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Plate 015 · Anti-Tank · World War II

8.8 cm Flak 18/36/37

"The Eighty-Eight"

An anti-aircraft gun turned legendary tank-killer.

8.8 cm Flak 18/36/37 — Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-022-2948-25 / CC BY-SA 3.0 DE
Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-022-2948-25 / CC BY-SA 3.0 DE · CC BY-SA 3.0 DEView on Wikimedia Commons →

Historical Record

Provenance & Service

Originally designed by Krupp engineers in Sweden during the Versailles restrictions, the 8.8 cm Flak became infamous in its secondary role as an anti-tank weapon, first in Spain and then dramatically against British armour at Arras in 1940. Its high muzzle velocity and accurate fire-control made it the most feared artillery piece of WWII; its design lineage led directly to the Tiger I's main gun.