Long River to the Moon: searching for the POD that resulted in Soviet Lunar Landing

Here's the start to an alternate history story I've been working on. This is my first foray onto alternatehistory.com, so hopefully it's the right sort of story for this site.

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October 10, 1967

Arkhangelsk, Russia, USSR

“Triumph for Communism! Man walks on the Moon!” That was the headline. The man reading the paper knew it wasn’t supposed to be that way, but he didn’t seem to care. Neither did the children on the creaking swingset nearby. It was a cold morning. The occasional gust of wind sent dry leaves swirling through the drab courtyard.

The man shifted on the bench and turned the page. It was his own fault that he was here, one wrong guess and several days by train in the wrong direction. He would rather have seen Bondarenko’s historic launch in person, but it was too late, and now he was reading about it like everyone else.

A grainy black-and-white photograph of a rocket caught his eye. It was with an article on how the Soviet space program progressed through the years — the inevitable success of Marxist-Leninist science, of course. But it wasn’t the rocket in the picture that caught his eye; it was the two men standing next to it. “Von Braun and Korolev,” read the caption. And there they were, the inventor of the German V-2 rocket and the head of the Soviet space program, shaking hands.

The man smiled to himself; now he knew what was different. Just a few more jumps and he could set the marker. He stood up and walked away, leaving the paper on the bench, fluttering in the breeze. Time to catch a train.
 
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January 29, 1949
Gorodomlya, Russia, USSR

It was a perfect night to move about unobserved; dark under a moonless sky, darker still under the pine trees. The man looked out over an ice-covered lake to an island about a mile out.

He wrung his hands, trying to get the strange sensation to go away. No one ever really gets used to the jump. He pulled his collar up around his neck and walked out onto the thick winter ice.

By the 1960s many people knew the names of the men kept on the island in this frozen lake, but in 1949 it was a state secret. It was supposed to be just a few German scientists, but he knew it had to be different here. Or at least, he hoped.

He continued to trudge across the ice, his boots crunching in the light coating of snow.

The man had traveled back over two hundred years from the event that first caught the agency’s attention, and he had witnessed it all — most of the important parts, anyhow. The Soviet domination of space was key, and now he knew how they got ahead: Von Braun. Somehow, in the waning days of the Third Reich, the top German rocket scientist fell into the hands of the Soviet Union, rather than surrendering to the American army.

It was quite a scramble up the steep slope of the island. A few guards patrolled the barbed wire fence at the top, but in the years since the war, no one had ever tried getting in, and the guards had grown complacent. With a careful climb and a quick leap, he was in.

The records didn’t show anything about the layout of the compound, so he would have to go building by building until he found the man he was looking for, but that would all have to wait until morning. His questions would be suspicious enough in the daylight.

There was a woodshed at the south end of the compound. Inside he found a dark corner where no one would notice him (he hoped) and settled down for a few hours’ rest.
 
The unnamed observer (a thin stand-in for the reader) thinks he knows the POD. Whether he's right or not is yet to be seen.


It will be interesting how this reflects the revelations about the Soviet Space programs in the 1991 NOVA series The Russian Right Stuff:

Invisible Spaceman (02/26/91)

Dark Side of the Moon (02/27/91)

Mission (02/28/91)

American Experience's website has an interesting little timeline: Race to the Moon

The thing is as The Russian Right Stuff shows the Soviet Space program was cutting corners like crazy near the end shoving three astronaut in what amounted to a Gemini capsule to pull off what appeared to be an Apollo flight.

Even with Wernher von Braun the US program had some spectacular SNAFUs. As recounted in Alan Shepard's Moonshot the first answer to Sputnik had its rocket blow up on the pad and its payload land in a field somewhere beeping while one officer asked someone to 'go find the thing and shoot it'

Then there was Apollo 1...even in the science fiction movies of the day there were grim jokes about dead cosomnauts still orbiting the Earth so everybody knew that Soviet union was doing its best to cover up its SNAFUs (we are still learning just how close they came in some missions)

The 1967 movie Countdown is based on one of the more insane rumors that abounded in those days: that the Soviet union was planning on sending a cosomnaut on a one way trip to the moon and and then keep sending him supplies until they figured out a way to get him back to Earth.
 
