Description

Based on first-hand accounts, original documentation and unpublished images, this is a highly illustrated history of the Flakpanzer in World War II.

As the war progressed, Allied and Soviet forces began to deploy ground-attack aircraft armed with cannons, bombs or rockets to halt German armoured columns. Consequently, field commanders began to demand for their units to be issued with effective armoured anti-aircraft weapons.

Renowned armour expert Thomas Anderson explains how the weapons were first mounted on light trucks and then, more effectively, on the chassis of light, medium or heavy half-tracks before orders were issued for a dedicated armoured Flakpanzer - the 2cm Flakpanzer 38(t) based on the chassis of a Czech-built PzKpfw 38(t). The effectiveness of this type saw the development of four further vehicles on the PzKpfw IV chassis: FlakPz IV Wirbelwind (whirlwind), the 3.7cm FlaK 43 L/50 Ostwind (east wind), the 3.7cm FlaK 43 L/60 Möbelwagen (furniture van) and the 2cm Vierlingsflak 38 L/55. The final stages of the war also saw German field engineers mounting Flak weapons on all types of heavy truck or half-track chassis available.

Drawing on after-action reports, original wartime documents and rare and previously unseen photographs, this is a comprehensive and fully illustrated study of the German development of Flakpanzers throughout World War II.