35073 GERMAN FLYING ROCKET ENZIAN E-1 ON STAND

The Enzian was a German World War II surface-to-air prototype anti-aircraft missile. The Enzian missile had a range of about 25-30 kilometers and was able to carry a warhead weighing up to 300 kilograms. The first work on the Enzian missile began at the Messerschmitt plant as early as 1942, but it accelerated significantly in 1943, when the Me163 Komet fuselage began to be used for missiles of this type. In the first versions of the missile (from E-1 to E-3), the Walter engine was used as the drive, which was changed to a more conventional one in the other two versions (E-4 and E-5). The missile was to be as efficient as possible, which meant the use of radio-wave guidance. Intensive tests of the Enzian missile were carried out in 1944, when about 20-30 prototypes were fired. However, due to organizational problems and problems with the drive, Enzian did not enter mass production, and its project was officially canceled in January 1945.