Description

In the early days of World War I, Germany unveiled a new weapon – the mobile 42cm (16.5 inch) M-Gerät howitzer. At the time, it was the largest artillery piece of its kind in the world and a closely guarded secret. When war broke out, two of the howitzers were rushed directly from the factory to Liege where they quickly destroyed two forts and compelled the fortress to surrender. After repeat performances at Namur, Maubeuge and Antwerp, German soldiers christened the howitzers 'Grosse' or 'Dicke Berta' (Fat or Big Bertha) after Bertha von Krupp, owner of the Krupp armament works that built the howitzers. The nickname was soon picked up by German press which triumphed the 42cm howitzers as Wunderwaffe (wonder weapons), and the legend of Big Bertha was born. This book details the design and development of German siege guns before and during World War I. Accompanying the text are many rare, never-before-published photographs of 'Big Bertha' and the other German siege guns. Colour illustrations depict the most important aspects of the German siege artillery.

Product details

Published Jan 20 2014
Format Ebook (PDF)
Edition 1st
Extent 48
ISBN 9781780960197
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations 40 b/w; 7 col
Series New Vanguard
Short code NVG 205
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Marc Romanych

Marc Romanych is a retired US Army combat arms off…

Author

Martin Rupp

Martin Rupp has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the…

Illustrator

Henry Morshead

Henry Morshead is the Chief Designer for the Hill…

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