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That Von Braun fell in hand of Soviets is a realistic scenario

from 1943 he and his team was moved near concentration camp Mittlewerk, what produced the V2 and V1
von Braun lived and Work mostly in city Bleicherode, 20 km from concentration camp Mittlewerk

March 1945 Von Braun had a Car accident as his driver fell asleep at the wheel.
Let assume his injuries were worst and he had to be put in nearest Hospital that was taken over by Soviets in April 1945.
and as Bonus: all the V2 Documents von Braun Team had hidden in Mine near Mittlewerk.

That unnamed observer is that time traveler ?!
 
January 30, 1949
Gorodomlya, Russia, USSR

Sunlight and voices woke the traveler. He kept his head down and listened as they filled their cart with firewood.

“...weiter von dem Polkownik gehört?” They spoke in a language he didn’t recognize. “Nicht mehr als gestern. Mir egal.”

It wasn’t Russian. He waited until the two men left, taking their squeaky-wheeled cart with them, then loaded up for twentieth-century German.

In the morning light the traveler got a better look at the compound. It was no military prison. The houses looked like little Bavarian cottages, with well-tended trees and curtains in the windows. A few bundled-up children played in the snow.

There were so many questions he could ask the scientists living here, but only one that truly mattered: when exactly they fell into Soviet hands. That was the divergence; he was sure of it. All the rest of this strange history followed from it.

The man spotted one building larger than the rest. It looked warm and inviting, and it smelled like something good was cooking. There was a banner on the front of the hall, but the writing was in Russian.

Inside he sat down, taking off his gloves at a bench near the fireplace. It was breakfast time, mostly for bachelors who didn’t eat in their cottages. The traveler decided to sit quietly and listen for a while.

The conversation at the next table was all small talk, about the cold, and how the water tasted bad, and how the new cook wasn’t as good as the last one. He decided it was time to join in and walked over to the group.

“Mr. Stuhlinger, is it?” The traveler spoke to one of the scientists, a thin, balding man.

“Yes, that’s right. And you are?”

“The name is Schneider. I’ve been sent here to compile a record of what we’re doing here at Gorodomlya.”

Stuhlinger looked suspicious. “Would anyone be allowed to read such a thing?”

“Not yet,” answered the traveler, “but someday the people will learn about the good work we’re doing here, and it’s my job to make sure it’s remembered correctly.” He sat down at the table. “Mr. Stuhlinger, I understand you worked for Germany at the Peenemünde research center during the war?”

“Everyone worked for Germany during the war, Comrade Schneider. Even you, I imagine. I take it you’re from Hamburg, considering your accent?”

The traveler looked a bit startled. Hamburg was in West Germany, he was fairly sure, which would make him unlikely to be working for the Soviet Union. He had planned a simple cover story for himself, but the accent was an unexpected problem.

“No, I’m from Leipzig, in the GDR. My mother was from Hamburg. Please, refresh my memory — when and where exactly did you surrender to the Soviet Army?”

The other scientists sitting around the table looked uncomfortably at each other. Stuhlinger answered, “It was the thirteenth of May, I believe, in ‘45. We were at Peenemünde, of course, when the Russians arrived.”

This was exactly the information he needed for the next jump. According to his notes, the rocket scientists left Peenemünde and surrendered to the American army in May of 1945. Choosing to stay behind would have been a very small change, he supposed. The point of divergence would have to be close to there. He had the information he had come for.

One of the other scientists leaned forwards and joined in. “Mr. Schneider, I am curious; what do you mean by the GDR?”

The traveler looked annoyed — he didn’t care for being questioned himself. “East Germany, the Soviet zone.”

The scientists laughed. “I suppose the Saar is West Germany to you?” said Stuhlinger.

“The Saar? I don’t...” The traveler was at a loss; he wasn’t that familiar with German geography.

“Yes, the Saar. Is there some other part of Germany that isn’t occupied by our dear Soviet comrades?” asked Stuhlinger.

He couldn’t keep this up much longer. The traveler excused himself and hurried out of the hall, leaving the startled German scientists behind.

Outside in the cold air, he looked around for somewhere to jump, anywhere to get away from the attention he was getting here. The traveler walked quickly towards the trees north of the hall.

Two Soviet soldiers followed soon after him, but when they reached the treeline, the man was gone.
 
The Soviets captured LOTS of German rocket scientists and material. Not von Braun and company, obviously, but enough to build a rocket industry.

However, they put the Germans to work in isolation and the native Soviets built what would be Soyuz etc., and the Germans were basically used as a control group, to make sure the Soviet scientists weren't heading too far in the wrong direction.

