German weapons of the Second World War - information section. Small arms of the USSR and the Reich: myths and truth Machine guns of the German army of the Second World War
During the Great Patriotic War, readers wrote about the desirability of a similar article about machine guns. We fulfill the request.
Machine guns at the indicated time became the main striking force of small arms at medium and long ranges: for some shooters, self-loading rifles were gradually replaced by submachine guns instead of self-loading rifles. And if in July 1941 a rifle company had six light machine guns in the state, then a year later - 12, and in July 1943 - 18 light machine guns and one heavy machine gun.
Let's start with Soviet models.
The first was, of course, the Maxim easel machine gun of the 1910/30 model, modified for a heavier bullet weighing 11.8 g. In comparison with the 1910 model, about 200 changes were made to its design. The machine gun has become lighter by more than 5 kg, reliability has automatically increased. Also for the new modification, a new Sokolov wheeled machine was developed.
Cartridge - 7.62 x 54 mm; food - tape, 250 rounds; rate of fire - 500-600 rounds / min.
The specifics were the use of cloth tape and water cooling of the barrel. The machine gun weighed 20.3 kg by itself (without water); and together with the machine - 64.3 kg.
The Maxim machine gun was a powerful and familiar weapon, but at the same time it was too heavy for maneuverable combat, and water cooling could cause problems with overheating: fiddling with canisters during a battle is not always convenient. In addition, the device "Maxim" was quite complex, which was important in wartime.
There was also an attempt to make a light machine gun out of the easel "Maxim". As a result, the MT machine gun (Maxim-Tokarev) of the 1925 model was created. The resulting weapon can only be called hand-held, since the machine gun weighed almost 13 kg. This model has not received distribution.
The first mass-produced light machine gun was the DP (Degtyarev Infantry), adopted by the Red Army in 1927 and widely used until the end of World War II. For its time, it was a good weapon, captured specimens were also used in the Wehrmacht (“7.62mm leichte Maschinengewehr 120 (r)”), and among the Finns, the DP was generally the most common machine gun.
Cartridge - 7.62 x 54 mm; food - disk store for 47 rounds; rate of fire - 600 rounds / min; weight with equipped magazine - 11.3 kg.
Disk stores became its specificity. On the one hand, they provided a very reliable supply of cartridges, on the other hand, they had a significant mass and dimensions, which made them inconvenient. In addition, they were quite easily deformed in combat conditions and failed. As standard, the machine gun was equipped with three disks.
In 1944, the DP was upgraded to the PDM: a pistol grip fire control appeared, the return spring was moved to the rear of the receiver, and the bipod was made more durable. After the war, in 1946, the RP-46 machine gun was created on the basis of the DP, which was then massively exported.
Gunsmith V.A. Degtyarev also developed an easel machine gun. In September 1939, the 7.62-mm machine gun of the Degtyarev system (DS-39) was put into service, they planned to gradually replace the Maxims.
Cartridge - 7.62 x 54 mm; food - tape, 250 rounds; rate of fire - 600 or 1200 rounds / minute, switchable; weight 14.3 kg + 28 kg machine with shield.
By the time of the treacherous German attack on the USSR, the Red Army had about 10 thousand DS-39 machine guns in service. Under the conditions of the front, their design shortcomings were quickly revealed: too fast and energetic shutter recoil caused frequent ruptures of the cartridge cases when they were removed from the barrel, which led to the inertial dismantling of the cartridge with a heavy bullet that popped out of the muzzle of the cartridge case. Of course, in peaceful conditions this problem could be solved, but there was no time for experiments, the industry was evacuated, so the production of the DC-39 was stopped.
The question of replacing the Maxims with a more modern design remained, and in October 1943, 7.62-mm machine guns of the Goryunov system of the 1943 model (SG-43) began to enter the troops. Interestingly, Degtyarev honestly admitted that the SG-43 is better and more economical than its development - a clear demonstration of the difference between competition and competition.
The Goryunov easel machine gun turned out to be simple, reliable and fairly light, while production was deployed at several enterprises at once, so that by the end of 1944, 74 thousand pieces were produced.
Cartridge - 7.62 x 54 mm; food - tape, 200 or 250 rounds; rate of fire - 600-700 shots / minute; weight 13.5 kg (36.9 on a wheeled machine or 27.7 kg on a tripod machine).
After the Great Patriotic War, the machine gun underwent modernization and, like the SGM, was produced until 1961, until it was replaced with a single Kalashnikov machine gun in the easel version.
Perhaps, we also recall the Degtyarev light machine gun (RPD), which was created in 1944 under the new intermediate cartridge 7.62x39 mm.
Cartridge - 7.62x39 mm; food - tape, 100 rounds; rate of fire - 650 shots / minute; weight - 7.4 kg.
However, it entered service after the war and was also gradually replaced by the RPK light machine gun during the unification of small arms in the Soviet Army.
Of course, we must not forget about heavy machine guns.
So, the designer Shpagin developed a belt power module for the Palace of Culture in 1938, and in 1939 the 12.7 mm Degtyarev-Shpagin heavy machine gun of the 1938 model of the year (DShK_, mass production of which was started in 1940-41) was adopted for service about 8 thousand DShK machine guns were produced).
Cartridge - 12.7x109 mm; food - tape, 50 rounds; rate of fire - 600 shots / minute; weight - 34 kg (on a wheeled machine 157 kg).
At the end of the war, the Vladimirov heavy machine gun (KPV-14.5) was developed under a cartridge for anti-tank rifles, which made it possible not only to support infantry, but also to fight armored personnel carriers and low-flying aircraft.
Cartridge - 14.5 × 114 mm; food - tape, 40 rounds; rate of fire - 550 shots / minute; weight on a wheeled machine - 181.5 kg (without - 52.3).
The KPV is one of the most powerful machine guns ever in service. The muzzle energy of the KPV reaches 31 kJ, while the 20-mm ShVAK aircraft gun has about 28 kJ.
Let's move on to the German machine guns.
The MG-34 machine gun was adopted by the Wehrmacht in 1934. It was the main machine gun until 1942, both in the Wehrmacht and in the tank troops.
Cartridge - 7.92x57 mm Mauser; food - tape, 50 or 250 rounds, magazine 75 rounds; rate of fire - 900 shots / minute; weight - 10.5 kg with bipod, without cartridges.
A design feature is the ability to switch the power supply to the tape feed both on the left and on the right, which is very convenient for use in armored vehicles. For this reason, the MG-34 was used in the tank forces even after the advent of the MG-42.
The disadvantage of the design is the complexity and material consumption of production, as well as sensitivity to contamination.
An unsuccessful design among the German machine guns was the HK MG-36. The relatively light (10 kg) and easy to manufacture machine gun was not reliable enough, the rate of fire was 500 rounds per minute, and the box magazine contained only 25 rounds. As a result, they were first armed with Waffen SS units, supplied according to the residual principle, then it was used as a training one, and in 1943 it was completely removed from service.
The masterpiece of the German machine gun industry is the famous MG-42, which replaced the MG-34 in 1942.
Cartridge - 7.92x57 mm Mauser; food - tape, 50 or 250 rounds; rate of fire - 800-900 shots / minute; weight - 11.6 kg (machine gun) + 20.5 kg (machine Lafette 42).
Compared to the MG-34, the designers were able to reduce the cost of the machine gun by approximately 30%, and the metal consumption by 50%. The production of MG-42 continued throughout the war, more than 400 thousand machine guns were produced in total.
The machine gun's unique rate of fire made it a powerful means of suppressing the enemy, however, as a result, the MG-42 required frequent replacement of barrels during the battle. At the same time, on the one hand, the change of the barrel was carried out structurally in 6-10 seconds, on the other hand, it was possible only with heat-insulating (asbestos) mittens or any improvised means. In the case of intensive shooting, the barrel had to be changed every 250 shots: if there was a well-equipped firing point and a spare barrel, or better two, everything was fine, but if it was not possible to change the barrel, then the effectiveness of the machine gun dropped sharply, shooting could only be in short bursts and taking into account the need for natural cooling of the barrel.
