Nebelwerfer Tactics

Nebelwerfer Tactics of the German Army in World War 2. Note that "Nebelwerfer" literally means "Fog Thrower", a better translation would be rocket launcher. This video covers smoke tactics, high explosive tactics, tactics versus tanks and also tactics versus artillery. Additionally, we also look at a Nebelwerfer position layout.
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Thumbnail Source: Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-078-3074-30 / Nieberle / CC-BY-SA 3.0 de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datei...
Colorized by vonKickass.
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» SOURCES «
BAMA: RH 1/1405: H.Dv. 210/2 (Anhang): Der Nebeldarstellungszug (mot) - Ausbildungvorschrift für die Nebeltruppe. Berlin, 1938.
BAMA: RH 1/1402: H.Dv. 210/1b: Allgemeine Ausbildung zu Fuß - Ausbildungsvorschrift für die Nebeltruppe. Berlin, 1938.
BAMA: RH 1/1406: H. Dv. 210/3: Ausbildungsvorschrift für die Nebeltruppe. Schießvorschrift. Vom 4. 11. 1939. „Offene Worte“: Berlin 1939.
BAMA: RH 1/1403: H.Dv. 210/2d: Die schwere Werferbatterie (mot.) - Ausbildungsvorschrift für die Nebeltruppe. Berlin, 1942.
BAMA: RH 1/260: OKH: H.Dv. g 92: Handbuch für den Generalstabsdienst im Kriege. Teil II. Reichsdruckerei: Berlin, 1939.
H.Dv. 119/981: Schußtafel für den 15 cm Nebelwerfer 41 mit der 15 cm Wurfgranate 41 Spreng und der 15 cm Wurfgranate 41 Nebel mit Schwarzpulvertreibsätzen. März 1942.
Emde, Joachim: Die Nebelwerfer. Entwicklung und Einsatz der Werfertruppe im Zweiten Weltkrieg. Podzun-Pallas-Verlag: Dorheim, o.J. (1979?).
OKH: Merkblatt 57/5: Bildheft Neuzeitlicher Stellungsbau. Juni 1944.
Kruse, Kurt: Artilleristischer Ratgeber auf dem Gefechtsfeld. 8. neubearbeitete Auflage. Barbara-Verlag Hugo Weiler, München, 1942.
Duske, Heiner F. (Hrsg.); Greenland, Tony (Hrsg.); Terlisten, Detlev (Hrsg.); Baschin, Joachim; Block, M.; Nelson, J.; Tippmann, H.: Nebel-, Panzer- und Vielfachwerfer. Nuts & Bolts Volume 30. Nuts & Bolts Verlag: Neumünster, Germany, 2013.
Wiener, Fritz: Die Nebelwerfer 1939-1945. In: Schirmer, Friedrich (Hrsg.); Wiener, Fritz (Hrsg.): Feldgrau. Heft 3. / 1. Juni 1959. Burgdorf/Han. 1959.
Steiger, Rudolf: Panzertaktik im Spiegel deutscher Kriegstagebücher 1939 bis 1941. Rombach+Co GmbH: Freiburg, 1973.
TM-E 30-451: Handbook on German Military Forces. War Department: March 1945.
Pionier: Zeitschrift für die Übermittlungstruppen. Ausgabe 1943, Nr. 9. Zürich, September 1943.
www.e-periodica.ch/digbib/vie...
Spielberger, Walter; Doyle, Hilary Lous, Jentz, Thomas L.: Halbkettenfahrzeuge des deutschen Heeres. Motorbuch Verlag: Stuttgart, 2012.
Hahn, Fritz: Waffen und Geheimwaffen des deutschen Heeres 1933-1945. Dörfler Verlag: Eggolsheim, o.J.
Tessin, Georg: Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939-1945, Band II.
#Nebelwerfer #NebelwerferTactics #GermanTactics

[@MilitaryHistoryVisualized]

We are currently working on a translation of the Sturmgewehr 44 Assault Platoon Tactics Manual from November 1944. Get your copy here: igg.me/at/sturmzug

[@TheLastSterling1304]

I'm not sure if you eventually found it, but regarding your confusing on the wurfarhmen 40 being in the pioneers yes they did have them mounted on 251 halftracks used in a similar role to the british avre. There were still nebelwerfer batteries using the same weapon though. Its much like how you can tell a what unit a stug is by its unit: platoon=panzers;battery=artillerie.

[@bobjenkins2671]

Hallo wie gets dir

[@pickeljarsforhillary102]

Who had the best rocket system in your opinion?

