Author: T. D. Dungan
T. D. Dungan is a leading authority on the V-2 rocket and founding member of the International V-2 Rocket Research Group. He assisted with the restoration of the USAAF Museum’s V-2 and was a contributor to “Nordhausen: V-2 Rocket Factory,” an episode in the History Channel’s “Modern Marvels” series (Google Books)
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Write whatever comes to mind.
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Characteristics of the source:
- Dornberger’s diary or some other quotes are often referenced.
- It was Dornberger’s book.
- The narrative style is quite engaging.
- Scenes like meetings with Hitler, it’s like, how do they know?
- V2 proponents believed in its effectiveness.
- https://muse.jhu.edu/article/196440/pdf
- Limitations are mentioned here.
- Dornberger’s diary or some other quotes are often referenced.
Chapter 1
- However, skirting the Versailles Treaty was not the primary reason for rocket research, especially later on, after Hitler began violating its terms incessantly.
- I feel sorry for VfR.
- They failed at crucial moments and were ultimately crushed by the government.
- Only the most talented individuals were recruited.
- Peenemunde is cool.
- The gradual development is impressive.
- I had the impression that Hitler was enthusiastic about allocating resources to the V2 just because rockets were cool.
- But it seems that it was different (at least until 1940).
- He didn’t seem very interested, actually.
Chapter 2
- Around 1941, Hitler became slightly interested in efficiently attacking London (while avoiding Todt’s interference).
- German is difficult.
- “V1 (Versuchsmuster 1)” = “Prototype 1”
- “V1 (Vergeltungswaffe 1)” = “Retribution Weapon 1”
- A4’s V (Versuchsmuster) 1 to V3 failed, and V4 succeeded just when the organization was about to be disbanded.
- I’ve heard similar stories from SpaceX and IST.
- A template?
- When entering the production phase, Dornberger wondered where he would get the labor force.
- That’s where the prisoners come in.
- It’s getting darker and darker.
- They borrowed prisoners from the SS.
Chapter 3
- I realized that having air superiority is crucial for preventing information leaks.
- I couldn’t quite grasp Hitler’s decision-making criteria. He seemed to love grandiose things, but it seems that’s not the case.
- It seems that the British and Americans were going all out to attack the rockets.
- The fear of the “unknown threat” and strategic confusion.
- It’s interesting to think that the Normandy landings could have been thwarted by rockets.
- Those below Dornberger were basically “young rocket enthusiasts.”
- They loved pursuing technology, but it wasn’t their main duty to determine if it was really useful for the military.
- Metz was in a free environment where he could feel discouraged by the situation.
Chapter 4
- It seems that Hitler’s intention was to have bomb shelters.
- In the case of the Normandy landings, the only usable launch site was Wizernes by chance (p105).
- However, Dornberger supported the mobile launchers.
- The US and UK had no choice but to attack the rocket production/launch sites.
- Launch bunkers along the French coast, factories, Peenemunde (research facility), etc.
- Internal conflicts were tough.
- Kammler vs Dornberger, for example.
- Dornberger was desperate and almost quit.
- Wehrmacht vs Waffen-SS.
- Kammler vs Dornberger, for example.
Chapter 8
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It is generally considered a waste, but it may have had a significant impact on the war.
- In previous chapters, there are stories about how they were fully committed to Crossbow, for example.
- Hitler’s intention was simply to “bomb London,” there was no strategy.
- The bombing of Berlin created a strong desire for revenge.
- It is said that it would have been dangerous if ABC weapons had been loaded as warheads.
- Eisenhower also said that it would have been dangerous if they had been completed a few years earlier.
- The inaccuracy has always been mentioned, and that is indeed true.
- One reason is that the maps were inherently inaccurate.
- Also, the British intelligence agency worked hard to prevent information from flowing to the German side.- We had no choice but to rely on fake news or inaccurate information.
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The rocket development team couldn’t obtain much information from the UK, which hindered their ability to implement PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) and was not ideal.
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However, inaccuracy does not mean ineffectiveness.
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Considering the cost-effectiveness of human lives and impact, the air raids were quite effective.
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There were also various counterarguments to the ineffectiveness of the V2 rocket.
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Although it may not receive much attention, the shockwave effect was also significant.
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It is often said that if it had been completed a few years earlier, it would have been more effective, but it can also be said that being too ahead of its time was the problem.
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If it had come after the development of nuclear warheads and guidance systems, it would have been even more effective.
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This may be attributed to the genius of the people at Peenemunde.
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Similar things happened in the Iraq War, but the enemy had air superiority, so any attempt to replicate the V2 rocket was crushed from the start.
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Air superiority is crucial.
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Notable People:
- Becker:
- Von Braun learned from him.
- He was in the army’s ballistic and munitions branch.
- Dornberger:
- Head of Peenemunde.
- He had a military background.
- Von Brauchitsch:
- Became the head of the army after someone else was dismissed.
- He knew Dornberger and seemed supportive of Peenemunde.
- Fritz Todt:
- A long-standing member of the Nazi party.
- Became Minister of Armaments in 1940.
- He was against Peenemunde and tried to hinder the flow of resources to rocket development.
- Although he was negative towards rockets, he had significant achievements as Minister of Armaments.
- It could be argued that not allocating funds to rockets was the right decision.
- He was not skilled in political maneuvering.
- Speer:
- Todt’s successor as Minister of Armaments.
- He understood the romance of rockets (whether that was a good thing is another question).
- Degenkolb:
- Brought in by Speer, he was an expert in efficient weapon production.
- This was the military’s intention to transition from development to production.
- He had a somewhat cold and calculating image.
- Dornberger was concerned that research and development might be undervalued.
- Becker: