Soviet Tech Question

It is widely known that, after WWII, both the USSR and the US applied German technology to their own exploits. However, I'm interested in just how much this tech mattered to the two nations, specifically the Soviet Union.

Now, say that the front before Germany and Russia moves slightly west of East Prussia before the Germans capitulate to the Allies.

This creates two enquiries for pondering:
a) How exactly would this slow down the Soviet R&D,
and
b) What methods could the Soviets employ to mitigate this lack of technology (A more sophisticated espionage system? Surreptitious diplomacy?)?
 
Not really Soviet espionage was good to help them scrap by until the late 70s hell they did also good enough scientists to develop the bomb as well even with out espionage.
 

Pangur

Donor
On the topic but looking at it from the other way as it were, how many dead ends did the captured tech take West and Soviets down?
 
Not really Soviet espionage was good to help them scrap by until the late 70s hell they did also good enough scientists to develop the bomb as well even with out espionage.
I was lead to believe that Soviet atomic research was greatly aided by infiltrating the U.S. atomic efforts, with contributions from such notable individuals such as Klaus Fuchs.

Any other opinions on the matter? (Please do note that I'm not only focusing on nuclear development, but also other matters, such as side arm and missile innovation)
 
It is widely known that, after WWII, both the USSR and the US applied German technology to their own exploits. However, I'm interested in just how much this tech mattered to the two nations, specifically the Soviet Union.

Now, say that the front before Germany and Russia moves slightly west of East Prussia before the Germans capitulate to the Allies.
The first two Soviet rockets, the SS-1 and SS-2 were V2 derivatives, just as the US used the V2 knockoffs, the Hermes and Bumper sounding rockets. Unlike the Soviets, they were for research, rather than for battlefield use. The Soviets made 10x as many of these sorta V2s as the USA before moving onto Soviet designs.

No Soviet V2s?

Korolev was a smart guy, so the program would be slowed by a year or two, given that the UK would have given them what they had on Op. Backfire(UK V2 tests), just like with the Nene and Derwent turbojets
 
I was lead to believe that Soviet atomic research was greatly aided by infiltrating the U.S. atomic efforts, with contributions from such notable individuals such as Klaus Fuchs

Odd thing about him, he seemed to have helped the USSR more with his spying, than when he worked with the UK after the war.
 
I was lead to believe that Soviet atomic research was greatly aided by infiltrating the U.S. atomic efforts, with contributions from such notable individuals such as Klaus Fuchs.

Any other opinions on the matter? (Please do note that I'm not only focusing on nuclear development, but also other matters, such as side arm and missile innovation)

Yes and no, it helped but it was possible for them to develop their own by U.S. Estimates by the 50's which is bad considering the state of the USSR. They also had for the time at least a decent education base for research.

I could see them developing missles and assault rifles as well even without German developments.
 

trurle

Banned
The effect of captured equipment on science would be insignificant. The information was already leaking. Landed B-29s were available (it become Tu-4). Also, the option was open to pressure Japanese to share their German-derived blueprints (Japanese have some non-trivial jets and rockets by the middle 1945).

The most serious effect would be lack of captured production equipment for tools production. Many high-tech factories in Russia (especially tool-making and automotive) were equipped with the captured German machinery. Lack of such machinery mean slower growth of Soviet Union military potential post-war.
 
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