Richard Fiedler
German inventor of the modern flamethrower.
Richard Fiedler, a German engineer and scientist, created the first modern flamethrower, a device that expels a stream of burning liquid (oil). In 1905, he gave the German Army test versions of his *Flammenwerfer*. The key model was a portable unit: a vertical, four-foot (1.2 m) cylinder split horizontally into two sections. The lower part held pressurized gas, the upper part flammable oil. When a lever was pressed, the gas forced the oil through a rubber tube and over a simple wick igniter in a steel nozzle. This shot a jet of fire and thick smoke about 20 yards (18 m). It could fire multiple bursts as long as the igniter remained lit. It first saw combat on the Western Front, used by the Central Powers. During World War II, both Allied and Axis forces employed it extensively.
Before World War I, Fiedler studied engineering and worked as an engineer in Berlin. His work on nozzles for spraying liquids led to the flamethrower. He originally performed a trick called "Brennender See" (Burning Lake) at festivals in Berlin-Weißensee, pouring flammable liquid onto water and setting it alight. He received his first flamethrower patent in 1905, then approached the German army, which funded further development. In 1905, he showed his device to the Prussian engineering committee at the Garde-Pionier-Bataillon in Berlin, where he got suggestions for improvements. Independently, Bernhard Reddemann (1870–1938) also started developing flamethrowers after hearing about kerosene pumps the Japanese used against bunkers at Port Arthur. Fiedler and Reddemann first met in 1908 and worked together at the start of World War I to improve the flamethrower. Reddemann became a major of the pioneers, served as fire chief in Breslau and Leipzig, and wrote books on firefighting. After the war, he authored a history of the flamethrower.
Fiedler founded Fiedler Flammenapparate G.m.b.H. (Fiedler Flame Devices, Ltd.) and ran it as director until 1917. His successors were Captain Arthur von Steynitz, merchant Arthur Bock, and merchant Kurt Mayen. From 1901 to 1918, Fiedler was granted 11 German patents for flamethrowers, the last for an airplane-mounted version.
- Field
- Engineering, weaponry
- Nationality
- German
- Known for
- Inventing the modern flamethrower
Lore & Background
Prior to the First World War, Fiedler studied engineering and worked as an engineer in Berlin. His development of the flamethrower resulted from his focus on nozzles for spraying liquids. He originally performed a trick called 'Brennender See' (Burning Lake) at festivals in Berlin-Weißensee, which entailed pouring a flammable liquid onto a water surface and setting it on fire. A first flamethrower patent was granted in 1905, and Fiedler turned to the German army, who granted him financial support for continuing development of the device. In 1905, he presented his flamethrower to the Preußisches Ingenieurs-Komitee (Prussian engineering committee) at the Garde-Pionier-Bataillon in Berlin and received suggestions for improving the device.
Independently of Fiedler, Bernhard Reddemann had also begun developing flamethrowers, prompted by reports of kerosene pumps that the Japanese had used against bunkers in the siege of Port Arthur. Fiedler and Reddemann met for the first time in 1908 and cooperated at the onset of the First World War on further developing the flamethrower. Fiedler founded the Fiedler Flammenapparate G.m.b.H.
Reader's Guide
Richard Fiedler's invention of the modern flamethrower represents a pivotal moment in military technology, introducing a man-portable device that projected a jet of fire and smoke up to 20 yards. His 1901 submission to the German Army led to financial support and eventual deployment on the western front by both the Central Powers and the Entente during World War I. The weapon's design—a vertical cylinder divided into pressurized gas and flammable oil sections, with a rubber tube and igniting wick—established a template for later models. Fiedler's collaboration with Bernhard Reddemann further refined the technology, and his company, Fiedler Flammenapparate G.m.b.H., produced these devices until 1917. The flamethrower saw extensive use in World War II by both Allied and Axis troops, underscoring its lasting impact on warfare. Fiedler's 11 patents, including one for an airplane flamethrower, highlight his continued innovation in the field.
Did You Know?
- Fiedler's flamethrower projected a stream of nitrogen, not fire directly.
- His flamethrower was a single-shot weapon; for burst firing, a new igniter section was attached each time.
- Fiedler was granted 11 German patents on flamethrowers from 1901 until 1918.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Richard Fiedler?
Richard Fiedler was a German engineer and scientist who designed the first practical modern flamethrower. He delivered test prototypes of his device to the German Army in 1905.
What is Richard Fiedler's most famous invention?
His signature creation is the modern portable flamethrower, a weapon that projects a stream of burning oil. The key model was a vertical four-foot cylinder split into a pressurized gas chamber below and a fuel reservoir above.
How does the Fiedler flamethrower work?
Pressing a lever releases pressurized gas from the lower section, which forces flammable oil through a rubber tube and past a wick igniter in a steel nozzle. The result is a jet of fire and dense smoke reaching roughly twenty yards.
When did Richard Fiedler develop his flamethrower?
Fiedler presented test versions of his Flammenwerfer to the German Army in 1905. This made it one of the earliest practical incendiary weapons fielded by a military force.
Why is Richard Fiedler important in the history of weaponry?
He is credited with turning the flamethrower from a crude concept into a workable, portable battlefield weapon. His German design established the basic template for modern incendiary systems used in later conflicts.
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