MG-42 is deservedly considered the best in its class machine gun of the Second World War.
Video comparing SG-43 and MG-42 (in English, but there are subtitles):
The Mauser MG-81 machine gun of the 1939 model was also used to a limited extent.
Cartridge - 7.92x57 mm Mauser; food - tape, 50 or 250 rounds; rate of fire - 1500-1600 shots / minute; weight - 8.0 kg.
Initially, the MG-81 was used as an airborne defensive armament for Luftwaffe bombers, it began to enter service with airfield divisions from 1944. The short barrel length caused a lower muzzle velocity compared to standard light machine guns, but at the same time, the MG-81 had less weight.
But for some reason, the Germans did not bother with heavy machine guns in advance. Only since 1944 did the Rheinmetall-Borsig MG-131 machine guns of the 1938 model, which also have an aviation origin, enter the troops: when the fighters were converted to 30-mm MK-103 and MK-108 air guns, the MG-131 heavy machine guns were handed over to the ground forces (total 8132 machine guns).
Cartridge - 13 × 64 mm; food - tape, 100 or 250 rounds; rate of fire - 900 shots / minute; weight - 16.6 kg.
Thus, we can say that in general, in terms of machine guns from a design point of view, the Reich and the USSR had parity. On the one hand, the MG-34 and MG-42 had a significantly higher rate of fire, which in many cases was of great importance. On the other hand, they required a frequent change of barrels, otherwise the rate of fire remained theoretical.
In terms of maneuverability, the old Degtyarev won: inconvenient disk magazines nevertheless allowed the machine gunner to fire alone.
It is a pity that the DS-39 could not be finalized and had to be discontinued.
In terms of heavy machine guns, the USSR had a clear advantage.
Thanks to Soviet films about the war, most people have a strong opinion that the mass small arms (photo below) of the German infantry during the Second World War is an automatic machine (submachine gun) of the Schmeisser system, which is named after its designer. This myth is still actively supported by domestic cinema. However, in fact, this popular machine gun was never a mass weapon of the Wehrmacht, and Hugo Schmeisser did not create it at all. However, first things first.
How myths are created
Everyone should remember the shots from domestic films dedicated to the attacks of the German infantry on our positions. Brave blond guys walk without bending down, while firing from machine guns “from the hip”. And the most interesting thing is that this fact does not surprise anyone, except for those who were in the war. According to the movies, the "Schmeissers" could conduct aimed fire at the same distance as the rifles of our fighters. In addition, the viewer, when watching these films, had the impression that the entire personnel of the German infantry during the Second World War was armed with machine guns. In fact, everything was different, and the submachine gun is not a mass small arms weapon of the Wehrmacht, and it is impossible to shoot from it “from the hip”, and it is not called “Schmeisser” at all. In addition, to carry out an attack on a trench by a submachine gunners unit, in which there are fighters armed with magazine rifles, is an obvious suicide, since simply no one would have reached the trenches.
Debunking the Myth: The MP-40 Automatic Pistol
This Wehrmacht small arms in WWII is officially called the MP-40 submachine gun (Maschinenpistole). In fact, this is a modification of the MP-36 assault rifle. The designer of this model, contrary to popular belief, was not the gunsmith H. Schmeisser, but the no less famous and talented craftsman Heinrich Volmer. And why is the nickname “Schmeisser” so firmly entrenched behind him? The thing is that Schmeisser owned a patent for the store that is used in this submachine gun. And in order not to violate his copyright, in the first batches of MP-40, the inscription PATENT SCHMEISSER was stamped on the store receiver. When these machine guns came as trophies to the soldiers of the allied armies, they mistakenly thought that the author of this model of small arms, of course, was Schmeisser. This is how the given nickname was fixed for the MP-40.
