Approved for Release 2018 j 2 03 006741341 c06741341 - 3 a x 1 1 45 i f 5 113g 1m 33 62 1 6 JUL 1957 Reseai ch Supplemenf to Scientific lnfelligen e Report 2 57 CONTRIBUTIONS OF GERMAN SCIENTISTS TO THE SOVIET ATOMIC ENERGY PROGRAM lV 57 15 Joly 1957 - CENTRAL AGENCY - OFEICE 0F SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE I mums 7 I AFTER 53$ 7 Approv d forReIease 2018 12 03 306741341 306741341 Appfoved for Release 2018 12 03 000741341 i WARNING This material contains Informa an aftecting the Nat-tonal Defense of the United States within the meaning or the esplozinga laws Title 18 Secs 793 and 794 the trans- mission or revelation of which In any manner to an unauthorized person is by law Approved for Release 2018 12 03 006741341 c06741341 I Approved for Release 2018 12 03 006741341 8-344 34 Reaearch Supplement to the scienti c Intelligence Report ems 2 57 or BCIEETIBIE mam me my PROGRAM 2 35 1% Jun 1957 11% Of ce of Scientific Intelligence Approved for Release 2018 12 03 006741341 c06741341 Approved for Release 2018 12 03 006741341 mm Thiaia due of 0 series of 311' reports dealing with the activities of the German scientists who were imported into the Soviet Union in 1915 to tin-work related to the develoment and mien of the Seviet atomic energy pm @113 guppla ental mport is concerned primriJ with Soviet nucleu- metdlum qt rhetory 12 A summary report cm aI 2-579 Contributions cream scientists to the Soviet tamie he Pro Jun 1 Secret deals wit the mall aspects 'of the Gamma contributions See 1130 2-15 1-57 Contributions 0 8 Gemn Scientists to the Soviet Atomic hex-g ngrem - Secret 2-33 11-57 Contributioneof Gemn Scientis e to the Soviet Atomic Energy- Prognm - 8mm cIA sr 2-33 Contributions of G mn scientists to - the Beviet ntmiesmerg Prague - AGBDZERI secret era 31 a-na v-S'r contributions pf Gem Scientists to the Soviet Mimic Energ- - 0mm Beci et A11 intonation p aaented herein Ins been chained free the teatimnien or'retumed deny an Austrian scientists and technicians Intelligence research en ed 15 Auguat 1956 Approved for-Release 2018 12 03 006741341 30674134 'Approved for Release 2018 12 03 006741341 The Indnat m Eqvimment' or the emn- gientiata at 3 5313 3 gn1f1mnce of the Incatign of Pater 12 Ellie Background of factory 12 and Meet- 1053- Of hr hn-mrm1 ty Wham M'entm of mektroatal Historical and Organisation Factors lighting to the new Gimp 5519 mama of the 69m 6 91p Riehglfa Mcejptagee of sum-1 1 ngoaals inky - cnmee of Factory 12m - the 313111 Group and acne 1131 3113 of mutation Probable Immanuel of Factor 2 and Met Camera for the 131m Grouy le IhJor Ween Contributions of Riehl's laboratory-9 1 Factory 12 Brain of High minty mum of Extremely un t 1'26 n'v Approved for Release 2018 12 03 006741341 67 4 1 3 4 1 Approved for Release 2018 12 03 006741341 E Some Critical Processes at Factory 12 10 Ether tr'aqtion 10 R iinction of Uranium fluoride by Caloi'mn 1 The Batch Process 11 Elm Processing of Uranimn Metal - I 11 Relative Importance of the Gel-man Research 3-1 - The Dissolution and Repatriation of the Riehl Group 12 mm - 13 3x Approved for Release 2018 12 03 006741341 C0674134l Approved for Release 2018 12 03 006741341 WW- WI mom 3 Todetemioe the extent and the importance of early Gem scientific ignition amt-assistance in the initial operations at the vital Soviet letcllurg'ical coupler for atomic emery at Factory 12 Elektrostel WEBB header-dances in Soviet nuclear metallurgy that were made by the German Factory 12 during the 7 years from 1915 to 1952 are 1 'Eie production of uranim'n motel of 5u1 ricicut1y high purity for the first Soviet plutonim producing reactors by methods that adoyteitythe factory may haveednnced the Soviet atmic energy program by about 6 months ' ie tight-much of uranim and its alloy into ribbons bare and other special shapes hid the basis for the future development of motoreof new different types -v 33 4 the devehlment of special m uiirgicll methods in collaboration with Soviet laboratories and organizations working on plutonium trauma-235 radium nickel barrier for seasons diffusion plants and ethanenecinl uterine for an tunic energy program not only proviciei 1 tiimect assistance to the Bovie' program but also relieved Senet scientists for the most critical pluses of weapons engineering smear By the and World Im- II the Soviet Union hl 'pllced top priority on the inclement of italic mm and hid begin its program with a '11 191E aha-1953 the material most needed for this program was pure urchin metal in sufficient giantity for the mention of reactors producing phtonico i o initiate this program at on advancei stage about a dozen Gemn scientists familiar with the net lurgy of the element were invited to lbscow A few weeks ieter the German stockpile of rather impure uranitm total ciao was taken by the