Ferdinand Brandner
Encyclopedia
Dr. Ferdinand Brandner was an Austrian aerospace designer, an S.S. Standartenführer
in Nazi Germany, and was responsible for the most powerful turboprop engine ever built, the Kuznetsov NK-12
, while interned in the Soviet Union
under Operation Ossawakim following World War II
.
, his father being a low-ranking government official. He served in the Freikorps Oberland
in 1921, and went onto study in Vienna, earning a degree in engineering in 1925. He began designing diesel engines for locomotives, working at the Humboldt-Deutz-Motoren AG in the Rhineland
.
In 1930 Brandner joined the National Socialist Factory Organization and the Technical Engineers Division of the NSDAP, or Nazi Party, becoming an engineering consultant to the Austrian Nazi party in 1935. He would rise within the S.S. to the rank of colonel (Standartenführer
).
By 1936 Brandner was working at the Junkers-Motorenbau factory in Dessau designing aircraft engines, and eventually assisted with the war effort for Nazi Germany.
In the spring of 1945, Brandner was captured by the Red Army trying to flee to Prague
near the end of World War II. He was flown to Moscow as part of Operation Ossawakim, where he was assigned to work with Nikolai Dmitriyevich Kuznetsov
. Eventually the Soviets dismantled the Junkers factory in Dessau and the BMW factory in Stassfurt, moving them to Kuibyshev, inside the U.S.S.R.
Longing to escape Communism, he was released from the U.S.S.R. in 1953, where he returned to Austria. He began working at Maschinefabrik Andritz AG as the technical director. From there he became managing director at BMW Aircraft Engines.
In 1959, Brandner left Europe for Egypt, where the government was recruiting former Nazis for their top-secret aerospace program. His project was codenamed "135", with the duty of designing a jet engine for a fighter already constructed. In 1962, the presence of former Nazi scientists in Egypt was exposed in the world press, leading to a regional crisis from Israel to Germany.
In 1972–1973, he worked as a professor in China giving lectures on engine construction.
Brandner died December 20, 1986 in Salzburg
.
. This engine was first tested in 1953, and had successful performances, being placed in the Tupolev Tu-95
initially.
Brandner's work in the U.S.S.R. set the standard for Soviet heavy turboprop
production and ultimately under his leadership the world's most powerful turboprop aircraft engine was born, the Kuznetsov NK-12.
was a jet engine designed to power the Helwan HA-300 jet fighter being produced by the Egyptian government.
Standartenführer
Standartenführer was a Nazi Party paramilitary rank that was used in the so-called Nazi combat-organisations: SA, SS, NSKK and the NSFK...
in Nazi Germany, and was responsible for the most powerful turboprop engine ever built, the Kuznetsov NK-12
Kuznetsov NK-12
-See also:-External links:*...
, while interned in the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
under Operation Ossawakim following World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Life
Brandner was born November 17, 1903 to Sudeten German parents in ViennaVienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, his father being a low-ranking government official. He served in the Freikorps Oberland
Freikorps Oberland
The Freikorps Oberland was a free corps in the early years of the Weimar Republic, fighting against Communist and Polish insurgents...
in 1921, and went onto study in Vienna, earning a degree in engineering in 1925. He began designing diesel engines for locomotives, working at the Humboldt-Deutz-Motoren AG in the Rhineland
Rhineland
Historically, the Rhinelands refers to a loosely-defined region embracing the land on either bank of the River Rhine in central Europe....
.
In 1930 Brandner joined the National Socialist Factory Organization and the Technical Engineers Division of the NSDAP, or Nazi Party, becoming an engineering consultant to the Austrian Nazi party in 1935. He would rise within the S.S. to the rank of colonel (Standartenführer
Standartenführer
Standartenführer was a Nazi Party paramilitary rank that was used in the so-called Nazi combat-organisations: SA, SS, NSKK and the NSFK...
).
By 1936 Brandner was working at the Junkers-Motorenbau factory in Dessau designing aircraft engines, and eventually assisted with the war effort for Nazi Germany.
In the spring of 1945, Brandner was captured by the Red Army trying to flee to Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
near the end of World War II. He was flown to Moscow as part of Operation Ossawakim, where he was assigned to work with Nikolai Dmitriyevich Kuznetsov
Nikolai Dmitriyevich Kuznetsov
Nikolai Dmitriyevich Kuznetsov was a Chief Designer of the Soviet Design Bureau OKB-276 which deals with the development, manufacture and distribution of equipment, especially aircraft engines, turbines and gearboxes.-Biography:...
. Eventually the Soviets dismantled the Junkers factory in Dessau and the BMW factory in Stassfurt, moving them to Kuibyshev, inside the U.S.S.R.
Longing to escape Communism, he was released from the U.S.S.R. in 1953, where he returned to Austria. He began working at Maschinefabrik Andritz AG as the technical director. From there he became managing director at BMW Aircraft Engines.
In 1959, Brandner left Europe for Egypt, where the government was recruiting former Nazis for their top-secret aerospace program. His project was codenamed "135", with the duty of designing a jet engine for a fighter already constructed. In 1962, the presence of former Nazi scientists in Egypt was exposed in the world press, leading to a regional crisis from Israel to Germany.
In 1972–1973, he worked as a professor in China giving lectures on engine construction.
Brandner died December 20, 1986 in Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
.
Jumo 222
Begun in 1937, Brandner and his team received an order for the development of the Jumo 222 engine, with a horsepower of 3000, where it was eventually sent into production in 1941.Ju-288
His design team was responsible for the Ju-288, designated a top priority by the Reichsluftfahrtministerium in 1941.RD-10
Brandner and his team recreated the Jumo 004, which they had begun working on in 1944 in Germany, becoming known under its Soviet name as the RD-10.Jumo 012
In 1947, following demands from the Soviet hierarchy, Brandner and his team reconstructed the Jumo 012, a powerful engine they had begun working on during the war in Germany. In 1948, they had completed the construction, but production was halted.TW-2/NK-4
After work on the 012 was halted, design and construction of the 6,000 horsepower Jumo 022 began, with Brandner overseeing construction of the project. This project's Soviet name was the TW-2 and NK-4. The engine passed a state-examination in October 1950. This engine paved the way for the TV-022 and 2TV-2F.NK-12
Brandner headed a team which then focused their attention on a new Soviet demand, a 12,000 horsepower engine which would become known as the Kuznetsov NK-12Kuznetsov NK-12
-See also:-External links:*...
. This engine was first tested in 1953, and had successful performances, being placed in the Tupolev Tu-95
Tupolev Tu-95
The Tupolev Tu-95 is a large, four-engine turboprop-powered strategic bomber and missile platform. First flown in 1952, the Tu-95 entered service with the former Soviet Union in 1956 and is expected to serve the Russian Air Force until at least 2040...
initially.
Soviet legacy
Brandner's work in the U.S.S.R. set the standard for Soviet heavy turboprop
Turboprop
A turboprop engine is a type of turbine engine which drives an aircraft propeller using a reduction gear.The gas turbine is designed specifically for this application, with almost all of its output being used to drive the propeller...
production and ultimately under his leadership the world's most powerful turboprop aircraft engine was born, the Kuznetsov NK-12.
Egyptian designs
The Brandner E-300Brandner E-300
-References:*Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1969-70. London:Jane's Yearbooks, 1969....
was a jet engine designed to power the Helwan HA-300 jet fighter being produced by the Egyptian government.