Hermann-Oberth-Gesellschaft
Professional services
UnclaimedA German voluntary association that developed experimental rockets, promoted peaceful space research, and advanced public and technical education in astronautics.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Hermann-Oberth-Gesellschaft was a German voluntary association devoted to rocketry, astronautics, and the peaceful development of space technology. It existed under that name from 1963 until its merger in 1993, but its institutional history began in 1952, when rocket pioneer Karl Poggensee and ten other specialists founded the Deutsche Agentur für Raumfahrtangelegenheiten, or DAFRA. The founders wanted postwar West Germany to contribute to space research and to ensure that their work was directed toward peaceful exploration and technological development. The association combined practical engineering with advocacy, education, and public communication. Its early activities included the design and testing of experimental rockets at Hespenbusch near Großenkneten. As the rockets grew more capable, the available test area became inadequate, and operations were moved in 1957 to the Wadden area near Cuxhaven. The organization was admitted to the International Astronautical Federation in 1956, giving it a connection to the international astronautics community. In the late 1950s, DAFRA was reorganized as the Deutsche Raketen-Gesellschaft. August Friedrich Staats, who had led DAFRA, became president of the new organization and later served as a vice president of the International Astronautical Federation. The group pursued several experimental programs at Cuxhaven. These included mail-rocket experiments in 1959, the single-stage Kumulus sounding rocket, first launched in December 1960 to approximately 20 kilometres, and the two-stage Cirrus rocket, first launched in September 1961 to approximately 50 kilometres. The organization also worked with Berthold Seliger, who established the Seliger Forschungs- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft in 1961. That company developed more powerful two- and three-stage rockets, some capable of reaching around 150 kilometres, while cooperating with the Deutsche Raketen-Gesellschaft. Relations deteriorated after a controversial demonstration on 5 December 1963 in which militarily usable rockets were shown to representatives from non-NATO countries. The cooperation ended, although the Deutsche Raketen-Gesellschaft continued a smaller program of high-altitude launches, mail-rocket experiments, and work on hybrid-propellant and steam-rocket propulsion. With Hermann Oberth's consent, the Deutsche Raketen-Gesellschaft adopted the name Hermann-Oberth-Gesellschaft in 1963. The new name connected the organization to Oberth's pioneering theoretical work, especially his 1923 book The Rocket into Planetary Space, while preserving the association's emphasis on practical experimentation and public education. After rocket launching in the Cuxhaven Wadden area ended, the association increasingly concentrated on nationwide outreach. It organized lectures, space congresses, and educational activities, and supported students through rocket and space technology teaching and testing centres. The association remained closely associated with August Friedrich Staats for almost four decades. He stepped down as president in 1990 after nearly forty years in leadership and was succeeded by Hans Josef Rath. Staats became honorary and vice president. Later that year, the Hermann-Oberth-Gesellschaft began negotiations with several German aerospace organizations, including the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Luft- und Raumfahrt, the Gesellschaft für Raketentechnik und Weltraumfahrt, and the Fachverband für Luftfahrt. These discussions resulted in a 1993 merger that helped create the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Luft- und Raumfahrt Lilienthal-Oberth, generally known as the DGLR. The Hermann-Oberth-Gesellschaft therefore ceased to exist as an independent association in 1993.
History
The Hermann-Oberth-Gesellschaft was the final name of a German rocket and astronautics association whose institutional origins lay in the Deutsche Agentur für Raumfahrtangelegenheiten, founded on 21 September 1952. Karl Poggensee initiated the organization with ten other rocket specialists. They sought to establish a German contribution to space research after the Second World War and emphasized the peaceful use of rockets and space technology. The association initially conducted rocket tests at Hespenbusch near Großenkneten. Its admission to the International Astronautical Federation in 1956 marked an important step toward international recognition. In preparation for its 1958 conference, the association was reorganized as the Deutsche Raketen-Gesellschaft, with August Friedrich Staats continuing as its leading figure. Testing moved to the Cuxhaven Wadden area in 1957, where the group conducted mail-rocket experiments and progressively more ambitious high-altitude launches. The Kumulus rocket made its first flight in December 1960 and reached approximately 20 kilometres. The two-stage Cirrus followed in September 1961 and reached approximately 50 kilometres. Berthold Seliger also worked within this wider institutional environment before founding a separate research and development company in 1961. That company produced more capable two- and three-stage rockets, reportedly reaching altitudes of up to 150 kilometres. A controversial demonstration of militarily applicable rockets at Cuxhaven on 5 December 1963, attended by military representatives from non-NATO countries, caused the cooperation to end. In 1963, the Deutsche Raketen-Gesellschaft was renamed the Hermann-Oberth-Gesellschaft with Oberth's approval. The association continued some rocket activity, including high-altitude launches through 1964 and experiments involving mail rockets, hybrid propulsion, and steam propulsion until 1976. Over time, however, it shifted away from launch operations. Its main work became public relations for international space programs, including lectures and space congresses, as well as educational support for students through rocket and space technology teaching and test centres. August Friedrich Staats remained president until 1990, when Hans Josef Rath succeeded him. Staats became honorary and vice president. The organization then entered negotiations with other German aviation and space bodies. The process concluded in 1993 with a merger into the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Luft- und Raumfahrt Lilienthal-Oberth, ending the Hermann-Oberth-Gesellschaft as an independent organization.
