ACTIVITIES AT ZAVO NO. 1, PODBEREZYE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81-01030R000100330010-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 24, 2013
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: December 4, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

450X1-HUM
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/09/18: CIA-RDP81-01030R000100330010-3
?
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT ?
SECURITY INFORMATION
50X1-HUM
COUNTRY USSR (Kalinin Oblast) REPORT
SUBJECT
Activities at Zavod No. 1, Podberezye
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF
PAGES
4 Decernber
10 50X1
1953
-HUM
DATE OF INFO.
REQUIREMENT
PLACE ACQUIRED
REFERENCES
50X1-HUM
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
50X1-HUM
50X1-HUM
STATE
#x
ARMY
NAVY
AIR
FBI
AEC
031 Ev x
I- I
50X1-HUM
Note; Washington
Di" r ibu.6"6Z.l -141i Nally
field Distribution
Declassified in Pa - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/09/18: CIA-RDP81-01030R000100330010-3
? .. ? ?
?
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved
for Release 2013/09/18: CIA-RDP81-01030R000100330010-3
SECRET
SECURITY INFORMATION
WO -HUM
REPORT
COUNTRY e USSR (Katlinin
DISTR. 2.7 OCIT
Oblast) DATE
SUBJECT
Activities at Raved 11?03., leodbereaye
NO. OF PAGES 9
PLACE
ACQUIRED
a
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW) 50X1-HUM
DATE,.
SUPPLEMENT TO
. ACQIRED
REPORT NO.
DATE OF INFORMATION
e
THIS-IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
50X1-H UM
2. Tic groups of specialists were then organized and were given the
designation 0103-1 and 01072. Directors of these groups were BLADE
and ROESSING respectively. The chemical section was incorporated
within the second group and las originally under the direction of 50X1-HUM
Hubert MICH. Later. on (in 1949)9 direction was transferred to Dr.
Heinz DRUM Also assigned to the chemical section as laboratory
technician? were Dr. Hans JANKE (physicist)) Dr. HAHN, Dr. Willi DANIEL,
STEMS, KNIESTEDTio,Gert KEIL and Karl MAT were employed
as laboratory assistants. The .initial period of time,Oct.1946 to mune. at
July..1947-, was partially passed by reading literature, idleness, and
by study of theoretical problems,
3.
P2. RARE, using literature data on hand, concerned jart. 50X1-HUM
self with oroblame rolatins to nitrocellulose pr4pellants for sMall
rockets.
anon
be. noted that 'hese were paper projects wily. 50X1-HUM
? 4. During the firmt.fiew maples of 1.947, construction of a laboratory mas
berm. Prilonsrs of war suppli.? the manual labor,' Laboratpir
made it ttlfi sad nee diiiined ter a bath house, ;las the 2110021107
utility lista *.re tMtallet leo?-that' by the middle' of 1947,1 oir4in
' a? Et iii
SECURITY INFORMATIC
50X1-H UM
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/09/18: CIA-RDP81-01030R000100330010-3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/09/18: CIA-RDP81-01030R000100330010-3
SECRET
- 2 -
50X1-HUM
amount of practical work could be started.
5. Initial laboratory projects primarily covered investigations of
Tand C-Stoff [reports to be forthcomini7? analyses of metals,
fuels, gasolines, and oils that were used in the plant. In addition,
investigations of various types of captured war materials that were
to be utilized there were also made.
6. OKB-1 was charged with the continued development of the Ju-2-68
aircraft, excluding engines, work upon which had been previously
begun in Germany. 0KB-2 was to develop the 346 aircraft and engines.
A member of this group, SCHELL, was given the task of organizing
tests, assembly and operation of equipment for the Walther power
plant. In this connection, construction of a power plant test stand
was begun in 1948. The Siebel and Junkers groups retained their
individual identiAras far as grouping of personnel was concerned,
even after arrival at Podberezye. The Junkers group was redesignated
OKB-1 and the Siebel group OKB-2.
7. No set plan was provided for chemical projects. The Ministry of
Chemistry, Moscow, was supposed to issue orders to this group but
none were forthcoming. Thus, projects were initiated by the design
offices and executed on demand. In addition to the investigation
of stability and storage problems of C-and TeStoff, projects'
included continuation of the work on the gasless cabin heater, com-
pletion of a fire extinguishing system, and development of rupturable
membranes for use with this system.