[@jona.scholt4362]

"Nebelwerfer" sounded like "Naval Warfare" and caused me to be very confused for the first 10-15 seconds....

[@archosauropre-historico8708]

Why this comment is 2weeks old, but the video only one day?

[@thatsidewaysdud7623]

Hate it when you have a Nebelwerfer lying around and you don’t know how to tactically use it.

[@matthayward7889]

Agreed. Nothing worse than not being able to werf your nebel.

[@dandare2586]

I wheeled out my nebelwerfer in front of my troublesome neighbour, that was my only tactic.......

[@wraithwyvern528]

I mean unless you have the rockets, a Nebelwerfer is just some angry tubes

[@abntemplar82]

@@dandare2586 did it work or did he bring out his Tiger?

[@rustyshackleford8370]

That's why I spent the extra money and bought a Katyusha launcher. The only downside is accuracy... I tried to shoot my neighbor's house but it was windy and I burned down the next city over instead🤷‍♂️

[@mil-collector_enby2250]

It’s possible that the French soldiers that legged it after seeing large clouds of a smoke screen launched at them... were French WW1 veterans that still had vivid memories of chemical weapons gas attacks. And so seeing something that looks like a cloud from artillery being launched at you could easily be mistaken for chemical gas and thus the desire to run would be strong.

[@ptonpc]

That's what I was thinking. Even if they were not veterans, I would expect the soldiers would have been expecting gas to be used as in WW1.

[@arkadeepkundu4729]

The French: _Hon! Hon! Hon!_ *Gets some nebel werfed at them* _Non! Non! Non!_

[@jed-henrywitkowski6470]

@@arkadeepkundu4729 Lol.

[@haakonsteinsvaag]

@Tranhoang Long most likly because of the horrific experiences of gass attacks in WW1. They knew that once one side start using gass, the other side will follow. In other words, both sides thought gass attacks as to terrible to use or used against themselves.

[@mikhailiagacesa3406]

@Tranhoang Long Hitler was personally gassed in the Great War, and the Allies had access to larger stocks of the stuff than the Germans. Goering said the reason Germany didn't use it was because they couldn't supply their horses w/ masks, like they did in the 1st WW, due to production and logistical problems.

[@randallreed9048]

In 1978-79, I was designing my game "The Longest Day" as the head of R&D for the Avalon Hill Game Company. I had the luxury of spending many hours in the Captured German Documents section of the National Archives in Washington, DC. I was literally like a kid in the candy store, discovering many key documents that were the fruits of the extensive, detailed program of interrogations of German Generals and high-ranking staff officers after the end of the war. These translated reports were often accompanied by highly detailed drawings drawn by the Generals themselves. One of my significant finds was a report written by the General in charge of nebeltruppen during the Normandy Campaign in 1944. He detailed the organization and deployment of three nebelwerfer brigades attached to the 7th Armee / Armee Gruppe B. These were large formations consisting of three firing battalions per regiment, three regiments per brigade plus replacement and training batteries for a total of a minimum of 162 launchers behind the beaches in the first weeks of the invasion! This represented a large chunk of the throw-weight of artillery available to the 7th Armee. It could also explain the numerous persistent reports in letters and diaries from ordinary Allied soldiers decrying the fearful effects of German "screaming meemies," which were, in fact, nebelwerfers. This total of 162 launchers did not include the numerous Panzerwerfers and their batteries attached to divisional and corps-level organizations that are detailed in contemporaneous German TO&E diagrams. Accompanying the translated documents were exquisitely drawn diagrams created by the General in charge of nebeltruppen in his own highly precise hand. And yes, his diagrams showed numerous antitank guns, sections, and platoons attached to the battalions, presumably for self-defense purposes. They also showed a considerable number of 20mm flak guns to defend against Allied fighter-bombers. My impression is that these variations from published TO&E were quite common in the German Army in France and regularly included the attachment of underutilized equipment (particularly the depots full of fairly well-maintained captured French, Belgian, and British weaponry and vehicles.) The Germans in France wasted nothing.

[@Anastunsia]

"Currently we have a Kraut-funding campaign going" Please tell me i'm not the only one that heard it

[@yngveahlenback320]

I jumped in my chair when I heard it!

[@tomislavtosic992]

Wait, he didnt say that?

[@EdMcF1]

He's Austrian, so he's not a Kraut.

[@windwalker5765]

Lol didn't want to be the first to comment...

[@Warentester]

@@EdMcF1 Debatable. They voluntarily joined.

