Following earlier experiments at Kummersdorf, the Army Research Center Peenemünde (Heeresversuchsstelle Peenemünde in German, abbreviated HVP)^[6] was founded in 1937 as one of five military proving grounds under the Army Weapons Office (Heeres Waffenamt).^[7]

[edit] HVP Organization

Dr Wernher von Braun was the HVP technical director (Dr Walter Thiel was deputy director) and there were nine major departments:^[8]

• Technical Design Office (Walter J H "Papa" Riedel)
• Aeroballistics and Mathematics Laboratory (Dr Hermann Steuding)
• Wind Tunnel (Dr Rudolph Hermann)
• Materials Laboratory (Dr Mäder)
• Flight, Guidance, and Telemetering Devices (Bord-, Steuer- und Messgeräte, BSM^[9] Dr Ernst Steinhoff)
• Development and Fabrication Laboratory (Arthur Rudolph)
• Test Laboratory (Klaus Riedel)
• Future Projects Office (Ludwig Roth)
• Purchasing Office (Mr Genthe)

Additional departments included the Production Planning Directorate (Detmar Stahlknecht)^[10], the Measurements Group, the Personnel Office (Richard Sundermeyer) and the Drawings Change Service.^[11]