Talk:Arthur Rudolph/Archive 1

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http://www.etext.org/Politics/P_News/our.nazis "From 1951 to 1961 Arthur Rudolph was employed by MARTIN MARIETTA, in charge of research and development of the Pershing missile." Found this on the web in several places. - need to reconcile dates - I know he was involved with Pershing, supposedly as the first project manager, I just can't figure out the dates. Pershing development did not start until 1958.

No- these dates do not work, and some others may be suspect. I don't think he ever worked for Martin at all.
No he did not.

Per "Raise Heaven and Earth", AR was part of the Army board to select the contractor for Pershing. The selection board met at RSA in Mar 1958, so I'm gonna bet that AR was in Huntsville at the time.

Yes

AR got a doctorate in Winter Park in 1959, so he was probably in Orlando then.

No

Gadget850 18:59, 18 September 2005 (UTC)

--Gadget850 02:47, 1 November 2005 (UTC)

University

The original article shows University of Berlin which redirects to Humboldt University of Berlin, but in Rudolph's time it would have been "University of Linden". Franklin says "College of Berlin", the closest to this I can find is Technical University of Berlin which would have been called "Technical College of Berlin" in Rudolph's era. I think this is most likely for a farm boy to attend training as a mechanical engineer, thus I am going to use this on the next revision. --Gadget850 14:35, 31 October 2005 (UTC)

Found a reference in the 1982 OSI interrogation transcript. AR specifically states that he did not attend Berlin University, but the College. --Gadget850 02:47, 1 November 2005 (UTC)

Solar Aircraft Corporation

"in San Diego, California in connection with the Solar Aircraft Corporation." I cannot find any information on this company. All Google hits are derived from this article. --Gadget850 02:47, 1 November 2005 (UTC)

Found Solar Aircraft Company at http://mysolar.cat.com/cda/layout?m=35503&x=7. Looks like they were involved with Atlas and other missile programs. Also noted as such in FBI documents.--Gadget850 17:13, 1 November 2005 (UTC)

what was the outcome of the hearing?

Peculiarly, the outcome of the hearing is not mentioned, leaving the readers (me) in the dark. However, the Friedwardt Winterberg article states that he "was later acquitted of all charges". If so, then that should be mentioned here, together with a reference. Harald88 22:52, 23 November 2006 (UTC)

I believe that statement refers to the investigation in Germany. As I stated here:

After receiving documentation in April 1985, the case was investigated by Harald Duhn, the Attorney General of Hamburg. In March 1987, the investigation concluded after questioning a number of witnesses and determining no basis for prosecution. Rudolph was then granted German citizenship.

Thus, Rudolph was not actually aquitted as the Hamburg prosecutor found no evidence to go forward with any prosecution. This is taken from the American in Exile book. --Gadget850 ( Ed) 03:47, 24 November 2006 (UTC)

Reversion of edits by 82.146.105.15

  • The Technical College of Berlin did not become a university until 1946, so this is the correct name in 1928. This has been clarified.
  • Bachelor of Science- Rudolph stated he had the equivalent of a BS durng interviews noted in American in Exile and per documents from the referenced FBI dossier. I know the German system of the time did not have a BS, but I have not been able to figure out the exact name.
  • Rudoplh was in the Nazi party and the SA reserve. He never made any secret of it, discussing it in American in Exile. Again, this is noted several times in the FBI documents. Since this was a central issue in the OSI case, it is hardly "irrelevant information".
  • "His life is a sad example..." is an unsourced opinion. Opinions by others are fine as long as they are sourced.

--Gadget850 ( Ed) 19:50, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

Possible Reference

"Conspiracy? The CIA and the Nazis" produced by Towers Productions, Inc. for the History Channel, copyright 2004 A&E Television Networks might serve as a possible reference for those seeking to expand this article. Official site. Youtube. Squideshi (talk) 20:09, 3 February 2010 (UTC)

To do

  •  DoneFriedwardt Winterberg connection
  •  Done>Relate A-4 to V2
  • Expand on Redstone and Pershing involvement
  •  DoneLawsuit in 1993 [1]

--Gadget850 ( Ed) 21:25, 30 November 2006 (UTC)

2 have google books Accotink2 talk 01:20, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Non-redacted Justice Department report on OSI now available

The New York Times has obtained a full, non-redacted, version of the Department of Justice 2006 report on the OSI. The section on Rudolph contains the following which is germaine to this article (first page reference is document page number, second page reference is NYT digital archive page reference):

