The German 28 cm Kanone 5 (Krupp K5): An impressive masterpiece of engineering

The 28 cm Kanone 5, also known as the Krupp K5, was one of the heaviest and most formidable railway guns of World War II. Developed by German engineers at the Krupp company, it represented a prime example of the advanced German weapons technology of its time.

The main feature of the K5 was its enormous firepower. It was capable of firing 250-kilogram shells over a distance of up to 60 kilometers. This range was exceptional at the time and made it a strategic weapon used to bombard distant targets. The gun became particularly well-known by its nickname “Anzio Annie,” as it was identified by the Allies during the fighting around Anzio in Italy in 1944.

The gun was mounted on a specially designed railway platform, allowing it to be transported over long distances. This was crucial, as the massive gun was difficult to deploy in a fixed location. The K5’s mobility made it an ideal weapon for deployment on changing sectors of the front.

Operating a K5 was extremely demanding. A crew of approximately 25 to 30 soldiers was required to load, aim, and fire the gun. Each individual shell had to be precisely prepared and loaded into the barrel, which, despite the technological advances of the time, was physically demanding and time-consuming.

The K5 was used not only as a formidable weapon but also as a propaganda tool. Photos and reports of the use of this powerful weapon were intended to emphasize the technical superiority of the German army and sow fear among the enemy. Despite its power and precision, however, the K5 was not a miracle weapon capable of decisively influencing the course of the war.