What is luftfaust?

Luftfaust, also known as the "Air Fist," was a portable anti-aircraft weapon used by the German army during World War II. It was designed to provide air defense for infantry units against low-flying aircraft such as reconnaissance planes and ground attack aircraft.

The Luftfaust consisted of a small tube that fired three rockets simultaneously upon the pulling of a trigger. The rockets were powered by a simple solid fuel motor and had a maximum range of approximately 320 meters. The weapon was lightweight and could be carried by a single soldier, making it easy to transport and use.

Despite its simplicity, the Luftfaust was effective against the low-flying Allied aircraft that were prevalent in the latter part of the war. However, it had limited use against faster-moving targets like fighter planes. The weapon saw limited use and was eventually replaced by the more advanced and versatile MANPADS (Man-Portable Air Defense Systems) after the war.