[@LewisRenovation]

This video came out just in time since my wife wants a Nebelwerfer implacement in our back yard

[@michaelmorley9363]

My father was an infantryman in the U.S. 7th Armored Division in 1944 and '45. He told me that they called the Nebelwerfers "Screamin' Mimis" because of the noise they made, and that the sound was more terrifying than the shellbursts.

[@ralphe5842]

Michael Morley my father called them the same thing he was in he 84th infantry

[@DirtyHairy1]

Please note that the allies dubbed this device as FART - Fog applying Rocket Thrower.

[@pekka1900]

Verdammte Engländer..

[@jed-henrywitkowski6470]

Lol.

[@looinrims]

Nebelwerfer tactics: “do you see that building, Hanz?” “Ja” “Then you understand the problem, solve it”

[@ThePfistara]

- Pulls out some Sturmtiger -

[@AlvinREDDELTA]

make me laugh dude ALES KHARL

[@WildBillCox13]

As my garden gnomes are currently at war with the frogs in nearby Swamphaven this video was of particular interest. I will advise my gnome friends to mobilize their Nebelwerfers by attaching their trailers to neighborhood kittens. Thus fulfilling the words of the great poet who said: "The fog comes in on little cat feet."

[@garydouglass3597]

owch. I'm going to steal that and submit it to Better Gnomes and Gardens.

[@XLHeavyD999]

Rofl... those damned Gnomes always invade my garden and stalk my cats.

[@jed-henrywitkowski6470]

It has been three days. I trust, your Gnomes have found success in the war. All the best.

[@jed-henrywitkowski6470]

@@garydouglass3597 Lol.

[@johngalt6929]

That is totally heavy man.

[@user-im1fo6rx2k]

Ive never been to war, but from training i can say that smoke is the single most important weapon in the offense, because it covers friendly infantry crossing open ground from effective enemy fire thus allowing to close in without unnecessery casualties. And smoke is also somewhat usefull in the defence, when you need to get the hell out of your position, but theres not much cover around the said position

[@wraithwyvern528]

Smoke works both ways and care must be taken to screen friendly assault units and keep the enemy from being able to suppress them while giving support units unobstructed views of enemy positions and can still attack and suppress them. Defensively smoke can be used to mask an enemy support weapon that is suppressing your defenses and as you said in a retreating maneuver. Unlike most weapons, wind and weather need to be carefully noted before deploying smoke even in a small scale. In my opinion, smoke is most useful for covering retreats and masking enemy support weapons while your own weapons move in to eliminate them when the smoke clears.

[@abntemplar82]

maybe 50 years ago. but all ifvs and mbts today have thermal imaging making a smoke screen less effective to say the very least. of course if all you are fighting is old school soviet crap, it will work just fine. But an enemy with any modern or modernized weapons, all it will really do is give away your position.

[@user-im1fo6rx2k]

@@abntemplar82 Well, i have no idea about any truely technologically advanced army, but what I know is all APC's and IFV's in the russian army have NVD. Less than 20% have any resemblance of thermal, same can be said for some older tanks stockpiled in large quantities in reserves. Hell, russia still has a stockpiled of T34, T44 which can still be put back into action in case of a total war. Its not sayang about infantry that Will definately get blinded which even provided their vehicle is still capable of firing, still redices the overall fire capabilities of the defenders. Having only vehicles firing is still less firepower than having both vehicles and accompaning infantry firing.

[@user-im1fo6rx2k]

@@wraithwyvern528 well, blinging enemy heavy wrapons and forvard observers doesn't take as much smoke as in the offense, because you need to blinda a comparatively small area while in the offense you need to deploy smoke both along the entire frontier (as close to the enemy as possible) and along the flanks of the attack, thus preventing enemy adjacent units from effective flanking fire, while still providing clear frontal view for friendly neighbouring units. Of course covering the flanks is only possible under favorable wind conditions.

[@abntemplar82]

@@user-im1fo6rx2k NVGs just magnify ambient light. Thermals detect heat sources. that is why smoke is useless against them. it gives comfort to those charging, and your comments prove this, but if you ever get the chance to use Thermals, you will understand that smoke does not hide work to protect you from detection vrs. thermals. further i find it hard to believe in todays world that the Russian army has only 20% of its armored vehicles equipped with thermals. thermals are a staple to the Nato and US allies. But i will concede the fact that you as a Russian soldier have more knowledge on that than i. be safe my friend. i pray your time in the military is peaceful, and that our nations never square off. of course if our democrats have their way we would already be at war with Russia. stupid is as stupid does, I guess.

