8.8 cm German Anti-Aircraft Gun, Flak 36 barrel on a Flak 36 carriage

This is one of the most recognised German weapons of the Second World War, and part of a family of 8.8 cm anti-aircraft and anti-tank guns that began with the Flak 18 in 1928. 'Flak' was an abbreviation of Flugabwehrkanone meaning aircraft-defence cannon.

Informally, the guns were known as the 'acht-acht' (eight-eight) by the Germans and the 'eighty-eight' by the Allies.

The Flak 18 used a single piece barrel, whereas the Flak 36 shown here featured Rheinmetall's Rohr Aufbau 9 composite, a three-section barrel that made the gun much more durable.