What is "minenwerfer"

n. (context military now historical English) A type of trench mortar used by German forces especially during the First World War, or the shells fired by such a mortar. (from 20th c.)

[[Image:German 7.58 cm minenwerfer.jpg|thumb|right|

German 7.5 cm Minenwerfer, World War I

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German soldiers loading a 25 cm Minenwerfer, World War I

]] Minenwerfer ("mine launcher") is the German name for a class of short range mortars used extensively during the First World War by the German Army. The weapons were intended to be used by engineers to clear obstacles including bunkers and barbed wire, that longer range artillery would not be able to accurately target.