[@DEIMIKK]

Literally my boss behind my back: "What are you listening to?" Me: "How to setup a rocketartillerybattery...." "Oh..." 😂👌

[@DEIMIKK]

@ I'll be sure to do that. We could benefit from certain... Hmmm how should I put this.... Nebelzone in some points of production 🤔

[@largol33t1]

I would have said "I'm learning to werfer a nebel." 😁

[@wiggumesquilax9480]

I'd already started digging my Nebelwerfer position, looks like I have to start over. It's the field fortifications all over again.. Thanks, MHV.

[@billbolton]

Thanks, unfortunately my garden isn't big enough, considering annexing the neighbors'.

[@Arbiter099]

You need that living space, naturally.

[@scratchy996]

You do what you have to do, in order to protect the oppressed garden gnome minority in your neighbors' gardens.

[@matthewlee8667]

Now I can set up a Nebelwerfer in my garden to ward off rabbits and mice

[@stevenbaer5999]

I am a German Bavarian decent person and I always love those German rockets, Nebelwerfer. They had a great terrible sound effects which the Americans called them Screaming Meemies. It was actually a cross between a shriek and a cry. Causing it to have a great psychological impact. We Germans always invented the best weapons in our history.

[@Tobascodagama]

When you see a patch of ground that has been insufficiently nebelled, point your nebelwerfer at it.

[@Ralphieboy]

To find out the parts that need it, you employ nebel-gazers

[@3er24t4g1]

Es ist ein nebelwerfer Es warferen nebels

[@user-xq5og9lt8p]

Ich hatten dieses Wirtz erwarten

[@neieduardodepaula4556]

How many nebels has it werfen?

[@3er24t4g1]

@@neieduardodepaula4556 sechs

[@POTATOEH81]

I like how I know what you said even though I don't speak a lick of german This is a nebel werfer It werf's nebels

[@neieduardodepaula4556]

​@@3er24t4g1 Gut

[@jryder8874]

Hell yeah, just as school ends

[@michelstadt]

Good day...a Freudian slip perhaps,"Krautfunding"...."Crowdfunding").?hehheh

[@rezabagherian3331]

Ur time In school is the best time literally When you enter the university the real game begins Imagine waking up 3Am and having to study Data Structures Even roosters sleep 3 in the morning

[@davidreeding9176]

My favorite time of the day is when it is time to talk about nebelwerfer tactics

[@RocketGurney]

Before watching the video, I'd assume that it has to do with the delicate art of werfing nebels.

[@Isoroku21]

This video reminded me of something I read in a book while back. During operation "Barbarossa" germans field-tested early version of fuel-air explosive using Nebelwerfer. In response to that soviets over loudspeakers threatened to use chemical weapons if used again.

[@seanmatto2258]

I heard of that too

[@GenScinmore]

Lmao "Nebelwerfer garden"

[@Grahf0]

Me: *upon seeing "Nebelwerfer"* Is THAT what Princess Leia called Han?

[@matarikitamaiti3493]

Unpolished rusty nebelwerfer or something like that

[@AtholAnderson]

In regards to the Moral effect. I wonder how much of that was the opposition (especially early war) thinking it may be a WW1 type gas attack?

[@OmarSlloum]

After a week or so in service it would lose that effect anyway as Germany didn't use gas shells anymore, so the Allies probably wouldn't mistake it for anything else

[@michaelmorley9363]

According to my father, the noise was the worst thing about them.

[@abntemplar82]

spot on there i'm sure. the horrors of the gas attacks were big news for decades after WW1 and even after WW2. proof of this is that chemical weapons weren't made illegal till the 1954 Hague conventions on the rules of war. side note Geneva conventions only designate the status of (uniformed vr non uniformed combatants as an example) and the required treatment of POWs.

[@pilferedserenity1570]

Partly true. The smoke, even if it is not gas or white phosphorous, is still going to be unpleasant to be in. And unlike if there are conventional shells raining down, you can't even see the enemy to shoot nor know where they are, so it might seem rather pointless remaining in the smoke.

[@silverinternational101]

Kraut-funding, that's funny 😁

[@Karmag555]

3:30 Given how recent the memories in France were of gas warfare in WW1, one wonders if some French soldiers in 1940 saw the Germans launching lots of 'smoke' at them and simply figured that the Nazis had broken out the chemical weapons.

[@danielrupe8052]

The Germans did not have this weapon until they invaded the Soviet Union. The Germans encountered the Stalin's organ. The Germans copied it and renamed it the nebelwerfer.

[@HawkFire74]

@@danielrupe8052 Uhhh, no? Most of the Nebelwerfer varients were developed before Barbarossa, even the iconic 6 barrel configurations were in development and started reaching troops before it began.

