The Haunebu Project

In Prague, Rudolf Schriever and Klaus Habermohl started a project to build a new type of disk shaped known as the Haunebu series. These disk-shaped aircraft had a ring where all the mechanical parts for propulsion were held, and a fixed central cockpit for the crew. These crafts were quick and agile, with the ability to also carry weapons such as guns and cannons. The Haunebu series outperformed all other disk shape crafts, due to how revolutionary it was. All of the scientist, engineers, and technicians who worked on it, were all hand-picked from all over Germany, to help refine the airframe, propulsion, and also the weapons system.

The team were able to recruit Erwin Ziller, to fulfill the role of test pilot. He already flew the Horten Ho-IX and the Horten Ho 229, where he also wears the Dräger pressure suit, which was one of the first pressurized suits, develop in the world. These suits would provide the foundation for all pressurized suits, including astronautical suits, later on.

The name Haunebu was given to this project, to confuse allied intelligence, into believing that these devices were being tested at a testing ground near Hauneburg. These craft were even referred to as “Hauneburg-Gerät,” which translates to Hauneburg Device. Most of these devices were built at the Arado plant near Brandenburg.

Unfortunately, there is very little documentation of the Haunebu project after the war, besides what we see online, from a few typed documents, with some drawings of vehicles.