Verein für Raumschiffahrt
From The Space Library
The German Rocket Society.
Taken in Berlin in 1930, from left to right, Rudolf Nebel, Dr. Alexander Ritter (Director of Chemisch-Technische-Reichsanstalt), Paul Ehmayer, Kurt Heinisch, unknown (possibly Hans Bermüller), Hermann Oberth, unknown student friend of Von Braun (possibly Helmut Zoike), Klaus Riedel (holding a Mirak rocket), Wernher von Braun, Chemisch-Technische-Reichsanstalt foreman.
Members of the VfR in April 1930.
The image shows Johannes Winkler, Willy Ley, Wernher von Braun(?), Rudolf Nebel, Max Valier and Erich Wurm. Frequently attributed to Spring 1931, the image was taken at an event which Ley described in his book Rockets and Missiles. Valier was killed in a rocket explosion in May 1930, just days after this image was taken. Behind the group can be seen a mock-up of a large rocket which is hanging from the ceiling on a parachute. This is often referred to as the first picture of Wernher von Braun but there are many other images of him at younger ages. However, if it is in fact Von Braun in the image it would be the only picture of him with Valier. The original attribution of date and names comes from Ley's book. However, since the date is clearly wrong it is possible that more of the attribution is incorrect. Winkler, Ley, Nebel and Valier are instantly recognisable, but in other images of Von Braun from 1930, such as the one at top, he appears quite different.