[@HighwayMule]

I think it's worth to add that these were also used as an enormously effective terror weapon in urban combat. During the Warsaw Uprising the German units used them for massed bombardment of civilian quarters. The people called the Werfers the 'cow' or 'the wardrobe' due to the terrifying, prolonged creaking- or whining-like sounds they produced during the firing of a volley.

[@erichelvie8524]

I just finished restoring a Nebelwerfer model when this video came up.

[@MrKersey]

Was that an old 1/35 Esci/Italeri Nebelwerfer?

[@RalphReagan]

In war games I always used them against infantry trying to flank.

[@jahrazzjahrazz8858]

6:29 could have been translated slightly better, I think the original text meant "It is often advantageuou to *only prepare* fire against these targets, to ambush them at crucial stages of the battle". So basically to get ready to take them out beforehand, but dont pull the trigger until it is too late for the enemy to react and replace their plans

[@jamesharmer9293]

Always good to know how to set up your Nebelwerfers !!

[@antiantifa886]

This is one I’ve been waiting for!👍🏻

[@kev_sen]

Nebelwerfers and Mortars were amongst the deadliest weapons of the entire war and don't receive as much attention as they should for how effective they were . They could not be easily silenced and could fire away from concealed positions which were impossible to locate from the air or from traditional counter battery measures. The problem was so severe that the Allies brought a team of research scientists and deployed 100 anti-aircraft radar batteries to try and deal with the German 81mm&105mm Mortars and Nebelwerfers in Western Europe.

[@BigboiiTone]

Yes I watched the corresponding video, it made this video much better although it's good on its own merit.

[@tankspritze]

For all those who has no idea about the name " Nebelwerfer": This has nothing to do with fog. The man who invented this kind of weapon was Rudolf Nebel, an engeneer who participated in WWI and who made first experiments with rockets. The German army used later his name to design this kind of weapon. Another type of rocket launcher was called "DO-Werfer or Dornberg Werfer" this was less or mor the same weapon, but mounted on a halftruck and the name come from the engeener who created this weapon "Karl Dornberger" It was typical for the german army to call weapons like the person who invented it.

[@MilitaryHistoryVisualized]

every book I read notes that this is wrong. Especially since it makes little sense to name a complete arm after the inventor, this was done with no other arm and additionally as outlined, their job was to deploy smoke. you mean the Panzerwerfer?

[@johnnypopulus5521]

I use all these tactics both in the videos, medium tank company manual & when I get assault unit manual, that one too in all of my war video games. Now I just need to now individual tactics for MMG on placement, use & repositioning after firing so I can apply that too.

[@crowsbridge]

I love the sound they make

[@RichardBoisvert]

Thanks for confirming nebelwerfers have the high soft attack

[@lknanml]

I want to dig out Company of Heroes because of this video. Awesome work!

[@searpaintball]

Thank you for another informative and entertaining video! If I may suggest a topic, I would love learn more about Panzerjäger I. I'm aware of its disadvantages, although it had been a definite step up from a static AT gun. I would like more about how it was supposed to be employed, what were its combat capabilities and how well was the 4,7 cm gun working. I would also be interested whether there are any mentions of field improvements - for instance adding a simple observation slits on both sites of the shield. Or perhaps a periscope installed.

[@MilitaryHistoryVisualized]

there are various vehicle videos upcoming, but the Panzerjäger I is not on the list, mainly since I don't had access to one yet. (Not sure if there even survivors)

[@CrazyBomber22]

One day I'll have a garden. And on that day, preparations will begin...

[@charleswade2514]

Class is on session. Taking notes

[@KorporalNoobs]

**minor translation issue** 4:48 "wirkt vorhangartig" was translated as "looks like". I would argue that, because it is about usage, the word "wirkt" is probably to be read as "acts like", which would describe the effect as well as the appearance.

[@paoloviti6156]

Very interesting video regarding the Nebelwerfer tatics. I knew that they were quite effective but you have not mentioned that there was never enough of them and was hampered by the ever increasing chronic shortage of fuel....

[@gweiloxiu9862]

"Screaming mimi"....Stuka zu Fuss. These things were terror weapons and more. I am not young and have been fortunate enough to know some American WWII vets who served in the European Theater. The Nebelwerfer is something mentioned by name as one of the most hated of things they had to fight against. Thanks for the video.

