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After World War II, there was a belief that Germany was on the brink of a technological breakthrough that could have altered the war's outcome. However, this notion was unfounded. The closest thing to a "Wunderwaffe" or "wonder-weapon" during the war was arguably the US atomic bomb.
The Messerschmitt Me 262 provided Germany with a tactical edge but could not resolve the Luftwaffe's persistent material shortages. German "Wunderwaffe" were often complex and mostly served as propaganda to boost morale as the war turned against them. Here are five "Wunderwaffe" from WWII that either entered service or reached prototyping:
1. V-2 Rocket: Over 3,000 V-2 rockets were built. This single-stage ballistic missile targeted London and entered operational service. It was an engineering success but strategically failed, consuming resources that might have been better spent elsewhere.
