(2) Don't Give Me Any Flak! Iconic German 88mm Anti-Aircraft, Anti-Tank 'Flak' Gun, WWII

[appalachiablue]

Last edited Tue Jun 25, 2024, 06:40 PM - Edit history (1)

(Post Moved from American History Group).

Another good video, I just saw it and added. Don't Give Me Any Flak about it! JK!

The German 88mm gun, one of the most recognized artillery pieces of WWII, had a well-deserved reputation for deadly accuracy and destructive power. The versatile 88mm cannon, also known as the 'flugabwehr kanone,' meaning 'aircraft defense cannon,' was Germany's main heavy anti-aircraft gun, and was soon shortened to 'flak.' (13 mins).
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Germans utilized 88s during D-Day and the Allied push into the Heartland of Germany, in North Africa and Italy, in Russia and other campaigns. The Allied troops knew how dangerous it was if they were targeted by the powerful guns. Although he didn't say much about the war, Dad told my brother about an encounter with 88s. He was a 2nd Lieut. Army AAA, Anti Airforce Artillery, in Europe, age 24. He'd trained on Swedish Bofur guns at camps in NC and TX Mom said.

In a border area of Belgium, France and Germany in the winter of 1944-1945, his group was spotted by 88 guns. During the attack, his commanding officer was wounded, or lost control, and dad and the other soldiers managed to pull the group out of danger. For his effort Dad received a promotion and the Bronze Star. I'm forever grateful, like many others for all the military forces and resisters who acted so bravely in those dark times to defend freedom and defeat fascism. 🗽
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- (Wiki, Ed). 88, FLAK GUN. The 8.8 cm Flak is a German 88 mm anti-aircraft and anti-tank artillery gun, developed in the 1930s. It was widely used by Germany throughout WWII and is one of the most recognized German weapons of the conflict. The gun was universally known as the Acht-acht ('eight-eight') by the Germans and the 'eighty-eight' by the Allies.

Due to its lethality, especially as a tank killer, the 88 was greatly feared by Allied soldiers.

Development of the original model led to a wide variety of guns. In English, "flak" became a generic term for ground anti-aircraft fire. Air defense units were usually deployed with either a Kommandogerät ('command device') fire control computer or a portable Würzburg radar, which were responsible for its high level of accuracy against aircraft. The versatile carriage allowed the 8.8 cm Flak to be fired in a limited anti-tank mode when still on its wheels; it could be completely emplaced in only 2 and a half minutes..

This gun served as the main armament of the Tiger I heavy tank. - Background. Initially, anti-aircraft artillery guns of WWI were adaptations of existing medium-caliber weapons, mounted to allow fire at higher angles. By 1915, the German command realized that these were useless for anything beyond deterrence..With the increase of aircraft performance, many armies developed dedicated AA guns with a high muzzle velocity – allowing the projectiles to reach greater altitudes.

It was this muzzle velocity, combined with a projectile of high weight, that made the 8.8 cm Flak one of the great World War II anti-tank guns.

The first such German gun was introduced in 1917, using the 8.8 cm caliber common in the Kaiserliche Marine (navy). After losing the war, Germany had been forbidden under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles from procuring new weapons of most types. Nevertheless, the Krupp company started the development of a new gun together with Bofors of Sweden. Krupp had the majority ownership in Bofors since 1921. The original design was a 75 mm model. The army asked for a gun with considerably greater capability. The designers started again, using 88 mm caliber. Thousands of 88 mm guns were produced throughout the war in various models and mounts...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8.8_cm_Flak_18/36/37/41

[captain queeg]

1. Thanks. The Germans figured out the 88 AA was very suitable for anti tank role early on.

The British were slower to establish a multi purpose role and didn’t utilize their various guns fully at first.

[appalachiablue]

2. Right, the Germs were on the ball in expanding the use

of 88s to hit or destoy tanks, property, etc.

When I started to learn more about 88s, I was puzzled when reading that they were also effective in striking bridges, etc. Because they were specifically noted, 'Anti Aircraft Guns,' I thought that strange.

My brother said, 'Sis, they can be used to take out a barn, a factory, a railroad, a car, whatever!' Then I got it, diverse uses like a machine gun that could destroy humans, bust up a farmhouse, damage boats, vehicles, etc. Thanks for replying.

[captain queeg]

3. Yeah from what I've read the British were stuck in their thinking for awhile

They wouldn’t use their artillery or AA guns on tanks and early anti tank was 2 pounder, I think 40mm. Most everyone had undersized anti tank at the beginning of the war. 37mm was common and the main gun on many tanks. I think Rommel was the first to catch on during the French invasion. Some of the allied tanks had pretty thick armor and their 37mm just bounced off.

[sarisataka]

5. I read a book written by an officer

Who was on Rommel's staff several time throughout the war. He also credited Rommel with the idea to use the 88's in an antitank role.

The Panzers had superior mobility to the French tanks but were usually outclassed in firepower and armor. As various other guns were tried against the French, the 88 had enough power to get through French and British armor. The high velocity of the round gave it a direct fire range greater than any allied weapon.

After the Battle of France, the Germans started making armor piercing rounds and employing the 88s as dual-purpose guns.

[jrandom421]

4. The Battle of France is where it started it's reputation

It was in North Africa, during Operation Crusader that it established its reputation as a tank-killer.