Mittelwerk factory ... used slave labour and prisoners of war...The labourers, wearing striped concentration camp uniforms, came from Nazi camps including Auschwitz and Buchenwald. They were guarded by SS men and kapos, and worked 12 hour shifts in cold, damp and dusty tunnels. Thousands perished, generally from malnutrition, exhaustion and overwork, some were murdered. Until Dora got its own crematorium, the dead were burned at Buchenwald.(pp.331-2/pp.342-3)

The report argues his entry into the US was in contravention of State Department regulations:

...visa regulations prohibited the entry of an alien "who has been guilty of or has advocated or acquiesced in activities or conduct contrary to civilization and human decency on behalf of the Axis countries."(p.332/p.343)

A group of Dora workers were accused of sabotage and hanged, Rudolph recalled:

...ordering the laborers under his supervision to bear witness.(p.333/p.344)
Forcing slave laborers to watch hangings was, according to the [OSI] prosecution memo, a form of "terror" which further added to the persecution."(p.334/p.345)

Other quotes:

Rudolph received daily prisoner strength reports which showed the number of prisoners available for work, the number of "new arrivals", and the number of people lost through sickness or death.(p.333/p.344)
Rudolph was not simply aware of the use of slave labourers at Dora; he had in fact worked to institute that program.(p.336/p.347)
Rudolph in turn agreed not to contest allegations that while at Mittelwerk he participated in the persecution of unarmed civilians because of their race, religion, national origin or political opinion.(p.335/p.346)
[A]...Canadian court concluded that Rudolph "called for, made use of and directed" slave labourers who suffered "indescribably brutal" conditions. (p.336/p.347)

--Goldsztajn (talk) 12:38, 14 November 2010 (UTC)

Thank you for this information. The activities of this Nazi party member in WW2 should be definetely put into the article.--MyMoloboaccount (talk) 19:36, 14 November 2010 (UTC)

Omissions from section on West German investigation

After receiving documentation in April 1985, the case was investigated by Harald Duhn, the Attorney General of Hamburg. In March 1987, the investigation concluded after questioning a number of witnesses and determining no basis for prosecution. Rudolph was then granted German citizenship.

These sentences are a little misleading. According to the DoJ report (p335-6 + note 17 p340), the statute of limitations had expired on the crimes Rudolph could have been prosecuted under. The crime where the statute of limitations did not apply, murder, was what the investigation focused on; the problem was that Rudolph had arrived in Germany too late to be prosecuted under any other crime.--Goldsztajn (talk) 14:47, 14 November 2010 (UTC)

Winterstein has a translation of the summary of the report from Duhn:

Questioning of the defendant (Rudloph) by the American government officials have not yielded a sufficient basis for criminal investigation.

The summary lists 24 former inmates, 23 former co-workers and 15 former SS members listed by the OSI as witnesses. Most of these witnesses were unable to be located, unable to be interviewed because of physical or mental issues, were deceased, did not know Rudolph, had no knowledge of Rudolph's activities at Mittelwerk or were considered unreliable. Two co-workers state that Rudolph was not involved in reprisals and was threatened after providing food and rest for the prisoners. ---— Gadget850 (Ed) talk 17:17, 15 November 2010 (UTC)
Sorry, I don't understand the point here. The DoJ report states:
(p336/p347)...they [West German authorities] began an investigation of their own (aided by material provided by OSI) to determine whether Rudolph was subject to criminal prosecution for murder, the only relevant crime not barred by their statute of limitations.[17]
[...]
(p340/p351)[ref note 17] In order to prove murder, Germany would have to establish "base motive" - a mental state (such as racial hatred) at the time of the offense. Germany lacked proof that Rudolph had knowledge of the executions beforehand.
The earlier version of the sentence (quoted above, but since changed by another editor) omitted that the investigation was only for murder and not other crimes related to Rudolph's war time activities.--Goldsztajn (talk) 17:56, 15 November 2010 (UTC)
The summary from Duhn does not mention murder, simply that the US had not provided any evidence for further investigation or prosecution. Note 17 mentions a memorandum titled "West German Investigation of Arthur L.H. Rudolph", but without the context of the contents, we don't know the source of this statement of murder. ---— Gadget850 (Ed) talk 18:42, 15 November 2010 (UTC)
The source is very clear: "whether Rudolph was subject to criminal prosecution for murder, the only relevant crime not barred by their statute of limitations." The amendment to the text of the article as it stands seems fine.--Goldsztajn (talk) 19:24, 15 November 2010 (UTC)

