Vergeltungswaffe

Vergeltungswaffe, literally “retaliation weapon” or “revenge weapon,” is a German term used during World War II to describe weapons developed with the aim of retaliating against Allied bombing and pressuring the enemy to halt air raids. The designation covered several programs launched in 1943–1945 by the Nazi regime, most notably the V-series missiles.

The best-known examples were the V-1 flying bomb and the V-2 rocket. The V-1 was a pilotless cruise missile launched from sites in German-occupied Europe, aimed at London and southern England from mid-1944. The V-2 was the first long-range ballistic missile, fired from Peenemünde and other locations, targeting London, Antwerp and other cities beginning in 1944. Production relied on thousands of forced laborers and prisoners, with facilities at Peenemünde, the Mittelwerk complex, and other sites.

A related project, the V-3, was a planned mega-cannon intended to bombard London from Calais; only limited construction and testing occurred, and it did not achieve meaningful impact.

The Vergeltungswaffen had limited military effectiveness but caused significant civilian casualties and disruption. They were costly and difficult to replace, and their strategic effect on the war was minimal. The V-2, in particular, contributed to postwar rocket development and influenced early space and missile programs, while the production and deployment of these weapons are also tied to the use of forced labor and war crimes.