Verein für Raumschiffahrt

The Verein für Raumschiffahrt, abbreviated VfR and meaning Society for Space Travel, was a German amateur rocket association active before the Second World War, with some members from outside Germany. It was founded in 1927 by Johannes Winkler, together with Max Valier and Willy Ley, who had advised on Fritz Lang's film Frau im Mond. Its first successful liquid-fuel test firing, lasting five minutes, was carried out by Max Valier on 25 January 1930. From a former ammunition dump at Reinickendorf, the Raketenflugplatz Berlin, the group launched increasingly powerful rockets for about three years, the best of its Repulsor series reaching over one kilometre in altitude. Army officers including Walter Dornberger watched its launches and offered a development contract. Disagreement over that offer and a lack of funding led the society to dissolve itself in January 1934.