Soviet Union -1- Approved for Release 2018 12 03 006741341 1 -Soviet administration proceeded to convert the bulk of the plant at Approved for Release o18 12 03 306741341 The German scientists continued their research at Factory 12 on the purification of uranium oxide and its reduction to metal The mektrostal intoan industrial complex for processing uranium ore reducing uranium oxide to metal fabrication of reactor fuel elements and for the mufacture and processing of critical materials for the program Because of the urgency of the program the conversion of the industrial plant and the construction of new buildings for yet unknown metallurgical processes proceeded simultaneously with the research work of the German scientists Apart from preparing pure uranimn salts by fractional and later By ether extraction the most important contribtition of the Cannon scientists was the develoment of a satisfactory metallurgical method for producing pure uranium metal The first attempts involving minor changes in the German technique of reducing uranium oxide with calcium proved unsatia- factory Success was achieved only when the uranium oxide was replaced by uranimn tetmfluoride The reducing element was pure calcium initially mnufactured by the Bitter-fem mectros-Chenical Combine East Germany and later by the Elektrostal Factory 12 - The batch rocess of producing uranim was carried out in a bomb in which about kilograms of uranium metal was reported to settle as a regulus following a rather violent exothermic reaction between calcium - and uranium tetrafluoride Except for an increase in weight of charge this was the method adopted by the Soviet production plant Although in the late spring of 1911-6 the mission of the Geman scientists was accomplished they still retained much value for the Soviet atomic energ r program They provided consulting service and did research on special projects on the diverse operations at Factory 12 'Ihey completed particularly helpful tasks relating to uranium ore processing - ether-extraction fabrication of uranium metal into fuel rods or slugs production of nickel harriefr separation of plutonium from irradiated slugs of uraniwn production of radium and many other activities at the plant Since an all Russian metallurgical laboratory-had finally been established at Elektrostal there was lees need for the Gamma scientists after 19117 In the following years the Gamma group began to disperse to other laboratories in the Soviet atomic energy aspire In 1950 Riehl went to the Sungul laboratory in the Urals to direct research in 1310- - physics Only a remnant of the original 19 scientists stayed at the Elektrostal Factory and in 1952 all of the remaining reseerrh worker-c- were sent to Sukhumi on the east shore of the Black for ness before their repatriation to Gensany - Approved for Release 2018 12 03 306741341 IT 306741341 Approved for R'elease 2018 12 03 006741341 I Discussant The Industrial Enviroment of the German Scientists at Elektrostal The ificance of the location of Facto lam The industrial and scientific activities of Factory 12 were of such a high priority and in- directly of such a great strategic importance on the international level' that the plant was located near the town of Elek trostal only about 53 kilometers east of Moscow The plant with its 10 000 to 15 000 employees fomed an industrial complex that could rely not only on Elektrostal but on the entire Hoecow area for labor mterials and special engineering and scientific skill Furthermore the particular location of this plant in a smewhat isolated and partially wooded area Just east of the town favored its protection from espionage One noteworthy advantage of this location no the good railway connections Although Factory 12 is correctly addressed on the Moscow- Kursh railway it is actually located on a short railway line connecting Hoginsk on the Moscow Germ main line on the north and szevo on the Trans-Siberian railway on the south The length of this connecting line is about 15 kilometers from Regina to Frazevo Hoginsh only some 8 kilometers from Elektrostal is frequently the recipient of mterial whose ultimte destination -is Factory 32 Elektrostal Factory la not only is somewhat east of the town of Elelrtrostal but also is east of the oginsk-lfrazevo mileay line Two spur tracks lead to the plant The plant ares ostensibly occupies a rectangle of several - square miles According to descriptions dated 1916 and earlier it'is- almost a town in itself I l'he mogouno of Factory 12 and Indics ons of syn root-wax- Activitz --Even before 19 5 the vicinity of Factory 12 was heavily guarded and off limits to all unauthorized persona Factory 32 was then an amnition loading plant primrily for artillery shells of median to 119ch calibre At that time the plant was reported'to he