How effective was German flak in WW2?

How effective was it in WW2? “Flak in the Second World War was very effective. Most of the official Allied histories downplayed its role. Many postwar histories accepted the testimony of leading figures within the Luftwaffe that ground based AA defences achieved limited success in destroying Allied bombers.

How did flak work in WW2?

Flak basically worked as a giant explosive that was fired up into the air, where the detonating and shrapnel would damage/take out the aircraft. There were multiple different kinds of flak rounds used during the war, all having varying degrees of effectiveness.

What did the Germans call anti-aircraft fire?

Flak
Flak is a contraction of German Flugabwehrkanone (also referred to as Fliegerabwehrkanone) meaning “aircraft-defense cannon”, the original purpose of the weapon. In English, “flak” became a generic term for ground anti-aircraft fire.

What is Flack war?

The versatile 88mm cannon was Germany’s main heavy antiaircraft—or “flak”—gun during World War II. When an 88mm projectile exploded at altitude, it sent out jagged metal fragments that tore through nearby aircraft. USAAF heavy bombers flew at the limits of the 88 mm cannon’s effective ceiling.

How effective was flak in WW2?

“Flak in the Second World War was very effective. Most of the official Allied histories downplayed its role. Many postwar histories accepted the testimony of leading figures within the Luftwaffe that ground based AA defences achieved limited success in destroying Allied bombers.

Were more Allied planes shot down by flak or fighter planes?

From what I’ve read, far more Allied planes were shot down by flak than by fighter planes. I also found this: The accuracy and effectiveness of FLAK or anti-aircraft artillery fire was derided at the start of the war but it gained a healthy respect as the war dragged on.

How did the Germans measure the effectiveness of WW2 air strikes?

“The Germans and the Allies, to a certain extent, used the number of enemy aircraft shot down by fighters and those by flak as a measurement as to its effectiveness. But this was a false metric.

Why was the German flak a nightmare for Allied bombers?

Whatever the effectiveness of the expenditure of resources, the German Flak proved to be nightmare for Allied bomber crews. One reason for this was its unpredictability.