Operation Overcast/Paperclip

The timeline on this section seems to have some problems and needs sources:

"From July to October 1945, Rudolph was transferred to the British to participate in Operation Backfire. He was then transferred back to the Americans. The U.S. Army picked up Martha and Marianne Rudolph from Stepfershausen before it was occupied by the Red Army and the Rudolphs were reunited at Camp Overcast near Landshut. In November 1945, Operation Overcast brought Rudolph, von Braun and the rest of the V-2 team temporarily to the US for six months. After President Truman approved Operation Paperclip in August 1946 most of the group stayed permanently."

Overcast was the acquisition and management of the Nazi scientists in Germany (began in july 45), later renamed as Paperclip (March 46). Rudolph came to the US under Overcast (December 45), but his settlement (which required he temproarily leave the US in 1949) was under Paperclip. --Goldsztajn (talk) 13:11, 14 November 2010 (UTC)

I don't see the discrepancies. Rudolph left Germany in November 1945 under Overcast. In March 1946, the name was changed to Operation Paperclip and formally approved by Truman in August 1945. It is not clear how long he was actually involved in Paperclip, nor is it clear how Paperclip was involved in his 1949 immigration. ---— Gadget850 (Ed) talk 17:38, 15 November 2010 (UTC)
Problems: (a) arrival in November or December 1945? (b) leaves out mention of Overcast becoming Paperclip in March 1946 (sentences imply Overcast and Paperclip were different operations, when essentially they were the evolution of the same policy, ie how best to get Nazi scientists working for and in the USA) (c) section above states he was "transferred back" to the Americans, which implies he was already an American asset under Overcast on loan to the British, but then having made no mention of Overcast, it is noted that Overcast brought him to the US in November 1945 (d) leaves out mention of Rudolph's trip to Ciudad Juarez in 1949, which was a component to Paperclip's operations in normalising the Nazi scientists' settlement in the US.--Goldsztajn (talk) 18:59, 15 November 2010 (UTC)
I clarified the rename. If you want to add that the immigration event was under the auspices of Paperclip, that is is fine; it is covered in the Paperclip article. ---— Gadget850 (Ed) talk 16:28, 17 November 2010 (UTC)

Role in the SA and SS

Rudolph joined the Nazi Party in 1931, then later the SA Reserve for a short period.

This sentence does not make sense, given that the SA was effectively superseded by the SS in 1934. Did he ever actually leave the SA? The German wiki entry notes in 1940 Rudolph took a position in the SS as a Hauptsturmführer (captain).--Goldsztajn (talk) 12:06, 15 November 2010 (UTC)