[@Willy_Tepes]

Smoke screens are very effective even today as most imaging systems cannot see through it. I can imagine being fortified in some dense urban area and you can see nothing, you know nothing of how the battle is going, you can't see your comrades or leaders, all you hear is tanks rolling down the street, gunfire and explosions. I think this tactic is still effective if combined with jamming of communications. Send some small and agile drones in to create panic, they can fly predetermined paths and thus are not vulnerable to jamming. You can even employ the Stuka effect with drones if you have a nice smoke screen to amplify the chaos of it. Yeah I know, I have a twisted imagination. They should have hired me years ago or given me some funding. Seeing that there is a war brewing, I will get to try out my ideas ;)

[@TokayGekko]

Will you do another round of the "You had me at..." Sturmtiger t-shirt?

[@MilitaryHistoryVisualized]

There will be something soon...

[@TokayGekko]

@@MilitaryHistoryVisualized Yey!

[@bigtfromdc1]

I like the guidelines on when to use it...basically if you have some ammo use it!

[@derpatrizier]

I have read that the Nebelwerfer was named after an engeneer Ing. Nebel to disguise their offensive nature from the treaty of Versailles.

[@MilitaryHistoryVisualized]

partially true, the name was a disguise for the chemical troops, then again the troops also had the mission to deploy smoke, which also makes sense since gas and smoke behave rather similar. Yet, they were not named after the engineer Nebel, he claimed it in his memoirs, yet he dates that back to WW1 for rockets fired from aircraft. Yet, if you consider that the first Nebelwerfer of the Wehrmacht were actually large mortars this makes little sense, similarly, the various other rockets produced and used were also not called "Nebelwerfer". Also veterans of the Nebeltruppe particularly point out that they were not named after the engineer.

[@kryts27]

The Nebelwerfer batteries were often (according to field manuals) deployed in earthworks, like artillery, but unlike artillery they did not have the range or accuracy. I can see the need for the earthworks defences as these batteries needed to be closer to the front line, so were more vulnerable to counter-fire. The only thing I will state in support of rocket batteries in any army of that period (in comparison to artillery) is that the rockets could fire multiple shells from any unit at a rapid rate, since up to a dozen rockets were loaded and fired simultaneously, whereas the artillery could only fire one shell from one gun. In effect, the Nebelwerfer could fire a mass of high explosive & smoke canisters, inaccurately at fairly short range.

[@johnjriggsarchery2457]

It's worth watching just to hear you say nebelwerfer.

[@karlgerat2731]

Thanks, now I’m ready for the 4th of july!

[@habu027]

...it is not required... Whew! I was going to have to stop the video immediately. But really, I love this guy.

[@saltyyf1802]

French soldier sees germans launching smoke: *"Hey I've seen this one before!"*

[@kaiserjager2338]

Finally, a video much more useful than Lessons in Online classes

[@brianjohnson5272]

I can think why some during the battle for France was impactful. It was the fear of a gas attack. With the horror stories from dad and grandpa of it I would be freaking out at a nebelwerfer attack with smoke.

[@beertruk2429]

"I hope you learnt something new about Nebelwerfer Tactics and how to set up a proper Nebelwefer position in your garden, if you fancy that." Bloody good idea. Those bloody uni students and their loud pissups in the house down the road. Who said that the Germans don't have a sense of humour? To be honest I did learn something. I was always under the impression that they fired only HE. I didn know that they were used for smoke.

[@GeographyCzar]

Finally! Now I know how to put mine to proper use.

[@spot1401]

To this day, fog lights are mandatory on german cars. just saying

[@amaladiguna8873]

Super interesting video, especially about the effect it had on tanks. While on the subject though, how effective would modern HE artillery (tube or rocket) be when used on tank formations?

[@rikulappi9664]

I recall that in the 80' a rule of thumb was that if a 152mm/155mm artillery round exploded closer than 5 meters from a MBT it was likely to effectively damage the tank, possibly disabling it more or less permanently. Naturally only sides and rear of an MBT were at risk. Frontal armour required a direct hit. I guess this is valid today. A WWII tank would had normally been destroyed.

[@reverserestorations26]

I now know how to pronounce "nebelwerfer" thank you. English speaking people generally pronounce it neh- bull-wer-fur

[@bookranter3488]

Love the channel! Could you do one about German NCOs? I have always heard great things about their quality as combatants and leaders of troops, respect within their army and prestige abroad when compared with their foreign counterparts

[@Seriona1]

I mean typically in any military regardless of shape, the NCO are effectives.

[@MilitaryHistoryVisualized]

Might happen at one point. I think I have some sources, but few.

[@esbennrum3657]

Krautfunding....thats awesome

[@daswordofgork9823]

One of my favorite units in Company of Heroes.

[@obfuscated3090]

The basic launcher design could work nicely today for Javelin among others and need weigh little since those weapons are quite lightweight. A manually revolving rack would make installation and removal of Javelin tubes quick and easy while leaving one weapon in battery ready to shoot. That solves the (severe) rate of fire limitation of Javelin and would make individually designating targets then firing a simultaneous barrage practical and convenient though that would require ability to integrate multiple designators (easy enough for LockMart). Instead of being killed by approaching formations while desperately reloading, missileers could kill them simultaneously with terrifying effect.

[@robertcurran2765]

Awesome! Now I'm all set to werf some nebels!

[@Sacto1654]

The biggest problem with the Nebelwerfer was the smoke trail it left behind, which made them easy to spot for counter-battery fire from artillery guns.

[@ew3612]

Why would they prepare positions with trenches before firing the nebelwerfer? I was under the impression that they had to move as soon as they fired due to counter-battery. Also that their positions were so easy to find due to the trails of smoke leading right to them.

[@benquinney2]

You never knew where it would show up

[@ming9630]

I truly like your videos with English and German text side-by-side. If you could read the German text, that will be better. Especially for presenting German materials from the source, your reading brings more realistic feeling like how these manuals were being read by soldiers back in WW2. Otherwise, it's like an Allied interpretation of the German manual. But this is already great anyway. Thanks a lot!

[@MilitaryHistoryVisualized]

in my early videos I also read the German, but it discontinued it, since it didn't provide much value and made the videos unnecessarily longer.

[@ming9630]

@@MilitaryHistoryVisualized I think the greatest value is your presentation of German weapons and technical term in GERMAN. It has the authentic and realistic feeling. Since you already have the German and English text, reading the text from German manual will add more dramatized effects. Since there are not many of those texts, the video content is well balanced with English (maybe 95%) and some German (maybe 5%).

[@ming9630]

@@MilitaryHistoryVisualized In your video about flak tower you read both German and English text. You read German first (and quickly) and then English. Maybe you could read English first (in the speed like you normally do, no change), but read German second, in the same speed like you read English (not trying to finish quickly), do you think that will be better?

[@MilitaryHistoryVisualized]

Not gonna change that. I don't think the two language narration added much.

[@ming9630]

@@MilitaryHistoryVisualized No problem. I was just saying that there is great value when you read the terms of weapons and technical terms in German. Your channel is the only one that does that. I have not seen similar channels for presenting other countries such as Russia or Japan in the way you present Germany in WW2. But it's up to you to decide.

[@brianreddeman951]

Well that dashes my hopes of setting up a battery in my yard...

[@Masada1911]

It werfs nebels

[@ldmitruk]

I could have sworn you said "Kruat funding campaign."

[@helliswar]

Most underrated weapon

[@whitephillip6997]

If y'all like this stuff, checkout the game Men Of War: Assault Squad 2 & get the Robz mod from the steam workshop! Has historically accurate units, all the tanks, weapons, equipment etc you can imagine! & With the mod it's basically a simulation where you can recreate epic battles of WW2 (or WW1) with the "Great War" mod!

[@thepruh1151]

Singleplayer orientated game for the longest of times :( wish multiplayers were more populated but I guess the loyal people over on the workshop gives it its breath of life

[@wraithwyvern528]

With how much effort the devs put into Assault Squad 2, it's a miracle it hasn't died 5 years ago.

[@whitephillip6997]

@@wraithwyvern528 that's true, the modders are only reason it wasn't forgotten month after release

[@whitephillip6997]

@Eric Fapton I looked for Gates Of Hell on the steam store & couldn't find it... is it released yet? Thanks!

[@501Mobius]

Any information on the accuracy would be helpful.

[@dr.johannesmunch891]

I'd love to See a comparison between the Nebelwerfer and the Katjuscha-truck

[@kevincalhoun9653]

I want to ask about if in your translation, what you defined as (surprised), might be also defined as Suppresoin ?

[@petersouthernboy6327]

The Katyusha was quite effective on the Eastern Front and was feared by the Germans.

[@janhaanstra2245]

3:02 Kraut-funding 😆 Still, keep up the good work 👍

[@milossojic291]

Your work is great ! Would it be possible/feasible to have audio in German as well? Given that your first language is German and your explanations are fantastic, your videos would be phenomenal source for learning German language and of course German speaking audience could enjoy them even more. Thanks (you may reply in German as well)

[@MilitaryHistoryVisualized]

thanks, not feasible: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rmTTZZeLe6eSrLc

[@milossojic291]

@@MilitaryHistoryVisualized thank you and now I understand challenges that you have to face. Keep up the good work and I apologize for asking redundant questions. Stay safe !

[@JaketheCultist]

I know this is random, long time listener to your channel, but can you possibly do a video on Albert Speer's, "economic miracle?"

[@steeljawX]

I'm just spitball'n on this because I wasn't there and I've never come under niebelwerfer fire, but I'd imagine the smoke round demoralization factor also came down to the realization of, "Hey, this smoke/gas (I'm not sure, I'm panicking right now) round landed 5 meters away from me. If they load an HE round next. . . . " I'm hoping that's clear. It's a very disorienting and very clever warning shot of sorts. It's kinda like how in the heat of battle, any German tank with a big gun, turret, and a slightly boxy hull is a Tiger I; when the majority of the time it was either a Pzkw III or IV. A large round has landed near you that is pouring out smoke that may or may not be immediately harmful to you. What's stopping anyone from the next one being a bit more reactive? They clearly can hit you whether or not they know it. Paraphrasing Mr. Miyagi, "The best way to avoid being exploded by a niebelwerfer HE round is to not be within its range." The Allies didn't know much about the niebelwerfer at the time, so anything within a niebelwerfer's best range was probably considered a danger zone.

[@CasperInkyMagoo]

Are the tags for the “propellant” and “payload” on the nebelwerfer diagram reversed? It seems odd that the payload would be in the rear...

[@gabrielefordinisonni5264]

I think it's an error, since most of the time it's the propellent to be marked with parallel oblique lines

[@MilitaryHistoryVisualized]

No see the first video

[@abntemplar82]

so you want to put your ammo out ahead of your firing position? i think that is a bit on the severely stupid side and for obvious reasons i don't or shouldn't have to list.

[@CasperInkyMagoo]

abntemplar82 thanks for that. Extremely helpful and kindly worded!

[@steveweidig5373]

@@abntemplar82 the nozzles are also practically on the side of the rocket. The intention was probably to explode while still being somewhat above ground, thus covering a larger area with shrapnels, increasing it's efficacy against soldiers and unarmored targets.

[@t.swallgren9204]

So what really was the destruction power of rocket launchers ammo compared to field artillery? Do we have to focus more the weight of warhead or whole weight of rocket? At least Soviet Katjusha was relatively inaccurate compared to results of well trained field artillery unit fired targets.

[@HistoryBoy]

Almost first! Bet it’s a quality video! 👍🏻

[@pirobot668beta]

Hint: rockets have propellant at the end where the fire comes out, and the payload is at the end of the rocket that hits the target first. One slip in editing is understandable, but you showed us this error several times.

[@MilitaryHistoryVisualized]

hint watch the first video, since this was the design for a particular reason. > but you showed us this error several times. more you like you are unable to pay proper attention.

[@timothyhouse1622]

My favorite werfer.

[@talknight2]

HoI4 gang, do you use rocket artillery/rocket truck artillery in your divisions?

[@xenosmoke8915]

Ah, ze Nerbelwerfer. I can now werf ze Nerbel.

[@matshagglund3550]

I checked lately statistics of both German and Soviet artillery munition expenditure from 1942-1944. And now forget all those claims how much more ammo Soviet produced than Germany because actually the Germans outproduced Soviet U with high marginal (50% more artillery ammo tons in 1944). Red Army always had more artillery pieces but it was relatively light. Germans also were better feeding their outnumbered artillery pieces as this example proved: www.dupuyinstitute.org/blog/2018/10/24/german-versus-soviet-artillery-at-kursk/

[@mididoctors]

What time is it kids ...time for house . No time for nebelwerfer tactics

[@paulhammersley4562]

every time you say "Nebelwerfer" i cant stop giggling,

[@davidmarsden9800]

Thanks, may come in handy in case of a no deal Brexit.

[@Tijgert]

Kraut funding? I bet I'm the first one to note that ;)

[@ForelliBoy]

1. insert nebel into werfer 2. point 3. werf the nebel

[@andysatrioajie7886]

is it possible to fire mixed amunition for example 1,3,5 use fog and 2,4,6 use HE?

[@jrd33]

The HE and smoke projectiles had different weights so I doubt the flight characteristics would be identical. Probably easier to have some wefers in the battery firing HE and the others smoke. I doubt you'd ever fire a single werfer alone due to the poor accuracy.

[@derpmann2615]

Wow

[@rodento3220]

Is it still possible to get the book in English in any form? (Please say yes... please say yes)