in operation on a 2h-hour basis Frees some reports 'it seems likely that the plant may have mnufactured the explosives as well an loaded the amunition In May and June 19% two series of explosions caused severe damage in the plant and broke vindows in the town of Elaktrostal ahmrt 1 1 2 kilometers away The most severe explosion occurred during thy and was felt even in Moscow a distance of 53 kilmteres - 'El'he nature of the work effectory 12 during World War' II 333 hazardous and often sufficiently inJurious to health to require special privileges for the workers As canpsred to the other large plants of about equal size - at Elektrostal such as the Elektrostal steel plant and the Hcvokrensatask Machine Building Plant Factory 12 provided better pay shorter hours and superior rations Imediately following World War 11 rather strangely the plant is said to have kept its labor force intact to have continued most or the some policies of liberal treatment of employees and to have worked Just as intensively The plant was still run by General Nevstruev who had gained omuniot favor in the l917 revolution and who supervised operation of the plant in the 191L045 period No one in the town appeared to know 1 4 I Approved for Release 2018 12 03 C06741341 C0674l341 I Approved for Release 2018 12 03 306741341 1 asset - that was inprogrees at the plant except that several explosions heard every day at the same time gave some credence to the mistaken helief that amnmition was still being manufactured Technological Potential of mektrostel --Of all industrial areas in Russia in 19 5 Elektrostal probably offered the best metallurgical facilities because the town had not suffered enemy action during World War II was close to Moscow and had well developed metallurgical industries The first stainless steel in Russia was manufactured at Elehtrostal during the early 1920's To provide for the demands of its electric alloy steel furnaces the torn was connected with the electrical system of Moscow mektrostal became one of three locations in the Soviet Union noted for the manufacture of stainless steel Besides steel production the availability of power brought related industry with facilities for casting forging rolling heat treating and machining These Operations with stainless alloy steels require more than ordinary metallurgical skill and are successful with uraniun only after considerable advanced develop- ment and adaptation - The fact that a new-method for the manufacture of stainless steel was discovered at Elektrostal is further evidence or a high technological level of the people-working there It will be recalled that I I Kom ov an outstanding expert on stainless steel is reported to have gone to Elektrostal for consulting purposes The objects of these visits may have been due to the difficulties with stainless steel encountered at the Historical unmanned Factors Relating'to the German Group - The 'Bac of the German Grou --The urgency with which the Soviet AE programmes prosecuted ileHS 195% and 191 is essentially the seine'ae the program that had been completed in the U s in 3 9113 mm and 1915 In both programs industrial plants were built while laboratories Vere still at work perfecting the technology that would be necessary to carry out these mgr-ems schaf t Amer chemical plant at Oranienburg lemony Under Riehl's- superrision umnimn metal was produced- in sufficient qnantities required for German reactor experiments In fact the operation was highly successful in over-Willing the initial order of 6 000 pounds of uranium placed in 1912 by the German government By 1915 10 000 pounds was said to have been produced The uranium was powdered and then sintered in cubes plates and other shapes Thorium radium and associated radioactive metals were also produced by the Auer group 1 Approved for Release 2018 12 03 006741341 c0674134i 1119 men The l adere of both left Russia in Berlin 1 Approved for Release 2018 12 03 00674134 - Rtehl end the one moat - than to Din Eduction of uraniwn mete etjAner was 112- Guenther Viz-the Juno assisting in this work were Dr Beinrich annex-stub Dr He here an expert on radical cal phenomena and health physics 1Heme rat a chemical engineer and a genetic and the ological eff or mdietion uranium at enter and um foundry_ at Zechllin 9 The second under Dr 1 Vladimir directne- for the Genetice Department at the'lfaieer Wilhelm Institute for eaearch Berlin 'Ihere were three significant gmemhera of this who collabom the et en Bo and Ker-1 Guenther Zimner re biophysiciete who specialized in effects of maimctiuty on 11 15213 absorption 0- Varieue types of radiation and Identi cation of a'iseionproducts Dr Alemder eteeh the third and estgof the a medical doctor interested in chengee in' the organs of the bcdy caused by radiation or Theo eove supplemented