When entering bulk production in 1944, the 37mm Flak 43 stood at the end of a development that had started out in 1935 with the appearance of the 3.7cm Flak 18. By mid-war it had become clear that the ubiquitous 20mm Flak did not pack enough of a punch to deal with the ever growing allied threat from the skies. Rheinmetall-Borsig and Krupp participated in a tender requesting a stronger weapon. Initially Krupp won the tender, but had to cede to the competitor due a construction flaw later. The resulting quarrel between fat cats of the party stopped the start of the bulk production from as early as 1942 until 1944. By that time this powerful weapon came too late to have an impact on the outcome of the war, even though a significant number were delivered owing to efficient production of this clever design.
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