Editing Soviet space program (section)

=== German influence ===
{{main|German influence on Soviet rocketry}}

During World War II, Nazi Germany developed rocket technology that was more advanced than the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]] and a race commenced between the [[Soviet Union]] and the United States to capture and exploit the technology. Soviet rocket specialist was sent to Germany in 1945 to obtain [[V-2 rocket]]s and worked with German specialists in Germany and later in the Soviet Union to understand and replicate the rocket technology.{{sfn|Chertok|2005|pp=215–369 Vol 1}}{{sfn|Chertok|2005|pp=43–71 Vol 2}}{{sfn|Siddiqi|2000|pp=24–82}} The involvement of German scientists and engineers was an essential catalyst to early Soviet efforts. In 1945 and 1946 the use of German expertise was invaluable in reducing the time needed to master the intricacies of the V-2 rocket, establishing production of the [[R-1 rocket]] and enable a base for further developments. On 22 October 1946, 302 German rocket scientists and engineers, including 198 from the Zentralwerke (a total of 495 persons including family members), were deported to the Soviet Union as part of [[Operation Osoaviakhim]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Zak |first1=Anatoly |title=Official decisions on the deportation of Germans |url=http://www.russianspaceweb.com/a4_team_moscow.html |access-date=3 July 2022 |website=Russian Space Web}}</ref>{{sfn|Siddiqi|2000|pp=37–42}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hebestreit |first=Gunther |title=Geheimoperation OSSAWIAKIM: Die Verschleppung deutscher Raketenwissenschaftler in die Sowjetunion |trans-title=Secret operation Ossawiakim: The relocation of German rocket scientists into the Soviet Union |url=https://www.institut-rabe.de/index.php/aktuelles?start=7 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204184928/https://www.institut-rabe.de/index.php/aktuelles?start=7 |archive-date=2024-12-04 |access-date=2022-09-29 |website=Förderverein Institut RaBe e.V. |quote=An order from Moscow was read to the people who had been awakened from their sleep, in which they were informed that the Zentralwerke were to be relocated to the Soviet Union, which affected both the facilities and equipment and the personnel.}}</ref> However, after 1947 the Soviets made very little use of German specialists and their influence on the future Soviet rocket program was marginal.{{sfn|Siddiqi|2000|pp=40, 63, 83–84}}