Arsenal of Dictatorship is created to describe and examine the weapons produced by Germany during World War II. In merely six years (1939-1945), the world of warfare was transformed from two to three dimensions, from propeller to jet, from tanks supporting infantry to vice versa, from battleship to carrier power, from artillery to rocket, from dynamite to atom, and from soldiers' war to total war. In almost all these transformations, Germany played an indispensable role due to its research and developments of new weapons and tactics. The Germans built the first operational combat jet (Me 262), the first real submarine (Type XXIII), the first heavy tank (Tiger II), the first cruise and ballistic missiles (V-1 and V-2), and actually, had the technology to produce weapons of nuclear potentials. Many weapons of both the United States and the Soviet Union can trace their roots to experiments by German scientists during World War II. Germany's impact on the development of modern warfare and weaponry can hardly be exaggerated.
Arsenal of Dictatorship is designed to function like an encyclopedia of German weapons. There are also sections for related topics like tactics and technologies. The website is divided into four sections: Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine and Wonder Weapons. Weapons are first classified by the branch of the armed forces to which they belonged. Then they are grouped by their function (fighter, battleship, tank, etc.). The Wonder Weapons page is somewhat of an exception. It contains weapons of all branches that were of unconventional designs. Each weapon in Arsenal of Dictatorship has its own entry, which includes a description of the weapon and its performance, and when available, photos, and technical diagrams and data. There is also an index listing all weapons in the website for easy browsing.
Although Nazi Germany had long stopped producing weapons, it is still difficult to include all its weapons or projects. Every now and then I would discover new sources about the more obscure designs. As a result, the website is constantly under a state of construction and renovation. Visitors please return frequently to check for new updates, and interested visitors who are eager to see a weapon not yet listed in the website may also request me to work on it. I would do what's within my power and knowledge to improve Arsenal of Dictatorship.
If you have questions, comments, suggestions, or other issues you would like to discuss, please feel free to email me at [email protected]. I shall try to respond promptly.
Welcome to Arsenal of Dictatorship and enjoy your visit!