German Scientist Says Bonn Knew Its Men Were Aiding Nasser Jet Program

A West German scientist who, for three years, directed a jet fighter production program in Egypt, has charged that the West German Government not only had full knowledge of the work of German technicians in Egypt on fighter plane construction, but also approved and encouraged it, the Daily Telegraph reported today from Bonn.

Dr. Heinrich Gronau, who directed the program at Helwan, near Cairo, said he worked under Prof. Willi Messerschmitt on HA-200 and HA-300 jet fighters. He said that the West German Government even urged technicians who wanted to return home, after realizing the anti-Israel nature of their work, to remain at those assignments.

Dr. Gronau, who has been directing a section of the West German Space Research Society since his return last year, also confirmed the military nature of Egyptian rockets which was recently revealed by H. Polenz, a West German aircraft engineer.

Dr. Gronau said he had suppressed his own original misgivings on being assured at the start by Prof. Messerschmitt that the West German Government “approved and supported” the project. He added that his doubts returned in the summer of 1962, when President Nasser of Egypt said in a speech he intended to destroy Israel. The West German scientist stated he then went to the West German Embassy in Cairo, saying he wanted to go home, but that the military attache at the Embassy urged him to stay at his work in Egypt.

The attache, Col. Kriebel, told him, Dr. Gronau said, that it was the wish of the West German Government and of the then Defense Minister, Franz Joseph Strauss, that the technicians remain in Egypt “to prevent Russians from coming in to take their places.”