Initially, the German command armed only command staff with machine guns. So, in the infantry units, only the commanders of battalions, companies and squads should have MP-40s. Later, drivers of armored vehicles, tankers and paratroopers were supplied with automatic pistols. Massively, no one armed the infantry with them either in 1941 or after. According to the archives in 1941, the troops had only 250 thousand MP-40 assault rifles, and this is for 7,234,000 people. As you can see, a submachine gun is not at all a mass weapon of the Second World War. In general, for the entire period - from 1939 to 1945 - only 1.2 million of these machine guns were produced, while over 21 million people were called up in the Wehrmacht.
Why were the infantry not armed with the MP-40?
Despite the fact that experts later recognized that the MP-40 is the best small arms of the Second World War, only a few of them had it in the infantry units of the Wehrmacht. This is explained simply: the aiming range of this machine gun for group targets is only 150 m, and for single targets - 70 m. This despite the fact that Soviet soldiers were armed with Mosin and Tokarev (SVT) rifles, the aiming range of which was 800 m for group targets and 400 m for single targets. If the Germans had fought with such weapons, as shown in domestic films, then they would never have been able to reach the enemy trenches, they would simply have been shot, as in a shooting gallery.
Shooting on the move "from the hip"
The MP-40 submachine gun vibrates a lot when firing, and if you use it, as shown in the films, the bullets will always miss the target. Therefore, for effective shooting, it must be pressed tightly against the shoulder, after unfolding the butt. In addition, this machine gun was never fired in long bursts, as it quickly heated up. Most often they were beaten in a short burst of 3-4 rounds or fired single shots. Despite the fact that the performance characteristics indicate that the rate of fire is 450-500 rounds per minute, in practice this result has never been achieved.
Advantages of the MP-40
It cannot be said that this rifle was bad, on the contrary, it is very, very dangerous, but it must be used in close combat. That is why sabotage units were armed with it in the first place. They were also often used by scouts of our army, and the partisans respected this machine gun. The use of light, rapid-fire small arms in close combat provided tangible advantages. Even now, the MP-40 is very popular with criminals, and the price of such a machine is very high. And they are delivered there by “black archaeologists”, who excavate in places of military glory and very often find and restore weapons from the Second World War.
Mauser 98k
What can you say about this rifle? The most common small arms in Germany are the Mauser rifle. Its aiming range is up to 2000 m when firing. As you can see, this parameter is very close to the Mosin and SVT rifles. This carbine was developed back in 1888. During the war, this design was significantly upgraded, mainly to reduce costs, as well as to rationalize production. In addition, this Wehrmacht small arms were equipped with optical sights, and sniper units were equipped with it. The Mauser rifle at that time was in service with many armies, for example, Belgium, Spain, Turkey, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Yugoslavia and Sweden.
Self-loading rifles
At the end of 1941, the first automatic self-loading rifles of the Walther G-41 and Mauser G-41 systems entered the infantry units of the Wehrmacht for military trials. Their appearance was due to the fact that the Red Army was armed with more than one and a half million such systems: SVT-38, SVT-40 and ABC-36. In order not to be inferior to the Soviet fighters, the German gunsmiths urgently had to develop their own versions of such rifles. As a result of the tests, the G-41 system (Walter system) was recognized and adopted as the best. The rifle is equipped with a trigger-type percussion mechanism. Designed for firing only single shots. Equipped with a magazine with a capacity of ten rounds. This automatic self-loading rifle is designed for aimed fire at a distance of up to 1200 m. However, due to the large weight of this weapon, as well as low reliability and sensitivity to pollution, it was released in a small series. In 1943, the designers, having eliminated these shortcomings, proposed an upgraded version of the G-43 (Walter system), which was produced in the amount of several hundred thousand units. Before its appearance, Wehrmacht soldiers preferred to use captured Soviet (!) SVT-40 rifles.
And now back to the German gunsmith Hugo Schmeisser. He developed two systems, without which the Second World War could not have done.
