---
title: "Hitler created the largest gun ever, and it was a total disaster"
date: "2018-03-31"
modified: "2020-10-21"
authors:
  - name: "Team Mighty"
    job_title: "Author"
    link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/teammighty.md"
url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/asperiores-odit/hitler-created-largest-gun-ever-total-disaster/"
categories:
  - "History"
  - "War History"
  - "World War II"
---

# Hitler created the largest gun ever, and it was a total disaster

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17286443/origin.jpg>)

Eager to invade France, Nazi leader Adolf Hitler demanded a new weapon that could easily pierce the concrete fortifications of the [French Maginot Line](<https://www.businessinsider.com/the-story-of-the-maginot-line-2015-4>) — the only major physical barrier standing between him and the rest of western Europe.

---

In 1941, German steelmaker and arms manufacturer [Krupp A.G.](<https://www.thyssenkrupp.com/>) built Hitler the "Gustav Gun," the largest gun ever used in combat, according to Military Channel's "[Top Secret Weapons](<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hf3fgfHoTOc>)" documentary.

The four-story, 155-foot-long gun, which weighs 1,350 tons, shot 10,000-pound shells from its mammoth 98-foot bore.

The massive weapon was presented to the Nazi's free of charge to show Krupp's contribution to the German war effort, according to historian [C. Peter Chen](<https://ww2db.com/index.php>).

In the spring of 1942, the Germans debuted the mighty "Gustuv gun"at the [Siege ](<https://ww2db.com/battle_spec.php?battle_id=214>)[of Sevastopol](<https://ww2db.com/battle_spec.php?battle_id=214>). The 31-inch gun barrel fired 300 shells on Sevastopol.

**However, as the Nazi's would soon find out, the ostentatious gun had some serious disadvantages:**

- Its size made it an easy target for Allied bombers flying overhead
- Its weight meant that it could only be transported via a costly specialized railway (which the Nazi's had to build in advance)
- It required a crew of 2,000 to operate
- The 5-part gun took four days to assemble in the field and hours to calibrate for a single shot
- It could only fire 14 rounds a day

Within a year, the Nazi's discontinued the "Gustav gun," and Chen notes that Allied forces eventually scrapped the massive weapon.

**Here's a video of the Gustav:**

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hf3fgfHoTOc

### Also from Business Insider:

- [Here's what US intelligence thought could happen to Hitler in 1943](<https://www.businessinsider.com/us-intelligence-predictions-of-hitler-in-1943-2015-3>)
- [Mexico's gun buyback program has been flooded with these homemade firearms](<https://www.businessinsider.com/mexico-netted-homemade-firearms-in-buyback-program-2015-4>)
- [The US military's 'Iron Man suit' could become a reality if these key problems are solved](<https://www.businessinsider.com/iron-man-suit-has-one-key-problem-2015-4>)
- [Here's the advanced air defense system that Russia is now offering to Iran](<https://www.businessinsider.com/s-300-air-defense-system-russia-selling-to-iran-2015-4>)
- [Britain scrambles Typhoon jets to see off Russian bombers](<https://www.businessinsider.com/britain-typhoon-jets-intercept-russian-bombers-2015-4>)

This article originally appeared at [Business Insider Defense](<https://www.businessinsider.com/defense>) Copyright 2015. Follow BI Defense on [Twitter](<https://twitter.com/bi_defense>).

## Author
Team Mighty's experience encompasses intel, special ops, military history, tactical expertise, aviation, gear, and weapons. Authors on Team Mighty include veterans, spouses, and active and reserve service members from every branch of the military, as well as former CIA employees.

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