Development of the gun was slow: it began in 1936, but the contract was awarded to Rheinmetall-Borsig only in 1940.

The gun was produced in two models, one mounted on a two-axle trailer, the other one stationary and used for defending important industrial installations.

The speed of traverse was too slow for fast-moving targets and the gun proved underpowered, even though the propellant gave a blast powerful enough to dazzle the aimer in broad daylight.

The buffer was mounted centrally in the cradle, between the two springs of the recuperator.

[2] Altogether 60 examples of the 5 cm Flak 41 were produced, starting from 1941, with only 24 of them still in use in 1945.