- 1993
Merger into DGLR
[1]The association merged with other German aerospace organizations into the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Luft- und Raumfahrt Lilienthal-Oberth.
- 1990
Leadership succession
[1]Hans Josef Rath succeeded August Friedrich Staats as president, while Staats became honorary and vice president.
- 1976
End of reported propulsion experiments
[1]The association's later experimental work with mail rockets, hybrid-propellant systems, and steam propulsion continued until approximately this period.
- 1963
Renamed Hermann-Oberth-Gesellschaft
[1]The Deutsche Raketen-Gesellschaft adopted its later name with Hermann Oberth's consent.
- 1961
First Cirrus launch
[1]The two-stage Cirrus rocket was first launched on 16 September and reached approximately 50 kilometres.
- 1960
First Kumulus launch
[1]The single-stage Kumulus high-altitude rocket made its first launch and reached approximately 20 kilometres.
- 1958
Reorganized as Deutsche Raketen-Gesellschaft
[1]The association was transformed from DAFRA into the Deutsche Raketen-Gesellschaft as part of a broader effort to organize German space research.
- 1956
International Astronautical Federation membership
[1]DAFRA was accepted as a member of the International Astronautical Federation at its Rome congress.
- 1952
Institutional predecessor founded
[1]DAFRA was founded on 21 September by Karl Poggensee and ten rocket specialists to promote peaceful space research and German participation in astronautics.
Products and positioning
A noncommercial German astronautics association positioned between an experimental engineering society, a public-education organization, and an advocate for peaceful national participation in space research.
Single-stage high-altitude rocket · 1960
Kumulus
Kumulus was an experimental single-stage high-altitude rocket developed by the Deutsche Raketen-Gesellschaft, the predecessor organization of the Hermann-Oberth-Gesellschaft. Its first launch took place in December 1960 from the Cuxhaven testing area, and the vehicle reached approximately 20 kilometres. It represented the association's effort to demonstrate indigenous German capability in sounding-rocket design and launch operations.
Two-stage high-altitude rocket · 1961
Cirrus
Cirrus was a two-stage experimental high-altitude rocket associated with the Deutsche Raketen-Gesellschaft. Its first launch occurred on 16 September 1961, reaching approximately 50 kilometres. The project extended the association's work beyond smaller experimental vehicles and demonstrated a more advanced approach to staged rocket flight.
Experimental rocket system · 1959
Mail rockets
The association conducted mail-rocket experiments, including launches in the Cuxhaven area in 1959. These projects combined public demonstration with practical experimentation in rocket transport concepts. Mail rockets remained part of the organization's experimental interests after its principal high-altitude launch program diminished.
Educational program
Rocket and space technology teaching and testing centres
After the end of regular Cuxhaven launches, the Hermann-Oberth-Gesellschaft supported students through teaching and testing centres focused on rocket and space technology. These were educational and technical activities rather than commercial products, reflecting the association's later emphasis on developing expertise and maintaining public engagement with astronautics.
Controversies
1963
Disputed demonstration of militarily usable rockets
A demonstration by the Seliger Forschungs- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft on 5 December 1963 showed militarily usable rockets to military representatives from non-NATO countries. The episode was disputed and led to the breakdown of cooperation with the Deutsche Raketen-Gesellschaft.
Marketing campaigns
- Peaceful exploration and development of space
Germany
The association's founding program promoted peaceful space exploration and sought a German contribution to space research and technology.
Outcome. The principle shaped the organization's early identity and its later educational and public-relations work.
- Space lectures and congresses
Germany
Following the reduction of launch activities, the Hermann-Oberth-Gesellschaft organized lecture evenings and space congresses to explain international space programs and maintain public interest in astronautics.
Outcome. The association became increasingly focused on outreach, knowledge exchange, and education rather than regular rocket launches.
Brand decisions
1993
Merge into a unified German aerospace organizationM&ABackground
The association entered negotiations with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Luft- und Raumfahrt, the Gesellschaft für Raketentechnik und Weltraumfahrt, and the Fachverband für Luftfahrt.
Action taken
The Hermann-Oberth-Gesellschaft merged with these organizations into the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Luft- und Raumfahrt Lilienthal-Oberth.
Aftermath
The Hermann-Oberth-Gesellschaft ceased to operate as an independent association.
1990
Change presidential leadershipOtherBackground
August Friedrich Staats resigned after nearly forty years as president.
Action taken
Hans Josef Rath became president, while Staats assumed honorary and vice-presidential roles.
Aftermath
The change preceded negotiations to combine the association with other German aerospace organizations.
1963
Adopt the Hermann-Oberth-Gesellschaft nameStrategyBackground
The Deutsche Raketen-Gesellschaft sought an identity linked to Hermann Oberth, a major pioneer of scientific rocketry and astronautics.
Action taken
With Oberth's consent, the organization changed its name to Hermann-Oberth-Gesellschaft.
Aftermath
The new name remained in use until the association merged into a broader German aerospace organization in 1993.
1957
Move rocket testing to CuxhavenStrategyBackground
The early test area at Hespenbusch became too small as the association's rockets increased in scale and performance.
Action taken
Rocket testing was relocated to the Wadden area near Cuxhaven.
Aftermath
Cuxhaven became the principal site for the association's mail-rocket and high-altitude rocket experiments.
Sources1 sources
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