from the standpoint of health phyeice the mark of the first roup under Rieh1 has be in scientific attaiment Dr Hi researches 'en 'genetica at the Kaiser Wilhelu z Institute fer- 313 Viet nice The had appeared at Auer In in May 193 5 scarcely two weeke after its capture by Russian troops P L ox' 12 1 3 Kharittm or the Institute or themcel P-hysicie Approved for Release 2018 12 03 C06741341 C0674l341 Approved for Release 2018 12 03 006741341 Riehl flew to Moscow to establish the laboratory and by late '72- 23 of the same car the principal members of the Riehl group had joined him By early 19 the three members of the associated group from the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Brain Research were also in Moscow Since Dr Timofeef-Ressovsky apparently was imprisoned for several years for not heading Soviet regents in the 1930's to return to his natiVe land Dr RiehJ was the gtiiding force of the new combined grousz The Choice of Factory 12 at mektrostal for the Riehl Group and Some Details of Administration The Riehl group was not imedintely established at ektrostal In June 1916 when Riehl flew to lbscov he was accompained by Ortmann Rie rre Thieme Sommerfeld Wirths and their families Tobien travelled with the above group by air and Kirst with wife came by'train with the baggage of the rest of the group For about two weeks the group settled at loss a recreation center near the Ieningrad Clmussee in northeast Moscow In July at a high level meeting with Eerie attended by Germn scientists Riehl Hertz Vollmer von Ardenne Doepel and the Russians Colonel Professor Alexandrov Prof E lrchatov and Zavenyagen it was decided that Riehl should continue the same work on the production of uranium metal that he and his group had been doing in Germany Immedi- ately following this conference a search for a suitable site for a laboratory began Both Riehl and Wirths visited various likely locations Wirths accompanied by Colonel Shevchenko of NH 9 and three other Russians even went to K'rasnoyarsk where they visited a mall platinum works about 15 miles down the Yenesii Iran the city In August 1915 spurred perhaps by the dropping of the atomic bomb at Hiroshima the Soviet administration decided on immediate action and selected Factory 12 mektrostal for the production of uranimn metal The ideal characteristics of this location may 1tel have been imediately realized by the newly-created First Chief Directorate attached to the Cmmcil of Ministers The head of this new sanitation was Semen-1 Vanni-k0 who only recently had been Peoples' Emissar- for Armaments In his former position he doubtless had had much information on the plant - In addition to the principal members listed here there were Schmidts who worked as an electrician for Dr Zimmer Walter Someri eld who was a chemist under Dr Thicme Dr Eugene Baroni an Austrian physicist pre viously interested in heavy water and Herr Walter Riehl's brother-in-lav who acted as administrative assistant Dr Baroni may be considered as a possible replacement for Dr Rises who left the group in - February 19 to go to the Pose Inboratory at Obninskoye about 110 kilometers southwest of Moscow Where nearly all of the German laboratory equipment for melting uranium had been sent Approved for Release 2018 12 03 006741341 CO6741341 Approvedlfor Release 2018 12 03 306741341 - Factory 123 was under the administration of the PCB cf the Council of I Einisters beginning in August 1911 5 and although Riehl stated that his group was directly subordinated to the FCD of the Council of Eitnisters there was a strong Mm'influence in the guidance of the Rich grout The 9th Directorate of the 2WD with Zarenyagen as its head under Eerie was established in 19115 primerily to control the Soviet A23 effort which it gradually began to take over In 193 6 Za'renysgen also become deputy to General Vennikov of the First Chief Directorate of the Council of Ministers Apparently the maintained a most rigid security control of the giant Each section of the works was effectiVely sealed off and admittance was gained only by means of spacial passeshaving photographs everal days of waiting in a guest house outside the plant grounds were smetimes'neoeasary and can be explained possibly by the time required for the final MVD clearances and for the gureperation of- special credentials Probable Administration of 12 and Soviet Concern for the Rich Groug -- The probable status of the Riehl Group in the organization of Factory 12 can be deduced from the fact that when a protest toGeneral Eavenyahen was written it was given to Riehl who transmitted the letter to the director of Factory 12 who in turn gave the letter to General Eavenyagen an subordinate of both Ber-1a and Vannikov new director 1rho came to Factory 12 in the spring of 19% reported to he Kallistrov by