WORLD WAR 2 IN REVIEW

The 8 cm Granatwerfer 34 (8 cm GrW 34) was the standard German heavy mortar throughout World War II. It gained a reputation for extreme accuracy and rapid rate of fire, although much of the credit should go to the training of the crews.

The weapon was of conventional design and broke down into three loads (smooth bore barrel, bipod, baseplate) for transport. Attached to the bipod were a traversing hand wheel, and a cross-leveling hand wheel below the elevating mechanism. A panoramic sight was mounted on the traversing mechanism yoke for fine adjustments. A line on the tube could be used for rough laying.

The 8 cm GrW 34/1 was an adaptation for use in self-propelled mountings. A lightened version with a shorter barrel was put into production as the kurzer 8 cm Granatwerfer 42.

The mortar employed conventional 8 cm 3.5 kg shells (high explosive or smoke) with percussion fuzes. The range could be extended by fitting up to three additional powder charges between the shell tailfins.

A total of 74,336,000 rounds of ammunition were produced for the Granatwerfer 34 from September 1939 to March 1945.

Type: Mortar

Place of origin: Nazi Germany

In service: 1937–1952

Used by: Nazi Germany; East Germany; Bulgaria; Yugoslavian Partisans

Wars: World War II

Designer: Rheinmetall

Designed: 1932–1934

Unit cost: 810 Reichsmark

Produced: 1934–1945

Number built: 75,255

Mass: 62 kg (136.6 lbs) steel barrel; 57 kg (125.6 lbs) Alloy barrel

Barrel length: 1.14 m (3 ft 9 in)

Shell: 3.5 kg (7 lb 11 oz)

Caliber: 81.4 mm (3.20 in)

Elevation: 45° to 90°

Traverse: 10° to 23°

Rate of fire: 15-25 rpm

Muzzle velocity: 174 m/s (571 ft/s)

Effective firing range: 400–1,200 m (440–1,310 yd)

Maximum firing range: 2.4 km (1.5 mi)

Ammunition

List of available ammunition for the Granatwerfer 34.

*Name*	*Caliber*	*Mass of explosive material*	*Target effect*	*Other information*
Wurfgranate 34 (Mortar grenade 34)	80,7 mm	533 g	Blast and shrapnel effect
Wurfgranate 34 Blauring (Mortar grenade 34 bluering)		530 g	Blast, shrapnel and chemical effect	Chemical agent: Adamsite
Wurfgranate 34 Ex (Mortar grenade 34 dummy)		0 g	None (training ammunition)	Ammunition used for learning general handling
Wurfgranate 34 Nb (Mortar grenade 34 smoke)		500 g	Smoke effect	Effect load: Sulfur trioxide in pumice stone
Wurfgranate 34 Üb (Mortar grenade 34 training)		57 g	Minimal blast effect	Training ammunition
Wurfgranate 34 Weißring (Mortar grenade 34 whitering)		550 g	Blast, shrapnel and chemical effect	Chemical agent: Phenacyl chloride
Wurfgranate 38 (Mortar grenade 38)		400 g	Blast and shrapnel effect
Wurfgranate 38 Deut (Mortar grenade 38)		200 g		Ejection charge
Wurfgranate 38 umg (Mortar grenade 38 rebuild)		550 g	Blast and shrapnel effect
Wurfgranate 39 (Mortar grenade 39)		400 g	Blast and shrapnel effect
Wurfgranate 40 (Mortar grenade 40)	80,9 mm	2000 g	Blast and shrapnel effect
Wurfgranate 40 Üb (Mortar grenade 40 training)	80,9 mm	0 g	None	Training ammunition

Fallschirmjäger with 8cm Granatwerfer 34, Italy, 1943.

8cm schwerer Granatwerfer 34 mortar.

8cm schwerer Granatwerfer 34 mortar.

The kurze Granatwerfer 42, shorter version of Granatwerfer 34, August 1, 1945.

8cm schwerer Granatwerfer 34 mortar.

Ammunition for 8cm schwerer Granatwerfer 34 mortar.

German mortar crew training with a 8 cm Granatwerfer 34 mortar, circa late 1930's.

8 cm Granatwerfer 34 mortar crew, date unknown.

8 cm Granatwerfer 34 mortar with crew, date unknown.

Paratroopers with 8cm Granatwerfer 34, Italy, 1943.

Soldiers with 8cm Granatwerfer 34, Italy, 1944.

Paratroopers with 8cm Granatwerfer 34, Italy, September 1943.

Paratroopers with 8cm Granatwerfer 34, Monte Cassino, Italy, 1944.

Paratroopers with 8cm Granatwerfer 34, France, June 1944.

8cm Granatwerfer 34 in either an SdKfz 250/7 or SdKfz 251/2, Großdeutschland Division, northern front, Russia, 23 September 1943.

8cm Granatwerfer 34, Großdeutschland Division, center front, Russia, 1943.

8cm Granatwerfer 34, southern Italy, February 1944.

An instructor demonstrates the German 80mm mortar (8cm Granatwerfer 34) to potential NCOs at 59th Division's battle school at Vienne-en-Bessin, 1 August 1944.

8cm Granatwerfer 34.

8 cm Granatwerfer 34.

8cm Granatwerfer 34.

German infantry carrying tubes and legs for 8cm Granatwerfer 34.

8cm schwerer Granatwerfer 34 heavy infantry mortar in action with German troops, Russia.

8cm schwerer Granatwerfer 34 mortar.

8cm Schwerer Granatwerfer 34 mortars being prepared for action, Russian Front.

A German officer, a holder of the Knight's Cross, briefs his NCO as they sit on the parapet of a mortar pit. In the foreground the crew of a 8cm Schwerer Granatwerfer 34 are pulling a cleaning rod from the barrel.