POST-WAR GERMAN ROCKETRY INFLUENCE IN FRANCE: AN ANALYSIS (Part II)

摘要

In Part I of our analysis of the real German influence on French rocketry, we analysed in detail the movements of these nationals, as well as the corresponding context. This allowed us at this stage to confirm our preliminary impressions that this influence has been largely overblown. The special session on Germany during last year's 37~(th) Symposium on History of Astronautics showed that no German engineer ever achieved a top management position in France, on the contrary of what happened in the USA. Also, the French designed SE 1500 already was flying in November 1946, at a time the first Germans were barely arriving in France, slowly beginning in July 1946. Actually, the situation in our country was rather similar to the Soviet developments, but without any massive expulsion-type back home!rnThe final judgement only can come after a detailed analysis of the activities of Germans in France:rn1. identifying the scientists, engineers, technicians, clerks and secretaries who came to France, and their originsrn2. clarifying the work performed, under which supervisionrn3. precising the length of their stay in France, as well as the level of interaction with their French colleaguesrn4. estimating their influencern5. today's legacy, and to which extent they prepared the significant Franco-German collaboration, a pillar of Europe.rnThis will be done plant by plant, and program by program, together with summary tables.