repatriated German scientists took-vigorous action on complaints of insufficient cleanliness in the pilot plant and in the laboratory and had the rooms provided with bathroom tile The chain of command for passing camications and the concern of the director of Factory 12 in the work of the German group appears to indicate Joint supervision of this group by both PCB and MVD Apparently the aim of the Soviet authorities was to use the Riehl group as a high level scientific staff as well compartmentalized as possible from the production organization and the new Soviet laboratory at Factory 12 Ease of the Gemens mentioned that within sight of the building where they worked there was a new Soviet laboratory with completely ungomm functions It is roasoxlable to assume that a primary goal of the Soviet authorities was to become so Zentifically self- - sufficient as 300 as possible Dr Riehl as the administrator of the Geman laboratory use close to Zavenyagen and gave him reports of progress 'every two weeks in the early stages of the program It was felt by the German group that these reports were used by the Soviet authorities either to cornpare their work with that of an independent Soviet labozutory or to serve as the basis for other experimentation Approved for Release 2018 i2 03 306741341 C0674134l I Approved for Release 2018 12 03 006741341 4-343-114-9 Dr Riewe was charged with equippihg the Riehl laboratory the me of ordered by More was the usual-type suitable for almost any physical research laboratory consisting of such item as volmeters bridges Geiger-Mala counters and uplifiers In addition Rieve was said to hate placed orders in the United States for more complicated equipnent north almost $00 000 Per efforts gore spared to assure good performance from the Riehl group i The page Technical'contributions of Riehl's laboratory at Factory 12 Uranium of Egg Purity During the closing months of-19h5 and early 19% the German group produced metallic uraniinn by the same methods they had used at the using captured German materials The process involved the precipitation of uraniun oxalate its conversion to uranium nitrate and the purification of this salt by fractional he necessarily high purity'requirenents for the metal determined the number of With the relativaly impure uranium of German origin morons may have been necessary to attain the required high'degree of parity Hhen' sufficiently mm'nmnium nitrate had been produced the material was dissolved in distilled water and amnitm nranste precipitated out by the addition of concentrated amnion hydroldde 7 After the amnonimn uranate had been precipitated out it was dried and ignitedin order to themally decompose the salt into amenia gas and 3' residue of pure uranim oxidantlgoa - The was reduced to metallic uranium by the M535 process using me calcium as a reducing agent Metallic calcitun about 20 percent-1n excess of the theoretical quantity and united with the Ego An appreciable mm of calcium chloride was added as aflux the mixture was then placed in a calcium oxide lined sheet iron crucible of 100 to 150 liter capacity covered with an inert abnosphere of dry argon gas and heeted to 700% A violent exothemic reactor then raised the temperature to about 1100 c Arte - the reaction had been completed the regalus was broken from the crucible ground to a powder and the soluble components dissolved in water and neutralized with m The uranitan metal was senaratednechanicauy from the unreduced U303 and other foreign materials The uranium metal painler was thoroughly dried with alcohol and then melted in a-high mini-once The furnace operated'et egressure of 10'5 mm mercury mar the ursnitm had been melted it was cast in graphite ingot molds The entire melting process was carried out under the high momma There have been one reports which indicated that the uranium was cast directly into fuel slugs If this use done at all it must have been at the very early stages when proper working equipnent was not available or when the uranium was so impure as to preclude fabrication by approved methods of pleatic infomtion It is gene axiomatic that tlfe must the meta the sift- er and more ductile it is for any type of working -3- Approved for Release 2018 12 03 006741341 6 7 4 3 4 1 Approved for Release 2018 12 03 006741341 3 mum of Extrane Purit -- sy winter 19% Riehl's laboratory was engaged in a critical struggle to find a method to produce metallic uranium of sufficient purit - Mich early effort had been expended on the powder metallurgy of uranium having a_ purity of only 99 15 percent This was doubtlessly' material produced by calcium reduction of confiscated Germn uranium oxide of relatively poor grade There is a good indication that numerous other elements even sodium were actively considered and very possibly used