head of the monster - in this case the Nazi rocket program - is to be cut off. The new weapons feared by the British are to be destroyed before they are used in series wars. The power of the rockets does indeed seem enormous. In 1942, a large rocket of the type "Aggregat 4" shot down in Peenemünde reached space for the first time. The Nazi propaganda later renamed the "Aggregat 4" to "Retribution Weapon" 2 (V2) - and thus referred to an alleged miracle weapon as a response to the Allied air raids.
British get information about German secret weapon
With the help of aerial photographs, the British finally track down the secret of Peenemünde.Since 1939 the British have had indications of Wehrmacht armament projects in which rockets also play a role. But before the surprise attack on Hitler's rocket factory can begin, the British have to find out exactly what their target is and where it is. However, the mass of sometimes contradictory references is overwhelming. Many reports gather dust in drawers. The British counterintelligence considers others to be feints of German counter-espionage. With the help of new photo technology, British aerial photo interpreters finally succeed in finding Peenemünde as the desired target. The attack can start.
Successful deception
The mission that August night is off to a good start. A first deception maneuver was successful:bomber squadrons had already flown over the island the previous night, an air raid alarm was triggered on the ground, but instead of dropping their bombs over the army research institute, the bombers finally attacked Berlin.
When the bombers set course for Peenemünde again during the night of August 17/18, most of the German interceptors were ordered to the greater Berlin area - and in Peenemünde the HVA employees felt safe. Instead of going to the bunkers as quickly as possible, people sometimes joke about the supposedly renewed false alarm.
A fatal mix-up
But the attackers are also subject to errors:although the full moon, which was decisive for determining the time of the attack, ensures good visibility, a thin cloud cover and smoke throwers on the ground make orientation difficult for the so-called Pathfinders. These "target markers" confuse the actual landmark - the island of Ruden, which lies north of Usedom - with the northern tip of Peenemünde. This shifts the entire attack about three kilometers to the south.
Leading scientists die, von Braun survives
In 1942, a rocket launched in Peenemünde penetrated into space for the first time.In addition to research and production facilities, not only the accommodations of the scientists but also those of the forced laborers are affected. According to the Peenemünde Historical Technical Museum, a total of around 700 people fell victim to the attack:scientists, locals and, for the most part, forced labourers. Among the dead are leading figures in the rocket program, such as the head of engine development, Walther Thiel, and the operations director of the development plant, Erich Walther.
Von Braun, however, who was staying in a bunker near the design office, survived the bombardment. Militarily, the success of the mission is limited. The development of the "V2" has already been largely completed at this point in time and construction plans have been outsourced. Almost two months after the attack, on October 6th, a "V2" took off from Peenemünde.
Tragic consequences for forced laborers
After the attack on Peenemünde, the National Socialists forced the relocation of production to underground tunnels.Around 500 people died in the air raid in the nearby Trassenheide community camp. But the bombardment had far more far-reaching consequences for the around 2,500 forced laborers from the Karlshagen I and II camps who had been deployed since May 1943:The plans already in place for a decentralized relocation of the "V2" production to underground plants were implemented as quickly as possible. A part is relocated to the underground plant Mittelbau-Dora near Nordhausen, where inhumane, catastrophic working conditions prevail.
Crafting has similar sacrifices to Deployment
More than 12,000 people die in the "V2" production in the subcamps and in the underground tunnels. The use of the "V2" in the war, mainly targeting London and Antwerp, resulted in the deaths of 8,000 to 12,000 people - mostly civilians. The production of the "V2" claims even more victims than its use.
Dreaded "miracle weapon"
From September 1943 to March 1945 around 3,200 "V2" rockets are deployed. Compared to the Fi-103 ("V1") flying bomb, which was also developed in Peenemünde, there are no defense or early warning options against the "V2", which is 14 meters high and is equipped with around 750 kilograms of explosives. It spread great terror among the civilian population. Nevertheless, the hopes of the German military in the "V2" were not fulfilled. The supposed "miracle weapon" does not succeed in decisively influencing the course of the war.
Von Braun continued to develop missiles after the war - for the USA
Rocket researcher Wernher von Braun worked for NASA after the war.After the end of the war, the Allies got their hands on "V2" rockets. At the beginning of the East-West conflict, the German know-how in rocket technology was equally sought after by the Americans and the Soviets. Despite his involvement in National Socialist politics - von Braun joined the NSDAP in 1938 and later became SS-Sturmbannfuhrer - the space visionary soon found himself in the service of NASA, where he was involved in the development of the "moon rocket" Saturn V. In 1969, the rocket researcher's dream came true with the moon landing.