Franklin states that he joined the SA in 1931, then there is no further mention. Franklin is the better biography, so I changed the reference. I have never seen any source that Rudolph was a member of the SS. I can speculate that after he gained the Army contract in 1932 that he stopped attending SA meetings. ---— Gadget850 (Ed) talk 17:01, 15 November 2010 (UTC)
The sentence states he joined the SA for a short period (which implies he left the SA). Seems to me simply that the sources indicate that in June 1931 Rudolph joined the Nazi party and subsequently the SA. The German wiki also states his SS number (SS-Mitglied-Nr. 193.418). A source should be found to link this SS number to him before including it in the article.--Goldsztajn (talk) 18:24, 15 November 2010 (UTC)
Nazi war criminals in America: facts--action: the basic handbook p 49 states 193418 was Rudolph's Nazi party number and he was appointed as an SS captain on 20 April 1940 and cites the Berlin Document Center as source.--Goldsztajn (talk) 21:16, 15 November 2010 (UTC)
Franklin shows his party number as 562007, as does Hall (although Hall is probably not a reliable source). Per Russel Allen, the Ruldolph listed as an SS captain was born in 1904. The Google book only shows a snippet, so we are missing a lot of context for this. If Rudolph were SS, I am sure it would have been brought up in the interrogations and in news articles; c.f. von Braun's SS membership. The FBI documents do note his NSDAP affiliation as well as the SA Reserve (PDF p. 15), but nothing about the SS. I find this dubious. ---— Gadget850 (Ed) talk 07:41, 16 November 2010 (UTC)
"Per Russel"? Do you mean Allen? The part of the reference that is viewable shows the difference in birth years. The FBI documentation is problematic, eg no mention of Rudolph's use of and demands for slave labour. Hunt has also shown extensively how the documentation of this time was manipulated to deNazify prospective scientists coming to the US. In Rudolph's case the 1945 assessment of him as "100% Nazi, dangerous type, security threat...suggest internment" is not included in the FBI archive, as far as i can see. Given the role he played in a highly sensitive, strategically important facet of the Nazi war machine, ie operations director for V-2 missile production it's a lot less likely he wasn't in the SS, IMHO.--Goldsztajn (talk) 11:04, 16 November 2010 (UTC)
Just to be clear, I'm not trying in anyway to suggest this should be the end of the discussion on Rudolph's membership in the SS. It would be better to have more sourcing (ideally the Berlin Doc Center archive itself).--Goldsztajn (talk) 12:26, 16 November 2010 (UTC)
Yes— Allen (writing after working to 2AM may not be recommended). I still can't believe that Rudolph's SS association would remain hidden after all this time. This needs more work. Perhaps we should poke the German Wikipedia folks. ---— Gadget850 (Ed) talk 17:20, 16 November 2010 (UTC)
It looks like it was Hunt who dug up von Braun's SS membership. She wrote about Rudolph as well. ---— Gadget850 (Ed) talk 18:16, 16 November 2010 (UTC)
Allen lists "Dr. Arthur Rudolph"— our Rudolph did not receive his honorary doctorate until 1959. ---— Gadget850 (Ed) talk 07:24, 17 November 2010 (UTC)
It's an important issue, I'm happy to err on caution's side at this time. As noted, there's three potential problems in the information (birth year, title, NSDAP v SS #). I'll move the text and citation here for reference and we can keep digging/prodding. If we subsequently find nothing further, we can discuss how to proceed with the info we do have.--Goldsztajn (talk) 10:58, 17 November 2010 (UTC)

Per above:

On April 20, 1940, Rudolph was appointed a [[Hauptsturmführer]] (equivalent rank to captain) in the [[SS]], the Nazi paramilitary organization.{{r|allen|page=49}}
<ref name=allen>{{cite book |last=Allen |first=Charles Russel |title=Nazi War Criminals in America: Facts— Action: the Basic Handbook |year=1985 |isbn=0934215006 |publisher=Highgate House |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=izdnAAAAMAAJ}}</ref>

--Goldsztajn (talk) 11:06, 17 November 2010 (UTC)

Thanks. I started a discussion at the German Wikipedia.[2] ---— Gadget850 (Ed) talk 16:39, 17 November 2010 (UTC)

Use of Hall as reference

I noticed in the section above the mention of Hall as unreliable reference. I may be wrong, but there is only one sentence in the article that cites the Hall webpage:

On May 1, 1930, Rudolph began working for the Heylandt Works in Berlin where he met rocketry pioneer Max Valier.

This information is available in Science, Technology, and National Socialism, although without an exact date of employment. It is RS and in English.--Goldsztajn (talk) 12:53, 16 November 2010 (UTC)

I don't see Hall as a RS. The statement us noncontroversial and backed up by several sources, including Franklin. ---— Gadget850 (Ed) talk 17:23, 16 November 2010 (UTC)
Just looking for a replacement for the source, I was not questioning the matter. I'll use Neufeld. --Goldsztajn (talk) 10:20, 17 November 2010 (UTC)
I removed the Hall citation, text here for reference:
<ref name=hall>{{cite web |title=Arthur Rudolph |publisher=Peter Hall |language=German |url=http://www.peterhall.de/srbm/v2/v2usa/biosru.html}}{{Verify credibility|date=November 2010}}</ref>--Goldsztajn (talk) 10:39, 17 November 2010 (UTC)

A NATIONAL HERO OF AMERICA AND THE WEST

Thanks to Arthur Rudolph the West won the Cold War and the USSR was defeated. That is the reality.--79.153.242.237 (talk) 02:11, 23 November 2010 (UTC)

People deported from the United States

Rudolph was not deported. He left the US, then he renounced his citizenship under an agreement with the OSI. ---— Gadget850 (Ed) talk 21:39, 22 May 2011 (UTC)

Category removed. ---— Gadget850 (Ed) talk 11:57, 26 May 2011 (UTC)
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