Smakula was born to a peasant family in Dobrovody village, Austria-Hungary (today Ternopil Oblast, Ukraine).

After his short stay at Odessa University, Smakula returned to Germany as head of an optics laboratory in Heidelberg.

[1][2] The patent mentions practically almost no light absorbing organic and inorganic materials can be used for such coatings.

[4][5] During World War II, Smakula collaborated with the Nazi regime and worked on infrared guidance for missiles.

After the end of World War II Smakula went to the US with other German physicists, where he first worked in Virginia investigating materials for infrared technology.