Peenemünde in WW2 History | World War II Database

25 Feb 1942

Germany

The first A4 rocket was placed on Test Stand VII at Peenemünde, Germany. ww2dbase [Peenemünde Army Research Center | Peenemünde, Pommern | AC]

18 Mar 1942

Germany

The first A4 rocket exploded on Test Stand VII at Peenemünde, Germany during a combustion chamber test. ww2dbase [Peenemünde Army Research Center | Peenemünde, Pommern | AC]

13 Jun 1942

Germany

The first launch of an A4 rocket was achieved at Peenemünde, Germany, but after only 54 seconds the motor cut out and the missile fell into the sea less than a mile from its launch pad. ww2dbase [Peenemünde Army Research Center | Peenemünde, Pommern | AC]

3 Oct 1942

Germany

The first successful A4 test flight reached the altitude of 84.5 kilometers (52.5 miles). The rocket was launched at Peenemünde, Germany. ww2dbase [V-Weapons Campaign | Vergeltungswaffe 2 | Peenemünde, Pommern | CPC]

22 Apr 1943

Germany

British Mosquito reconnaissance aircraft photographed a German rocket at Peenemünde, Germany but intelligence analysts could not be certain of the object photographed. ww2dbase [Peenemünde Army Research Center | Peenemünde, Pommern | CPC]

14 May 1943

Germany

British Mosquito reconnaissance aircraft photographed a German rocket at Peenemünde, Germany; it was estimated to be 38 feet in length and 2 feet in diameter. ww2dbase [Peenemünde Army Research Center | Peenemünde, Pommern | CPC]

26 May 1943

Germany

At Peenemünde, Germany, before Hermann Göring, Erhard Milch, and other top German leaders, an A-4 rocket and a flying bomb were tested. The A-4 rocket flew perfectly, while the flying bomb crashed only after a mile or two of flight. ww2dbase [Vergeltungswaffe 1 | Vergeltungswaffe 2 | Erhard Milch | Karl Dönitz | Hermann Göring | Peenemünde Army Research Center | V-Weapons Campaign | Peenemünde, Pommern | CPC]

4 Jun 1943

Germany

A Luxembourg national working at Peenemünde, Germany reported to the United Kingdom the presence of a 10-meter-long rocket with 150- to 250-kilometer range which was fueled by "bottles containing gas". ww2dbase [Peenemünde Army Research Center | Peenemünde, Pommern | CPC]

12 Jun 1943

Photo(s) dated 12 Jun 1943

British aerial reconnaissance photograph of V-2 rockets at Peenemünde Test Stands I and VII, Germany, 12 Jun 1943

23 Jun 1943

Photo(s) dated 23 Jun 1943

British aerial reconnaissance photo of Test Stand VII, Peenemünde, Germany, 23 Jun 1943

28 Jun 1943

Germany

A Royal Air Force reconnaissance aircraft conclusively identified German long-range rocket launch sites on Peenemünde, Germany. ww2dbase [Peenemünde, Pommern | AC]

17 Aug 1943

Germany

British bombers launched to attack German rocket research site at Peenemünde at 2100 hours London time. At 2230 hours London time or 2330 hours Berlin time, air raid sirens went off at Peenemünde, but many ignored it, thinking it was to be yet another false warning as Allied bombers flew over the region to bomb German cities further inland. At 2317 hours London time or 0017 hours Berlin time on the next day, the first of the British bombers struck Peenemünde. ww2dbase [Peenemünde Army Research Center | Bombing of Hamburg, Dresden, and Other Cities | Peenemünde, Pommern | CPC]

18 Aug 1943

Germany

Between 0017 and 0043 hours Berlin time (2317 and 2343 hours London time, on 17 Aug 1943), three waves of British Lancaster, Halifax, and Stirling bombers (227, 113, and 180 aircraft, respectively) struck the German rocket research site at Peenemünde, dropping a total of 1,600 tons of high explosive bombs and 250 tons of incendiary bombs. Initially the damage appeared to be extensive, especially considering that 180 German scientists and engineers were killed, but the site returned to operation within four to six weeks. Strategically, however, this attack did retarded the eventual rocket attack on Britain by some months. Many buildings would remain unrepaired and craters unfilled in order to trick the British into thinking that the site was abandoned after the raid. The British Royal Air Force lost 40 bombers during this successful mission. Over 500 Polish forced laborers were also killed during this attack. ww2dbase [Peenemünde Army Research Center | Bombing of Hamburg, Dresden, and Other Cities | Peenemünde, Pommern | CPC, AC]

18 Jul 1944

Germany

US Eighth Air Force, including the 306th Bomb Group flying from RAF Thurleigh, attacked Peenemünde Army Research Center in Germany to counter suspected hydrogen peroxide production. ww2dbase [Bombing of Hamburg, Dresden, and Other Cities | Peenemünde Army Research Center | RAF Thurleigh | Peenemünde, Pommern | CPC]

4 Aug 1944

Germany

US Eighth Air Force attacked Peenemünde Army Research Center in Germany to counter suspected hydrogen peroxide production. ww2dbase [Bombing of Hamburg, Dresden, and Other Cities | Peenemünde Army Research Center | Peenemünde, Pommern | CPC]

25 Aug 1944

Germany

US Eighth Air Force attacked Peenemünde Army Research Center in Germany to counter suspected hydrogen peroxide production. ww2dbase [Bombing of Hamburg, Dresden, and Other Cities | Peenemünde Army Research Center | RAF Thurleigh | Peenemünde, Pommern | CPC]

16 Dec 1944

Germany

German Army engineers were awarded at the Peenemünde Army Research Center in Germany. ww2dbase [Peenemünde Army Research Center | Peenemünde, Pommern | CPC]

5 May 1945

Germany

Soviet 2nd Byelorussian Front captured Swinemünde, Pommern, Germany (now Swinoujscie, Poland) and Peenemünde Army Research Center, both located on the island of Usedom. ww2dbase [East Pomeranian Offensive | Peenemünde Army Research Center | Peenemünde, Pommern | CPC]

Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis

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