for'rediiction of uranihm oxide in the initial experiments It was- finally realized that a single change in the process vas'far from sufficient and that numerous changes would he needed - i o prodnce minim having not only the reqaisiteuechanicel propertieahut also the low cross-section needed for reactor application it was necessary to detencine the most objectional impurities and to take very special precautions to eliminate them The most objections proved to he boron nitrogen iron and the rare earths especially gadolinium Baron and the rare earths were found to he fundamental contaminantsof the German uranium stock The nitroge n was introduced by the calcimn vhich had been obtained frun Bitterfeld while the iron had been largely introduced by the steel processing equipnent containing the nranimn charge In addition to this various other impurities were introduced by the calcium chloride flux used to form a low melting mixture with the highly refractory calcium oxide resulting from the initial reduction of the 0308 by metallic calcim To produce uranium of requisite purity especially rm the stand- point of long cross-section changes were necessary in the following - steps in mufacture 1 'the mmerous fractional mmtallizations rare replaced by ether extraction process 2 Reduction ofthe ags was replaced by the reduction of UP retaining the calcium for reduction metal 3 The calcium used as an electrolytic product was replaced by multiple distilled calcium 'l he steel of the processing equipnent has altered and special alloy steels utilized to reducethe- likelihood of contmnination of the material by flaking off of foreign oxides and 5 Calcium chloride of better than phamcentical purity was substitutedi or the neural salt being used A most interesting further development along the above line was the necessity of resorting to induction melting using induction furnaces purchased in the United States The mphite crucibles initially used in the process were also of American origin and the vacmnh pumps bore Reports of Him Hirths and Richl agree on the use of American sanipment - Approved for Release 2018 12 03 006741341 CO6741341 I tt Approved for Release 2018 12 03 006741341 the name or a tell-known American firm This use of American equin- ment was only temporary until the Soviet industry could be geared to produce the necessary equipnent It is possible that some of this eglipment we produced within the confines of Factory 12 itself but- this is not definitely known - Honeof the changes and alterations mentioned in the above paragraphs were easily made Even the extremely accurate chanical analyses necessary parts per million or parts per billion were known to tax the ingenuity and scientific resources of the Soviet Union The'most delicate of these analyses were conducted at the Inistitnte oi Geochemistry under the direction of A P Vinogradov Irhe analytical section of Factory 12 was also under the direction of A P Vinny-odor After Factory 12 had completed its analysis of uranium the uranium was sent to another laboratory in Moscow for a final check presmnably by neutron counting - In every instance the best available talent of the Soviet'Union'uae used to attack each problem Some Critical Processes at Factory 12 Ether Eda-action Perhaps one of the most important changes in amnion processing was the substitution of ether extraction for the laborious and time construing fractional Dining early 19% there was continued difficulty with impurities in the uranilm produced by Gem'an practices 1Ellen copies of_thc - ens-tn report became available in 19116 it was immediately decided to copy the ether extraction process revealed for the first time to be feasible on an industrial scale While Wirths Thieme and Born were developing the details of the process from lurch to July 195 a plant was being built and was ready for operation in July The Gem contribution consisted of measurements of distribution coefficients solution towel-atoms eolution'times and optimum volmes for efficient operation Reduction of Uranium Fluoride braslcium -- Although the use of the ether extraction process reduced rare earths in the uranium nitrate to the required micro percentage there was still difficulty arising from too high residual percentage of boron there was also difficulty in obtaining a good separation of regulus from Blag in calcium reduction of uranium oxide It was accordingly decided to change the process from reduction of uranium oxide to reduction of uranium tetrei luoride Calcium of high purity was still retained as the critical reactant 'Ehe uranium tetrafluoride one produced by exposing uranium dioxide to the action of acqueous hydrogen fluoride the reaction of uranium tetrafluoride with excess calcium in a bomb was carried out in a manner quite similar to the earlier uranium