Would have von Braun make a significant difference? I'd say no, based on OTL.

It's sure not going to get the Soviets to the moon in '67.
 
The Soviets captured LOTS of German rocket scientists and material. Not von Braun and company, obviously, but enough to build a rocket industry.

However, they put the Germans to work in isolation and the native Soviets built what would be Soyuz etc., and the Germans were basically used as a control group, to make sure the Soviet scientists weren't heading too far in the wrong direction.

Would have von Braun make a significant difference? I'd say no, based on OTL.

It's sure not going to get the Soviets to the moon in '67.

I think the Soviets are too intelligent not to pass up using Von Braun for more than an advisory role. They had the plans from Mittelwerk. They knew that he was the one who designed the V-2. They would probably realize the talent they had, and force him to help build a Soviet V-2.
 
I think the Soviets are too intelligent not to pass up using Von Braun for more than an advisory role. They had the plans from Mittelwerk. They knew that he was the one who designed the V-2. They would probably realize the talent they had, and force him to help build a Soviet V-2.
Doubtful. As Dathi said, they had quite the concentration of talent IOTL--if not Von Braun, certainly many of nearly the same caliber. They entirely sidelined them, seeing what they could learn from the design concepts the Germans were allowed to develop and then applying it to their own native designs and industry. Von Braun would, I'm almost 100% certain, gotten exactly the same treatment. The Soviets are probably at a net advantage over OTL with Von Braun in their hands, but only because he's not working for the Americans, not because he's likely to do anything of note post-war.
 
Doubtful. As Dathi said, they had quite the concentration of talent IOTL--if not Von Braun, certainly many of nearly the same caliber. They entirely sidelined them, seeing what they could learn from the design concepts the Germans were allowed to develop and then applying it to their own native designs and industry. Von Braun would, I'm almost 100% certain, gotten exactly the same treatment. The Soviets are probably at a net advantage over OTL with Von Braun in their hands, but only because he's not working for the Americans, not because he's likely to do anything of note post-war.
It would certainly be a major change for the Americans not to get Von Braun. As for the Soviets, do you think them having Von Braun would have no effect at all on their space program?
 
“...weiter von dem Polkownik gehört?” They spoke in a language he didn’t recognize. “Nicht mehr als gestern. Mir egal.”
in correct german
"...Etwas von dem Polkownik gehört?” They spoke in a language he didn’t recognize. “Nicht mehr seit gestern. Ist mir scheiss egal.”

OTL
In spring 1945 von Braun assembled his planning staff and asked them to decide how and to whom they should surrender.
his team take decision surrender to Americans forces, rather the angry French, flinty British or worst the cruel Soviets.
Seems here went the decision to Soviets, i wonder what the British or americans have done That Soviet become the attractive option ?

here story of Helmut Gröttrup Guest of Soviet union:
He was Personal assistant of Von Braun during V2 project, at end of WW2 he remain with his family in West occupied Zone
And Refuse to collaborate with Americans, because he not wanted to be separated from his Family for years.
The Soviets offer his this option so the Gröttrup family move to East occupied Zone
there he worked in Bleicherode, from 9. September 1945 until 22. Oktober 1946 under the guidance of Sergei Pawlowitsch Koroljow to reactivate the V2 production
on 22. Oktober 1946 the Soviets "evacuated" Gröttrup family and others to USSR, were they lived on island of Gorodomlia im Lake Seliger.
from November 1946 until 13. November 1947 Helmut Gröttrup worked on V2 / R1 project under Koroljow
after 13 November 1947 the Germans were pullout out the R1 project and work on theoretical study until November 1953.
on 22 November 1953 Gröttrup family were permitted to left USSR and go to West Germany !


Saarland it that now French occupied Zone or already a Department of France ?
 
It would certainly be a major change for the Americans not to get Von Braun. As for the Soviets, do you think them having Von Braun would have no effect at all on their space program?

Not much. The captured Germans were almost entirely walled off from the Soviet engineers. They were used to rebuild captured V2s so the Soviets could learn the basics. When they were set to work coming up with advanced designs, these were used only as benchmarks against which to evaluate native Soviet designs. A few features seem to have been surreptitiously copied by Soviet engineers, but mostly their designs were binned. Glushko intentionally gave 'his' German specialist meaningless make-work jobs and kept them as far away from his real work as possible.

