Doctor Abraham Erskine was a scientist who created the original Super Soldier Serum. Whilst living in Nazi Germany, he was forced to use a preliminary version of the serum on HYDRA leader Johann Schmidt. Fleeing to the United States of America, Erskine joined the Strategic Scientific Reserve where he managed to perfect his serum and chose Steve Rogers to be its recipient. However, moments after Rogers' transformation, Erskine was assassinated by HYDRA agent Heinz Kruger.