Nebelwerfer (German: fog thrower) are German multi-lead missile launchers with a caliber of 150-320 mm, from the period of World War II. The main purpose of this weapon was a massive attack on enemy surface targets, e.g. infantry groups. It played a similar role as the Soviet BM-13 Katyusha. The first, produced on a large scale, was the 15-cm Nebelwerfer 41 launcher (15-cm Nb. W. 41), developed in 1937-1939. Its maximum range was 6700m. in 1940, an improved version was created, based on the Schweres Wurfgerat 40 frame, firing 280mm and 320mm rounds. It was characterized by incredible ease of use and the use of wood in the frame of the weapon. A year later, the Nebelwerfer 41 was built, which was placed on a two-wheeled, towed bed, which significantly improved mobility and combat efficiency. It fired 280mm and 320mm rounds. From 1943, a 30 cm Nebelwerfer 42 with 300 mm rounds was produced. In the same year, the 15-cm Panzerwerfer 42 was also built. It consisted of 10 guides mounted on a Maultier half-track vehicle.
The German experience of World War I clearly showed the great role of artillery on the battlefield and often the decisive influence that artillery had on infantry. At the same time, however, the limitations of the Versailles Treaty of 1919 hindered the development of this type of weapon in Germany in the 1920s, and in particular - the introduction of heavy artillery into line units. This state of affairs changed after the Nazis took power in 1933, when the process of virtually unrestrained armaments began. Many of the gun models developed earlier went into wide production. At that time (after 1933), several new types of guns were put into service on a really large scale, including: 10.5 cm leFH 18 or 15 cm SIG 33, i.e. the basic light and heavy howitzer of the German infantry during World War II. It is worth adding that the German army attached great importance to the role of artillery (especially heavy artillery) on the battlefield. For example, at the outbreak of World War II, the German infantry division had 20 75mm light infantry guns, 6 150mm heavy guns, 36 105mm light howitzers and 12 150mm heavy howitzers in stock. It is worth noting that the German tactic of using artillery put emphasis primarily on the accuracy of firing, which in turn had a negative impact on the speed of entering the action.