On May 13, 1946, Stalin signed the decree initiating development of Soviet ballistic missiles. 

The V-2 had a range of 200-225 miles and could carry a 2000 pound payload sufficient for an atomic device.  Although the V-2 did not alter the course of the war for Germany like the atomic bomb did for the United States, it was clearly realized that the combination of a long-range liquid fuel rocket and an atomic device would be the decisive war machine for the foreseeable future.