Would thermobaric weapons change the Second World War?

Were thermobaric warheads available in the Second World War, and what would wider service have changed?

The underlying effect was known, but broader use would mainly intensify destruction rather than change the war's outcome.

The panel connects thermobaric effects with fuel-air and dust explosions, noting that the underlying principle was understood before modern purpose-built warheads. German experiments and the scale required for effective air-delivered weapons limited their wartime use. Broad deployment would make particular attacks more destructive, but every belligerent could respond with its own heavier explosive and incendiary mixes. Since Allied planners already optimized bombardments for the construction of European and Japanese cities, the new munition would raise devastation without necessarily changing the strategic balance.