Subject: Transfer of Scientific and Military
Research Institutions From Germany to Russia
[Enclosure—Translation]
secret
Berlin, 14 July 1945.
Transfer of Military Research
and Scientific Institutions to Soviet Russia
The dismantling and shipping out of laboratories and industries
essential in the production of secret weapons may be described
by two examples. Thus, for instance, was the case with the
institutes and inventors of the V–l and V–2, situated in Lichterfelde and Lankwitz, which
were transported to Russia, together with their apparatus,
laboratories and drawings, assistants and technical workers, and
existing and new, as yet unknown, patents. It was significant
that these military institutes and research plants were
immediately and arbitrarily taken apart and shipped complete,
with the greatest speed, to the East in Russian military
transport vehicles.
Following is a report on the liquidation of the most important
and largest scientific research plant, the
Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gesellschaft in
Berlin.
i.
Due to its measures for decentralizing to West and South
Germany—1943/44—only a part of the scientific stock—material and
personnel—of the
Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gesellschaft was taken
over by the Russian occupation.
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The institutions of the
Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gesellschaft situated in
Berlin, Mark Brandenburg, and the territory between the Elbe and
the Oder, were all discovered by the Russians and their stock
was liquidated.
ii.
the dahlem kreis of the
Kaiser-wilhelm-gesellschaft
1.
The Kaiser-Wilhelm-Institute for Physical Chemistry and
Electrochemistry (Kaiser-Wilhelm-Institut für physikalische
Chemie und Elektrochemie) had stayed behind in Berlin
in full working strength. After the capitulation of Berlin,
deputies appeared from Moscow (trophy skeleton staffs under
technical officers), who began at once the work of dismantling.
These measures were undertaken precipitately, only partially in
a more reasonable manner, according to the probability of the
approach of the American or Western Allied forces. During this
dismantling work the head of the institute—Professor Thiessen—was told that he could
have his institute back in Russia. Professor Thiessen is going to Russia with
some of his scientific coworkers. However, his change-over, at
first to the Russian zone in Berlin, took place only after the
arrival of the American troops in Dahlem. Three younger
scientific co-workers escaped being taken by means of
disappearing (under threat of force). Except for a small amount
of stock, the institute has been cleared out.
2.
The Kaiser Wilhelm
Institute for Physics (Kaiser-Wilhelm-Institut für
Physik) was headed until the outbreak of
war in 1939 by Professor
Debye, the well
known physicist of Netherlands nationality, who went to the
United States during the war and
is probably still there. The management of the institute was
taken over by Professor Heisenberg, who moved himself and the greater
part of the institute to Hechingen.
The low-temperature physics (Kaltephysik)
section remained in Berlin under the management of Dr. Bewilogua, and has been moved to
Moscow. In this connection, the whole institute, together with
apparatus from other sections, for instance high tension and
Rontgen plants, was moved out. This move embraced the most
primitive furnishings, such as water faucets, washbowls,
doorknobs, etc.; even the name Max-Planck-Institut was taken
along.
In this institute there were the general administration archives
of the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gesellschaft, which
had been saved from the
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demolished Berliner Schloss. In spite of urgent
representations, the safe with all foundation and tradition
documents, senate decisions and all other important deeds was
carried off to the East.
Dr. Bewilogua has already
left for Moscow, and together with him the Nobel-prizewinner Hertz, the
physicist von Ardenne
(V–l and, V–2), as well as other
inventors and outstanding technical scientistfs].
3.
Furthermore, of the Dahlemer subsidiary institutes (main
institute moved to southwestern Germany), the following have
been affected by the dismantling program:
- Institute for Biology (Institut für
Biologie)
- Institute for Biochemistry (Institut
für Biochemie)
- Institute for Chemistry (Institut
für Chemie)
- Institute for Anthropology (Institut
für Anihropologie)
- Silicate Research Institute (Institut für Silikaiforschung).
iii.
kaiser wilhelm institutes between the elbe
and the oder
1.
Kaiser Wilhelm Institute
for Seed Cultivation Research (Kaiser-Wilhelm-Institut für
Züchiungsforschung) in Müncheberg (Mark
Brandenburg).
The buildings have been preserved as a whole; at present a
Russian staff is in the institute. The plants, particularly the
extensive greenhouses and laboratories, are in Russian
hands.
2.
Institute for Cell-Physiology (Kaiser-Wilhelm-Institut für
Zellphysiologie), Director Professor
Warburg.
Professor Warburg had moved
his institute to Schloss Liebenberg bei Lowenberg i[n] d[er]
Mark. In Dahlem the Russians promised that Professor Warburg’s institute (Rockefeller
Foundation, relationship of Professor Warburg with the banking house New York,
Hamburg) was to be safe from evacuation measures. Nevertheless,
the stock of the institute was removed from Liebenberg. This
stock is supposed to be still in Spandau.
3.
There is as yet no reliable news regarding the Institute for Raw
Fibre Research (Institut für
Bastfaserforschung) in Sorau.
