Country: Germany
Type: 32cm Wurfkorper Flamm,
Nebelwerfer
Manufacturer: auh
Date: 1941
In 1998, while conducting archeology work, QuestMasters recovered this German WWII 32cm Wurfkorper Flamm, Nebelwerfer
rocket near the small town of Esperia, Italy, roughly 15 miles south-west of Cassino, Italy. This Nebelwerfer, completely inert,
had been used as a trash can after WWII and was then left to decay in the elements and eventually discarded.
After nearly 20 years, this German WWII 32cm Wurfkorper Fl, Nebelwerfer has been accurately restored by QuestMasters.
Shown here is the German WWII 32cm Wurfkorper Fl (Flamm), Nebelwerfer rocket after recovery and sand blasting to bare
metal. Having been used as a trash can after WWII the entire bottom of explosive fuel tank, which previously held 50 liters of
flammable oil, has rotted away and broken away from the rocket motor. When discarded in Italy, the entire body of the tank
was filled with beverage cans, food wrappers and other debris.
To reattach the rocket motor to the explosive fuel tank of the German WWII 32cm Wurfkorper Fl (Flamm), Nebelwerfer rocket a
large pole had to be accurately welded and centered to the top of the rocket motor. This was then put inside of the fuel tank
and welded to the bottom inside of the fuze well, located at the top of the rocket.
Once the rocket motor and the explosive fuel tank of the German WWII 32cm Wurfkorper Fl (Flamm), Nebelwerfer rocket had
been reattached, epoxy resin was then added to fill the large holes and restore the very difficult contours.
The manufacturer marking for all German WWII 32cm Wurfkorper Fl (Flamm), Nebelwerfer rockets is stamped on the bottom of
the fuel tank, just above the rocket motor. This example was produced by auh in 1941.
While the German WWII 32cm Wurfkorper Fl (Flamm), Nebelwerfer rocket is undergoing restoration, a replica launch crate is
constructed. These rockets were shipped and lunched from the same crate, which was constructed in wood or steel.
The 1941 German 32cm Wurfkorper Fl (Flamm), Nebelwerfer rocket completely restored.
The 1941 German 32cm Wurfkorper Fl (Flamm), Nebelwerfer rocket completely restored. This is the top of the flammable oil  
tank, which had the stenciled markings: W.K.FL. 32cm. The hole in the side of the tank is the filling inlet for the flammable oil.
The hole on the nose of the tank is where the point detonating, impact, fuze was mounted.
The 1941 German 32cm Wurfkorper Fl (Flamm), Nebelwerfer rocket replica shipping and lunch crate made by QuestMasters.
The completely restored 1941 German 32cm Wurfkorper Fl (Flamm), Nebelwerfer
rocket with replica shipping and lunch crate in the QuestMasters Museum
collection.
German 32cm Wurfkorper Fl (Flamm), Nebelwerfer rockets in use in Russia.
Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-049-0176-14, Russia, Zugkraftwagen mit Nebelwerfern, left photo.
Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-216-0417-09, Russia, schwerer Wurfrahmen an Schützenpanzer, 32cm WK Fl, right photo.
THE BATTLE OF ESPERIA, ITALY MAY 17th 1944
An original color photograph, by LIFE Magazine, showing Allied Soldiers inspecting a destroyed heavily camouflaged German
Marder III Ausf. H Self-Propelled Gun, of the 71st Infantry Division, 1st Company, Panzer Jager Abteilung 171
(1./Pz.Jg.Abt.171). A destroyed Italian Moto Guzzi ALCE 500 motorcycle, pressed into Wehrmacht service and painted in
ordnance tan, lays on its left side, in the right foreground of the photo.
Esperia Italy, May 1944, above photo.
Photo from LIFE Magazine. Photo analysis above conducted by QuestMasters Museum, January 2018.
An original Signal Corps photograph, MM-5-44-5464, dated May 21st 1944, taken just left of the previous photo (the destroyed
Marder III would be to the right of this photo), showing Allied Soldier inspecting a destroyed overturned German
Raupenschlepper Ost (RSO) Artillery Tractor. Immediately next to the RSO is a German 7,5cm PAK 40 Anti-Tank Gun. In the
background is a burned German Zundapp KS750 motorcycle with sidecar and an Italian Carro Armato M15/42 Tank, pressed
into Wehrmacht service, which has been completely destroyed and lays on its left side.
Esperia Italy, May 21st 1944, above photo.
Photo from The National WWII Museum, New Orleans Louisiana. Photo analysis above conducted by QuestMasters Museum, January 2018.
Another photo from this series, Signal Corps photograph MM-5-44-5463, shows another view of the destroyed heavily
camouflaged German Marder III Ausf. H Self-Propelled Gun, of the 71st Infantry Division, 1st Company, Panzer Jager Abteilung
171 (1./Pz.Jg.Abt.171), being inspected by French Soldiers of the Algerian Division. The door to the Raupenschlepper Ost
(RSO) Artillery Tractor, shown in the next photo, lays on the ground to the left of the German Marder III.
Esperia Italy, May 18th 1944, above photo.
Photo from The National WWII Museum, New Orleans Louisiana. Photo analysis above conducted by QuestMasters Museum, January 2018.
Another photo from this series, Signal Corps photograph MM-5-44-5493, shows another view of the destroyed heavily
camouflaged German Marder III Ausf. H Self-Propelled Gun, of the 71st Infantry Division, 1st Company, Panzer Jager Abteilung
171 (1./Pz.Jg.Abt.171). A destroyed Italian Moto Guzzi ALCE 500 motorcycle, pressed into Wehrmacht service and painted in
ordnance tan, now lays on its right side in the left foreground of the photo with several German gas masks. This motorcycle in
previous photos has now been flipped over by curious Allied Soldiers. On the road, to the above left, is an American produced
Willys MB or Ford GPW 1/4 Truck or "Jeep".