8. The development of the fire extinguishing system was accomplished by
a division of 010.4 under von SCHLIPPE in association with several
assistants. It was based upon use of a nitrocellulose explosive
charge which could be ignited by the pilot in case of fire. Thid
in turn broke the retaining membrane and allowed nitrogen gas
pressure to force carbontetrachloride through pipelines to the area
of the fire. 50X1-HUM
9.
For
correct operation of the extinguisher, it was necessary to obtain
material for the rupturable membranes which would be capable of
withstanding the action of carbontetrachloride, but which could be
destroyed easily by a detonator. After a number of experiments
with other substances, such as keratin, it became evident that a
paper saturated with glycerin and glue Would be suitable for this
purpose. The membrane required had to be absolutely tight against
CC1A, since leakage would in itself cause loss of ignition proper-
tie B of the nitrocellulose. The explosive consisted of a nitro-
cellulose cylinder, and a black powdered detonator. These
experiments extended into the latter part of 1948 or the first
part of 1949.
10. At the time, von SCHLIPPEcs group (010-194pecial Projects Depart-
ment) was conducting experiments on the Argus tube with the
intention of improving its thrust characteristics and with decreas-
ing its fuel consumption. 2711be Argus tube was the power plant used
on the old German V-1 and was an externally mounted jet enginej
By 1950 or 1951, the Soviets had developed a light aircraft upon
which two Argus tubes were mounted, one on either side of the
fuselage. This aircraft was of metal construction9 had a fuselage
seven to eight meters in length, and a wing span of approximately
SECRET
50X1-HUM
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/09/18: CIA-RDP81-01030R000100330010-3
' ?..
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/09/18: CIA-RDP8.1-010301R000100330010-3
10 meters. Two skids were used
supposed to be a fighter type.
This project was strictly a
cverman nausonasis were not allowed to see it.
SECRET
-3.,
for undercarriage, and aircraft was
USSR development and
50X1-HUM
50X1-HUM
50X1-HUM
?
11. Von SCHLIPPE's group also conducted experiments on bullet proof fuel
tanks following the ideas developed by Messerschmidt toward the end
of the war. This consisted of a metal tank with a multiple tube
arrangement inside. Tests on this tank were unsuccessful and the
project was dropped.
12. OKB-2 continued the project of the 346, and by 1949 had a glider
model ready for testing at Teplyyfkan, located approximately 30
kilometers north of Moscow. In 1950, actual flight testing of a
Walther powered aircraft was begun at Lukavice airfield in the
vicinity of Kolomna. In the first major flight test, the aircraft
was carried aloft under the left wing of a TU-4 and dropped from
9,000 meters. The pilot, ZIESE, glided to 79000 meters then climbed
againto 9,000 or 10,000 meters. At a speed of 900 kilometers per
hour, the control surfaces blanked out and ZIESE found that he could
not alter the plane's course. He reported that it was necessary to
bail out. Exit from the 346 was made by detonation of four or six
explosive bolts which attached 50X1-HUM
the pilot's section to the aircraft. Following this, the pilot
ejected himself forward by means of an ejection seat. There was no
automatic disconnect mechanism so that the pilot was required to
disconnect and null his Om rio-cord.
The dimensions of the 346 were: wing span - 9.0
meters; fuselage length -13.40 meters, with power units, two each and
Walther rocket motors which were capable of producing 2,000 kg.
thrust each. Duration of flight with full thrust was to be 10
minutes. The fuel carried aboard this aircraft consisted of one
large tank of T-Stoff containing 1200 kg0 and two small tanks contain-
ing a total of 800 kg. C-Stoff. 50X1-HUM
13. During October 1947, eight Soviet laboratory assistants and an
engineer (supposedly a specialist in plastics) arrived and were put
to work in the laboratory. these assistants
had only a very narrow specialized training and had had very little
previous laboratory experience. It was sometime before they were
able to perform simple analyses unassisted.
50X1-HUM
14. The organic laboratory began experiments on Toand C-Stoff in May
1947 which were to run approximately a year and a half, and
experiments toward the production of rocket fuels on the basis of
? an addition compond of Phenol and dimethyl andtrimethyl amine.
During this time dimethyl amine was produced in the laboratory
from stocks of various raw material taken from the Schering-Adlers-
hof chemical company in. Berlin. Dr. DUNKER completed additional
theoretical projects duting this time. Among these were calcula-
tion of temperatures and pressures in a rocket using various fuels,
50X1-HUM
for example, Teand C-Stoff with varying percentages of water,
petroleum and nitric acid, petroleum and T-Stoff.
