SCHRÄGE MUSIK (GESCHÜTZARMIERUNG)

Here is the definition of the term and the description of the weapon itself; thanks to our proofreader and technical advisor, WALTER KERN (EH 388).

“A ‘Geschützarmierung’ is a term to denote the size of a tower; i.e. 8 inches and the tower’s protection in steel plates and its thickness. It has nothing to do with ‘Schräge Musik’.

‘Schräge Musik’ again has nothing to do with the Navy. It is an artful Luftwaffe term with a unique history. ‘Schräge Musik’ is the German slang for American jazz during the ‘20’s through the ‘40’s. The literal meaning is ‘Oblique musik’ or loosely translated ‘crazy music’. It was forbidden during the Third Reich’s 1,000 years period - lasting from 1933 - 1945, and could only be heard behind the official’s back on the local radios among men.

The term was appropriately adapted for a unique invention of a German Sergeant in the nightfighter group. The British four-engine bombers attacking at night had no defense guns at their bottom. So the ‘Achilles heel’ was well recognized by the German fighters and they attacked from below by climbing towards the bomber on a parallel course and starting firing the last 100 meters. It required good night vision and excellent flying skill - beside a large degree of guts. When the first round left the gun, located at the nose of the aircraft in front of the pilot, the flash would immediately blind him and often he would break off too soon or miss the target.

So the Sergeant invented a twin gun arrangement, located behind the pilot to avoid flash-blinding, and pointed the guns upwards and forward with a slight turn to starboard. With this arrangement, the German nightfighter could fly up to the bomber from below - undetected - fly parallel fifty feet (!) below and slightly to port, in fact so close he couldn’t miss, align the guns to aim at the wing section between the left outboard and left inboard engines where a huge fuel tank was located, and flip off perhaps 10 rounds of 20mm which would instantly set the aircraft ablaze. The pilot would immediately dive to the left and allow the bomber to self-destruct. The gun arrangement, firing obliquely upwards spitting out deadly music, was appropriately and fondly referred to as ‘SCHRÄGE MUSIK’.

Incidentally, the Japanese received the plans and copied the system for attacking the B-29’s who were stripped of defense weapons when fire-bombing Tokyo and other cities in devastating nightly missions. Even the British later copied the system.

This arrangement worked very well - culminating in a Luftwaffe victory when during the attack on Nürnberg in the night of March 31, 1944 ninety-four British four-engined bombers were shot down by German night fighters.”