Notes: The 88 mm (commonly called the eighty-eight) was a German 88 mm anti-aircraft and anti-tank artillery gun from World War II. It was widely used by Germany throughout the war, and was one of the most recognized German weapons of that conflict. Development of the original model led to a wide variety of guns. Flak is a contraction of German Flugzeugabwehrkanone meaning "aircraft-defense cannon", the original purpose of the eighty-eight. In English, "flak" became a generic term for ground anti-aircraft fire. The versatile carriage allowed the eighty-eight to be fired in a limited anti-tank mode when still on its wheels; it could be completely emplaced in only two-and-a-half minutes. The later model Flak 37 which included updated instrumentation to allow the gun layers to follow directions from the single director more easily. Some sources mistakenly cite that the Flak 37 was not equipped for anti-armor purposes. The fact is all 8.8 cm Flak guns were capable of the dual role.
The 88 mm gun was developed as early as 1928 by Krupp of Essen, and entered production after Hitler's rise to power in 1933. The '88' proved itself to be an excellent anti-aircraft gun and a feared tank killer relying on power and range rather than concealment. It could knock out any Allied tank at distances well over 1000 meters. The series of anti-aircraft guns officially called the 8.8 was mounted on a pivoted cruciform carriage, which was carried by two single axle trailers, pulled by another vehicle and could be quickly dismounted and stationed in the field or fired while trailered.
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