Henry Mohaupt

Wolfdieter Hans-Jochem Mohaupt, known as Heinrich Mohaupt, in the U.S. Henry (Hans) Mohaupt (August 16, 1915 – May 20, 2001) was a Swiss American inventor. He first demonstrated and exhibited shaped charge warheads internationally before the Second World War. Prior to 1939, Mohaupt demonstrated his invention to British and French ordnance authorities. Concurrent development by the German group of Cranz, Schardin, and Thomanek led to the first documented use of shaped charges in warfare, in a successful assault on the fort of Eben Emael, on 10 May 1940.

Claims for priority of invention are difficult to resolve due to subsequent historic interpretations, secrecy, espionage, and international commercial interest.