Dr. HAHN constructed a catalyst stand for the decomposition
of T-Stoff, while Dr. JANKE was busy with the problems of con-
struction for a fuel ignition delay measuring instrument.
15, The gasless cabin heater consisted of an iron tube 40 cm. long,
8-10 cm0 in diameter?) and was filled with tablets composed of a
mixture of magnesihm and aluminum. This mixture was bound together
' SECRET
50X1-HUM
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/09/18: CIA-RDP81-01030R000100330010-3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/09/18: CIA-RDP8.1-010301R000100330010-3
.5 S CIE 2'
-4-
50X1-HUM
with waterglass? dried in a furnace and sealed into the tube. The
tablets were approximately 70 to 80 mm0 in diameter by 20 mm. thick.
They had a hole in the middle into which was inserted an iron rod.
When the heater was required, a thermite sheet within one of the
tablets was ignited by means of an electrical firing device. Then,
by addition of a regulated amount of oxygen, the heating effect 0
the device was controlled. Various types of tablets were manufactured
using different percentages of aluminum and magnesium. The project
proved unfeasible and unnecessary since the group later learned that
it would be necessary to cool the aircraft rather than heat it.
16. Work on an ignition delay measuring instrument was begun in 1947
or 1948 and required 1/2 year for completion. This project was
under the direction of Dr. WEEDS, who was a high-frequency specialist
from the physical section. The apparatus consisted of a photo-
electric cell and a recording mechanism which utilized the break-
ing of a beam of light by one fuel being added to the other, followed
by a second interruption when ignition occurred. The order to produce
such a mechanism came from within OKB-2 and was not of Soviet origin.
17. Since this device was usable only with components which mixed wells
it was not adaptable to experiment with Salbei and Kraftstoff A.
For the testing of this fuel, an instrument similar to a real power
plant was built. The instrument required in this instance utilized
a jet of nitric acid into which was sprayed Kraftstoff A. The time
measured between the opening of the valve in the Kraftstoff A line,
and the beginning of the ignition was taken as the ignition delay.
18. These instruments, and various other instruments, were built from
captured German supplies by TIBUS?the mechanic assigned to the
chemical section. He also constructed some instruments for delivery
to Moscow.
19.
Experiments in fuel production based upon aniline and phenol were 50X1-HUM
failures due to the lack of low temperature stability (material at
-10 to -200 C). The oxidizer was to have been concentrated nitric
acid. Later on, it was decided to experimentally attempt the forma-
tion of a tysergolic fuel based on kerosene and Salbei y
An official order from the Soviet Ministry
conduct these experiments was never received.
of Air to
20. About the time the work was undertaken on Kraftstoff A, EMRICH was
relieved from his post as director of the chemical section and
assigned other tabkrwithin the framework of 0KB-2. The demand for
his release originated with the German specialists, although the
Soviets appeared to be in complete accord. -He was considered by
the specialists as being an extraordinary hazard to their safety ,
because of his incompetence and general lack of knowledge. There-
after, the productioh of Kraftstoff A became the principal project,
and the organic laboratorY worked throughout almost all of 1949,
1950 and into 1951 on it.
21. Some of the other projecte within the organic laboratory consisted
of experimental production methods on a laboratory scale to
determine the best manner in which to concentrate nitric acid from
96 per cent to 99.9 plus per cent. Light metal analyses and
Dr. DANIELgs test on corrobion studies with concentrated nitric-
acid on light metals were also conducted
Dr. JANKE undertook.the, task of repairing a Q-24 spectrograph
which had teen removed hy the Soviets from Zeiss and performed
SECRET
-
50X1-H UM
50X1-HUM
- 50X1-HUM
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/09/18: CIA-RDP81-01030R000100330010-3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/09/18: CIA-RDP81-01030R000100330010-3
SECRET
-5
50X1-HUM
quantitative analyses with it. A device for measuring the thixo-
tropic' characteristics of Kraftstoff A was constructed by the mechani-
cal machine _shops using the principle_ef_a_motational (paddle)
viscosimeter.