oxide-calcium process 10 - Approved for Release 2018 12 03 006741341 006741341' 1 l Approved for Release 2018 12 03 006741341 The Batch Process --The so called bomb ind-the precess finally adopted consisted of a sheet steel container lined with tamed calcium uoride as a refractory 'Ihe inside diameter was probably about 15 inches and the depth 20 to 25 inches After the steel crucible was filled and the ignition mixture put in place the steel cylinder was put inside a heavy- east iron container with 8 1111 The 1111 was closed and the entire - placed inside a steel-lined reduction with a heavy 'iron door xes the container was evacuated and an argon atmosphere introduced The reaction initiated by the igniter generally was template other 2 to 5 minutes and after about an hour the still highly heater container was removed to another section for further cooling The Processing of Uranium Metal --A regulus of uranim usually settled to the bottom of the crucible with a clear-cut separation between metal and slug The regnlus the under high mnim induction furnace conditions for out-gassing and' final purification Vacate casting in graphite took place in the same vacuum unit as the melting There were six to eight of these mil-ting units in operation at the plant Although Bane accents state that sluge were cast directly in the vacuum unit - it is believed much more likely that the cast ingot was given a preliminary forging and than rolled to desired shapes as is claimed by probably one reliable source Cylindrical uranium shapes were sent to another part of the plant for canning The production of uranium ribbon wire and other 'shapes was achieved at the Barman pilot plant in mid-19116 and probably these techniques were adopted inmdiately by the nearby Soviet production plant Relative in uence of the German Research Although the Germ group gave occasional assistance to may of the activities at the canpler that included not only are dressing uranium ertraction and processing facilities but also radius calcilm and barrier production canning operations plutonium purification temporary 0-235 facilities and probably others it is believed that the major contributions were ether extraction and calcium reduction of uranium tetra uoride These two contributions nade during their first year at Elektrostal may have advanced the entire Soviet program by as much as 6 months Gemen work on the processing of uranium ore may have been of sense assistance to the Soviet-ore dressing experts but there in no special technology in this process that could not have been devised quite readin by airedmet or by several other Soviet organizations The degree in which the Germn scientists were eminently successful my be gauged by the magnitude of the prizes awarded 'to then by the Soviet Union Riehl was created a Hero of Soviet Labor with very substantial monetary cmpensatiens Thiame and Wirths shared the Order of the Red Banner 0 Se viet labor and 100 000 rubles with Krashov Golmnov and Kylov leading Soviet engineers at Factory 12 The amine cylinders for the Soviet reactor were canned in aluminumsheaths to protect them from corrosion by the cooling medium or the pile W- Approved for Release 2018 12 03 C06741341 CO6741341 I- - Approved for Release 2018 12 03 006741341 The Dissolution and Repatriation of the Rich Group Following their essential contributions to the soviet atomic energy program in 19116 and 19 1w the Riehl group although still contributing on important peripheral proaects slowly began to decline in numbers and importance In December 1911-7 Zimmer Born and Catsch went to amgul to work under in the field of biophysics and effects of radiation on living organisms in uhich'they bad had most experience and could make the moat contributions Also in D cemb er 19W Riewe left Mektrostel and began his work at Obninskoye Riehl Wirths Theime and the less importentnembers of the Riehl group for the most part stayed at nektroetal'until about 1950 In 1950 Riehl went to Sungul to take the place of Timoi'eef-Ressovsky who'had been head of Biophysics research at the Sung-u Institute Both Wirths and Samerfeld were sent to Obninskoye during August 1950 Theime steyedat Factory 12 until about 1952 when he wentto Sukhumi before repatriation It appeere that with few exceptions the members of the Riehl group were gathered together once more at the Institute at mm for 2 or 3 years as 9 means of forgetfulness or quarantine before their return to Germany in March 1955 Approved for Release 2018 12 03 C06741341 Approved for Release 2018 12 03 006741341 I Approved for Release 2018 12 03 006741341 This document is from the holdings of The National Security Archive Suite 701 Gelman Library The George Washington University 2130 H Street NW Washington D C 20037 Phone 202 994-7000 Fax 202 994-7005 nsarchiv@gwu edu