The secret weapons of the Third Reich part 2

Schwerer Gustav
Weighing 1,350 tonnes, the Schwerer Gustav (Heavy Gustav) railway gun is the heaviest ever mobile artillery piece constructed. It was originally meant to be used against the Maginot Line but was instead employed on the Eastern Front, firing shells from long-distance into enemy cities. Devastatingly powerful, it was broken up by the Wehrmacht as they retreated to avoid it falling into the hands of the Allies.

The secret weapons of the Third Reich

The secret weapons of the Third Reich

The secret weapons of the Third Reich
The shells used in the cannon were on a king-size scale.

LandKreuzer P. 1000 Ratte
This gigantic 1,000 tonne tank was five times the size of the Maus we featured in Part 1 but was never completed. It would have been a huge 39m (128ft) in length and would’ve had a crew of up to 41 soldiers. It would have been so big that it would have used guns usually only reserved for battleships! A scary thought if it was ever built!

The secret weapons of the Third Reich

The Electric Submarine
The Nazis were the first to develop a craft that was designed to operate primarily submerged rather than the other submarines and U-boats of the age that could only last underwater for a brief period of time. Known as the ‘Elektroboote’, 1,189 were built but they were constructed too late to have much impact. The new electric power allowed it to be much quieter than other subs and it also boasted a hydrodynamic streamlined hull. The submarine’s design influenced many future boats from the USA and the USSR while some of the Elektroboote were incorporated into other navies.

The secret weapons of the Third Reich