22.. *Testing of a 346 aircraft Was started during 1950 on the airfield
at LUkavice. KRIESTEDT was thereupon relieved' from his duties in
the laboratory 044 Assigned to the airfield for the purpose of
accomplishing-the necessary analyses of T-and C-Stoff there. His
laboratory consisted of-a temporary *lidding constructed half
beneath :ground level and protected against the weather by only a
board roof. Work on the airCraft was done under a canvas cover in
An altogether priMitive fashion. A storage tank for fuels was
provided at the'airfield.and T-Stoff was continuoudly checked accord-
ing to a published regulatidn. During 1951, the chemical group was
ordered to produce a quantity of baranes for investigation as to
their suitability as rocket fuels. The planned work program Called
-
for the production of B2H6 and B4H9 from magnesium. boride and from
borbromide.
23. These projects started during 1951 and a final order for the work.
was supposed to have been transmitted to the section, bUt during
May 19519 for reasons unknown to the group, the work was stopped.
Later on it was ascertained that the stoppage had been in relation
to the repatriation of some of the scientists. From that time on,
practically no additional development work was undertaken. Only
current work and analyses and simple projects still related to the
test flights of the 346 were done. There were still Some thoughts
of utilization of the gasless heater, so more accurate experiments
were undertaken ,to eliminate difficulties which might arise with
its firing mechanism. It was still later that experiments during'
test flights proved the cabin heater was not needed.
24. Some of the small projects which were accomplished during the
waiting period prior to repatriation werez
a. An air hose of PVC was painted with polyisobutylene and
was used to supply heated air to the propulaion components
of a 346 aircraft. This was connected to the mother
aircraft (TU-4) and was used from time of take-off?to
launching. This was necessary in order to prevent freez-
ing of the T-Stoff.in fuel lines and tanks. In addition,
the power plant of a 346 was provided with a cover of the
same material also to prevent external freezing and
crystallization of the T-Stoff.
b. Experiments were undertaken, to determine the counter
.
measure* necessary in the event 'of malfunctioning?of ifie-
quick 'opening valve in the T-Stoff line due to - ? ?
crystallization? Almixture of 'kerosene and paraffin
mils were used as a lubricant on this valve. . ,
? ? ?
Impregnation materials to protect the skids of a 346 from
T-Stoff spillage were also -investigated. During 'flight,,
T-Stoff often dripped on the skids (leaks froth the engine)
which, through friction 'during landing of the aircraft,
caused combustion of the skids and subsequent' loss Of the'
aircraft. The skids were painted with a lacquer made from
'pit and additionally covered with a paraffin solution?
25. The R sebtion (rocket powered plant under SCHELL) developed-a.test
rIM
stand during the last fee years Tor testing of the rooketteyetem
?
'? 'SECRET
r"Yir
50X1-HUM
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/09/18: CIA-RDP81-01030R000100330010-3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/09/18: CIA-RDP8.1-01030R000100330010-3
'26.
21.
28.
SECRE T.
- 6 -
50X1-HUM
? . .
component parte and e !mall test stand for testing Kraftstoff A
with .Salhei, (00). The latter was also equipped with selector
valves which.perditted alternate use of Salbei with phenol,
petroleum;cr other fuels. After ignition and combustion .had once
been begun:by.Use of Kraftstoff A, switching from one fuel to another
was easily accomplished.
InstrUtents necessary to obtain automatic registry of test results
in the 346 aircraft required resistances with the contact surface
whodwielea'trical value was not 'subject to change. For this purpose,
the resistances were cleared of their dielectric cover at the contact
point and plated:by:immerging in a bath of gold and chrome salts,
This was'necessary in order to assure usability of the contacts
throughout their entire period of life expectancy, which was approxi-
mately three to six months. -Dr. DUNKER performed the plating operation
using a common' plating process - with pulsating direct current,
4ncreasiag the voltage from four to six. volts during the plating time.
50X1-HUM
-
Upon arrivaliat Podberezye. EMRICH:Who almarently had been:a
1.aboraterliasistant was placed
in:charge:of:the_chemicalsroup. _
He.had moyerito Halle withrSoviet officers and begun.to set.up
the 'chemical deiartment for rocket fuels in the special office
there. ..EMRICH Was later discharged from his post-as director
Of the department.in the ussn and Dr. DUREN took overs
dficicuir.'Tile:namea Of'the?men who were originally this '
, .
deiartment.wires
, ,
Dr,..Heisz DUKEENt: lecturer of physical chemistry.at the did.
? varsity of Halle.
,
Dr.,JANKE, who-formerly worked at the Osram plant.