Fifth Army, 163rd Signal Photo Company, Esperia Italy, May 19th 1944, above photo.
Photo from The National WWII Museum, New Orleans Louisiana. Photo analysis above conducted by QuestMasters Museum, January 2018.
Another photo from this series shows another view of the destroyed heavily camouflaged German Marder III Ausf. H
Self-Propelled Gun, of the 71st Infantry Division, 1st Company, Panzer Jager Abteilung 171 (1./Pz.Jg.Abt.171). The destroyed
Italian Moto Guzzi ALCE 500 motorcycle, pressed into Wehrmacht service and painted in ordnance tan, lays on its left side in
the upper left of this photo.
Esperia Italy, May 1944, above photo.
Photo analysis above conducted by QuestMasters Museum, January 2018.
Another photo from this series shows another view of the destroyed heavily camouflaged German Marder III Ausf. H
Self-Propelled Gun, of the 71st Infantry Division, 1st Company, Panzer Jager Abteilung 171 (1./Pz.Jg.Abt.171). The destroyed
Italian Moto Guzzi ALCE 500 motorcycle, pressed into Wehrmacht service and painted in ordnance tan, now lays on its right
side in the right foreground of this photo.
Esperia Italy, May 1944, above photo.
Photo analysis above conducted by QuestMasters Museum, January 2018.
Another photo from this series shows another view of the destroyed heavily camouflaged German Marder III Ausf. H
Self-Propelled Gun, of the 71st Infantry Division, 1st Company, Panzer Jager Abteilung 171 (1./Pz.Jg.Abt.171).
Of specific note in this photo is the name of the vehicle: "LOWE" the German word for Leo.
Esperia Italy, May 1944, above photo.
Photo analysis above conducted by QuestMasters Museum, January 2018.
Another photo from this series shows another view of the destroyed heavily camouflaged German Marder III Ausf. H
Self-Propelled Gun, of the 71st Infantry Division, 1st Company, Panzer Jager Abteilung 171 (1./Pz.Jg.Abt.171). In this photo,
the rear stowage boxes have been opened for intelligence and souvenir searching. 7,92mm German belted machine-gun
ammunition now lays strewn across the side of the chassis. Allied communications wires have now been run next to the road
and can be seen going across the top of the German Marder III.
Esperia Italy, May 1944, above photo.
Photo analysis above conducted by QuestMasters Museum, January 2018.
Another photo from this series shows another view of the destroyed heavily camouflaged German Marder III Ausf. H
Self-Propelled Gun, of the 71st Infantry Division, 1st Company, Panzer Jager Abteilung 171 (1./Pz.Jg.Abt.171).
Of specific note in this photo is the name of the vehicle: "LOWE" the German word for Leo.
Esperia Italy, May 1944, above photo.
Photo analysis above conducted by QuestMasters Museum, January 2018.
Another photo from this series showing the complete battle scene next to the road. The destroyed heavily camouflaged
German Marder III Ausf. H Self-Propelled Gun, of the 71st Infantry Division, 1st Company, Panzer Jager Abteilung 171
(1./Pz.Jg.Abt.171) is in the center of the photo, with a German Type 82 Kubelwagen car directly next to it. Directly next to the
Type 82 Kubelwagen is a destroyed German 2cm Flak 38 Anti-Aircraft Gun on its Sonderanhanger 51 Trailer. The 2cm Flak 38
gun has been blow off of its mount, and is just visible in the lower right of the photo.
Esperia Italy, May 1944, above photo.
Photo analysis above conducted by QuestMasters Museum, January 2018.
Another photo from this series showing the complete battle scene next to the road. The destroyed heavily camouflaged
German Marder III Ausf. H Self-Propelled Gun, of the 71st Infantry Division, 1st Company, Panzer Jager Abteilung 171
(1./Pz.Jg.Abt.171) is in the center of the photo, with a partially burned and destroyed German Type 82 Kubelwagen car directly
next to it. In the center left of the photo is a destroyed Italian Moto Guzzi ALCE 500 motorcycle, pressed into Wehrmacht
service and painted in ordnance tan, laying on its right side.
Esperia Italy, May 1944, above photo.
Photo analysis above conducted by QuestMasters Museum, January 2018.
Another photo from this series showing the destroyed heavily camouflaged German Marder III Ausf. H Self-Propelled Gun, of
the 71st Infantry Division, 1st Company, Panzer Jager Abteilung 171 (1./Pz.Jg.Abt.171) with the destroyed Italian Moto Guzzi
ALCE 500 motorcycle, pressed into Wehrmacht service and painted in ordnance tan, laying on its right side. An Allied Soldier
has picked up and is carrying a German Gas Mask Cannister for intelligence purposes or as a souvenir.
Esperia Italy, May 1944, above photo. The photo has been watermarked for the National Archives and Records Adminstration.
Photo analysis above conducted by QuestMasters Museum, January 2018.
Another photo from this series, but this photograph is of a completely different destroyed heavily camouflaged German
Marder III Ausf. H Self-Propelled Gun, of the 71st Infantry Division, 1st Company, Panzer Jager Abteilung 171 (1./Pz.Jg.Abt.171).
This specific German Marder III has taken a direct shell hit to the left front armor. The tactical markings, just below the impact
hole, are the same as the previous Marder III in this series, but the right track is intact on this Marder III.
Allied communications wires have now been run next to the road and can be seen going across the top of this German Marder
III.
Esperia Italy, May 1944, above photo.
Photo analysis above conducted by QuestMasters Museum, January 2018.