Henschel & Son - World War II

World War II

Early in 1935, Henschel began manufacturing Panzer I tanks. During World War II in 1939-1940 it began large-scale production of the Panzer III, and the Tiger I from 1941. Henschel was the sole manufacturer of the Tiger II. In 1945, the company had 8000 workers working in two shifts each of 12 hours. The company used forced labour extensively. The company's factories were among the most important bomber targets and were nearly completely destroyed. Although throughout the war they did manufacture narrow gauge locomotives.

Henschel aircraft and missiles included:

• Henschel Hs 117 Schmetterling (Butterfly), surface-to-air missile (rocket-engined)
• Henschel Hs 121, fighter + trainer (prototype)
• Henschel Hs 122, army co-operation/reconnaissance
• Henschel Hs 123, ground-attack (biplane)
• Henschel Hs 124, heavy fighter + bomber (prototype)
• Henschel Hs 125, fighter + trainer (prototype)
• Henschel Hs 126, reconnaissance
• Henschel Hs 127, fast medium bomber (schnellbomber prototype)
• Henschel Hs 128,
• Henschel Hs 129, ground-attack
• Henschel Hs 130, high altitude reconnaissance + bomber (prototypes)
• Henschel Hs 132, dive bomber (jet-engined) (prototype)
• Henschel Hs 135, delta wing
• Henschel Hs 293, glide bomb (rocket-powered)
• Henschel Hs 294, anti-shipping glide bomb (rocket-powered)
• Henschel Hs 295,
• Henschel Hs 296,
• Henschel Hs 297 Föhn, 73mm antiaircraft rocket-launcher
• Henschel Hs 298, air-to-air missile (rocket-powered)
• Henschel Hs P.75, A 1941 design with slightly swept-back wings placed at the rear, swept-back canards at the front, and double pusher propellers at the rear.
• Henschel Hs P.87, A design similar to the Hs P.75, except that the canards in the front are straight and the wing is curved.
• Henschel 'Zitterrochen',