? '
Dipl. Chem.'STEPFHS
was invited to this special office
after
the warbranlucquaintance. ?
The;folloWing:peOple worked'In.the laboratory
HeihvINIESTEDT) Gerhard KEIL,and Karl RUDAT.
Approximately 'eight weeks later, Dr. Willi DANIEL. and Dr." Walter
HAHN'were'added to the chemical group. These two chemists came
from the powder industry,.nitroedellulose, and had been set, up
an office in Warneithende'aid Wire in contact with this office
? in.Wartemtends16.butlater -when the specialists were-all,evacuated
? ) they were firet.taken somewhere else and came to'Podberezye
? after a while. D. DANIEL worked in connection with the Salbei
(oode'for anHoXidizing agent containing 98 per cent nitric acid)
? ?Oorrosion'experiPan:usiig-iight metals. Dr. HAHN'ilade'qoi-'
? Filtations cOnderhing'powder questions and later dealt with some
irielitical piobieis.
50X1-HUM
50X1-HUM
The plant was divided .into OKB-1 and OKB-2 (OKB-1 -Junkers,
OKBe2 -Siebel).; OKB-2, organizationally under
:the:0081NQ group.- 50X1 HUM
SECRE'T
50X1-HUM
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/09/18: CIA-RDP81-01030R000100330010-3
?
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/09/18: CIA-RDP81-01030R000100330010-3
29.
30.
31;
E C. RE. 11, .
- 7 -
.The plant was under. Soviet management. . There were various
directors, 1St- their were. changed every year. Only the main
engineer remained-there.
OFNIZENSKIY was the chief Soviet engineer. There .was
another Soviet engineer there also, (Le had once been assigned
to the office in Haile.? The entire organization was under the
Ministry for Aviation and a .Deputy Minister, WEIN. This
plant was called "Plant Ro. 1." The engine group was first
? uhder the direction of SCHELL, and later 1/FER. SCHEll was
taken' tO Karaganda for two years forced labor because of an
inCident of misconduct in a cafe. IIFER was later' the
superintendent of the 'component parts department for the
Walther engine. SCHELL' returned from the camp and is still,
in the USSR; MR is 'ale? still there.
50X1-HUM
3
? 8 aed. 9 J..
?a liating of the OKB-2 specialist sifiee pages
. SEC R.E.T
50X1-HUM
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/09/18: CIA-RDP81-01030R000100330010-3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/09/18: CIA-RDP8-1-01030R000100330010-3
$ECRET
-8 -
,
OKB-2 Specialists at Zavod Podberesye
Director of OKB.2
10ESSING
Director of Design Offite
HEINSON
Designers:
BALLUFF
KOETZOLD
HAIDER
KOEHN .
WENZEt
ERGENZINGER
PELZER
'Salton. .
GkIESHABER
Aircraft
RAUSCHEE
MOTSCH:
TREUTER
ZIESE
Plant
Vibration Questions
Dr. TIEDEMANN
Dr., SANDER
DIETZi
Aerodynamicists
Dr. ECHMITZ
Dr; MOTZFELDT
FUCHS
EULITZ'
Planning Office
Guenther SIEGFRIED
BENZ'
SCHERER
Physics Laboratory
Dr.:MEHDE -
IMBACH
Statistician
NEUMANN
Title
Ingo
Tug.
Ing.
Pilot
Pilot
Dipl. Ing.
Physicist
Instructor in
Mathematics
Dipl. Ing.
Mathematician
Mathematician
Dipl. Ing.
Dipl. Ing.
Dipl. Ing.
Ing.
? 70.151. Ing.
Physicist
Ing;
Ing.
secret
Specialty
FUselage
Wings
Procurement & Norms
Procurement & Forme
Tank Farm
Blasting Bolt
Model Maker
Balloons
50X1-HUM
50X1-HUM
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/09/18: CIA-RDP81-01030R000100330010-3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/09/18: CIA-RDP81-01930R000100330010-3
SECRET
7
OKB-2 Specialiste at Zavod No. .1. Todbereure (cont.)
Title Specialty
BUYER? Dipl. Ing.
Project Preparation
'
STOLLBERG
SERASCR
POELLBACI
IC (R6oket) Section!'
SCHELL Ing.
tiFT4.7-.. ?
MICHAEL'S Ing.
Ing.
aothz
Plant Direction
SECR.ET
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/09/18: CIA-RDP
50X1-HUM
?
50X1-HUM
1-01030R000100330010-3