[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

Slowly I am learning more about the Bofors guns. So I have now found that the German Luftwaffe and the Kriegsmarine in fact used a few Bofors guns.

In 1938 the Germans got their first 40 mm Bofors AA guns following Anschluss of Austria. The Austrian gun factory Böhler at that time had license to make 132 guns.

At that time Böhler had produced 24 guns and another 26 were near beeing completed. All parts for the remaining 82 guns were extant in the factory.

The Germans considered the Bofors gun to be a superior weapon but the 40 mm calibre was odd for them. So the extant guns were sold to Sweden (together with two Bns of 150 mm howitzers).

But what to do with the 82 remaining guns not yet assembled? After thinking a while the Germans did on 1st May 1939 decide to add the 40 mm Bofors gun into their inventory as:

4 cm FlAK 28 (Bofors)

From where they got 28 is unknown. 38 should be more logical.

During the secret build up before "Barbarossa" Germany in Oct-Nov 1940 provided Finland with 92 guns ex-Austrian and ex-Dutch war booty.

By summer 1940 the Germans had laid hand on several factories producing Bofors guns.

1. Austria (Böhler) Sep 1938
2. Poland (Starakowice) Sep 1939
3. Denmark (Söartilleriet) Apr 1940
4. Norway (Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk) Apr 1940
5. Belgium (Fabrique Nationale) May 1940
6. Netherlands (Artillerie Inrichtingen Hembrug) May 1940

The production was however laid down.

The German Navy had captured several ships and craft equipped with Bofors guns and wanted more. Therefore the Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk in Norway took up production as Waffenfabrik Kongsberg. 800 guns were ordered from Kongsberg in Dec 1942. By July 1944 the German Navy had 578 Bofors guns in service.

The extant Beutewaffen Army guns from the factories mentioned above were pressed into the Coast Artillery - some 247 guns.

However also the Luftwaffe became interested in the Bofors guns and bought these from MAVAG in Hungary. By 1st Oct 1942 the German Airforce AA had 240 Bofors guns in service. MAVAG produced some 1.300 Bofors guns during WW 2.

Picture: Polish 40 mm Bofors gun captured by the Germans Sept 1939.