Basically, the entire effort in the 1940s and 50s was to develop a native Soviet rocket industry. They wanted to remove any reliance upon German skills as quickly as possible. The idea of giving a German a leading role in the space industry, as happened with von Braun in the US, was anathema to Soviet thinking as an unforgivable security risk.

Removing von Braun and his team from the US would, I think, slow American developments, but I can't see it speeding up Soviet development much. I have a hard time seeing how it would lead to a Soviet moon landing in 1967, seeing as even with an explicit American challenge the Soviet leadership spent years debating whether or not to make the attempt. The USSR didn't lose the Moon Race through a lack of technical skills - neither side "Picked the wrong Germans" - but rather through a less united, focused leadership and vastly fewer resources. Von Braun's legendary management skills would only have been a help had he been given authority that the Soviet state was completely unwilling to grant to a German.
 
in correct german
"...Etwas von dem Polkownik gehört?” They spoke in a language he didn’t recognize. “Nicht mehr seit gestern. Ist mir scheiss egal.”

Thanks for the help!

With the first sentence, I was trying to ask if he'd heard anything further, not just if he'd heard anything at all. Is is actually wrong to ask "Hast du weiter gehört?" -- I know I've said this sort of thing, but considering my German skills, that's no proof!
 
Removing von Braun and his team from the US would, I think, slow American developments, but I can't see it speeding up Soviet development much. I have a hard time seeing how it would lead to a Soviet moon landing in 1967, seeing as even with an explicit American challenge the Soviet leadership spent years debating whether or not to make the attempt. The USSR didn't lose the Moon Race through a lack of technical skills - neither side "Picked the wrong Germans" - but rather through a less united, focused leadership and vastly fewer resources. Von Braun's legendary management skills would only have been a help had he been given authority that the Soviet state was completely unwilling to grant to a German.

The more I think about it, the more this seems to make sense. I've been doing a ton of research on the Soviet space program for another project of mine, but the German role in their space program never entered into it much. I thought this was because they didn't have anyone skilled/knowledgeable enough, but it looks like you're right -- they did have the right sort of people, they just didn't make proper use of them. (Among all the other problems with the Soviet space program...)

Thankfully, the Soviet man-on-the-moon bit is only a small piece at the very end of the timeline. I think I'll rewrite it and continue on.
 
Note that the Vanguard rocket (which was the first US attempt) was not a product of von Braun's team.

Yes, it exploded on the pad. Yes, von Braun helped the US rocket program. But the US losing him would not have made a huge difference in the long run. Maybe.

Actually, the effect might be less his engineering skills than his visionary articles in Collier's which defined for the American people what the space program OUGHT to be (not that it was that, but...).
 
Thanks for the help!

With the first sentence, I was trying to ask if he'd heard anything further, not just if he'd heard anything at all. Is is actually wrong to ask "Hast du weiter gehört?" -- I know I've said this sort of thing, but considering my German skills, that's no proof!

Literally translated "Hast du weiter gehört?" mean "Did you continue to hear?"
if you need Translate from Englisch to German, PM me

on Nixonhead remark, it's true, once the Soviet could deal with V2/R-1 rocket for them self, the Germans scientist were removed from the project and
Made mostly theoretical study like G-5 ICBM, those study were used to compare with Soviet R-7 ICBM study, what help allot

So is way for Von Braun to stay in Soviet Space Program ?
Von Braun was Management Talent, he could help the Soviet program in some way in management there rocket production.
another feature Von Braun had he could blend in very good and deal with superiors, see his time in USA were he learn english. quote: "Zorry for my azzent i'm from Alabama"
if take Soviets he will try similar and learn Russian ""Zorry for my azzent i'm a Volga German"
But the most important feature Von Braun had he was Space Fanatic just like Sergei Pawlowitsch Korolyov
it's possible that some kind of Friendship build up between the two because there passion for Rockets and Space flight

Alternative this case: Von Braun could end up at Korolyov OKB-1 as Rocket engine designer
so Korolyov could be independent of Valentin Glushko OKB 456 Rocket engine factory
see Korolyov hated Glushko deeply, Glushko had wrongly accused Korolyov during 1936 great purge and he end up in a Gulag work camp were he almost died.
released during WW2 Korolyov had to work as "sharashka" (political prisoner) in Airplane factory under leadership of ...Valentin Glushko !
until 1944 he got released and order to investigate the V2 missile and make them ready to copy them.
 
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