Small arms - MP-41
This model was developed simultaneously with the MP-40. This machine gun was significantly different from the “Schmeisser” familiar to everyone from the movies: it had a handguard trimmed with wood, which protected the fighter from burns, was heavier and longer. However, this Wehrmacht small arms were not widely used and were not produced for long. In total, about 26 thousand units were produced. It is believed that the German army abandoned this machine in connection with the lawsuit of ERMA, which claimed that its patented design was illegally copied. Small arms MP-41 was used by parts of the Waffen SS. It was also successfully used by Gestapo units and mountain rangers.
MP-43, or StG-44
The next weapon of the Wehrmacht (photo below) was developed by Schmeisser in 1943. At first it was called MP-43, and later - StG-44, which means "assault rifle" (sturmgewehr). This automatic rifle in appearance, and in some technical characteristics, resembles (which appeared later), and differs significantly from the MP-40. Its range of aimed fire was up to 800 m. The StG-44 even provided for the possibility of mounting a 30 mm grenade launcher. For firing from cover, the designer developed a special nozzle, which was worn on the muzzle and changed the trajectory of the bullet by 32 degrees. This weapon entered mass production only in the fall of 1944. During the war years, about 450 thousand of these rifles were produced. So few of the German soldiers managed to use such a machine gun. StG-44s were supplied to the elite units of the Wehrmacht and to Waffen SS units. Subsequently, this weapon of the Wehrmacht was used in
FG-42 automatic rifles
These copies were intended for parachute troops. They combined the fighting qualities of a light machine gun and an automatic rifle. The Rheinmetall company took up the development of weapons already during the war, when, after evaluating the results of airborne operations carried out by the Wehrmacht, it turned out that the MP-38 submachine guns did not fully meet the combat requirements of this type of troops. The first tests of this rifle were carried out in 1942, and at the same time it was put into service. In the process of using the mentioned weapon, shortcomings were also revealed, associated with low strength and stability during automatic firing. In 1944, the upgraded FG-42 rifle (Model 2) was released, and Model 1 was discontinued. The trigger mechanism of this weapon allows automatic or single fire. The rifle is designed for the standard 7.92 mm Mauser cartridge. Magazine capacity is 10 or 20 rounds. In addition, the rifle can be used to fire special rifle grenades. In order to increase stability when firing, a bipod is fixed under the barrel. The FG-42 rifle is designed for firing at a range of 1200 m. Due to the high cost, it was produced in limited quantities: only 12 thousand units of both models.
Luger P08 and Walter P38
Now consider what types of pistols were in service with the German army. "Luger", its second name "Parabellum", had a caliber of 7.65 mm. By the beginning of the war, the units of the German army had more than half a million of these pistols. This small arms of the Wehrmacht was produced until 1942, and then it was replaced by a more reliable "Walter".
This pistol was put into service in 1940. It was intended for firing 9 mm rounds, the magazine capacity is 8 rounds. Sighting range at "Walter" - 50 meters. It was produced until 1945. The total number of P38 pistols produced was approximately 1 million units.
Weapons of World War II: MG-34, MG-42 and MG-45
In the early 30s, the German military decided to create a machine gun that could be used both as an easel and as a manual one. They were supposed to fire at enemy aircraft and arm tanks. The MG-34, designed by Rheinmetall and put into service in 1934, became such a machine gun. By the beginning of hostilities, the Wehrmacht had about 80 thousand units of this weapon. The machine gun allows you to fire both single shots and continuous. To do this, he had a trigger with two notches. When you click on the top, shooting was carried out with single shots, and when you click on the bottom - in bursts. It was intended for Mauser rifle cartridges 7.92x57 mm, with light or heavy bullets. And in the 40s, armor-piercing, armor-piercing tracer, armor-piercing incendiary and other types of cartridges were developed and used. This suggests the conclusion that the impetus for changes in weapons systems and tactics for their use was the Second World War.
The small arms that were used in this company were replenished with a new type of machine gun - MG-42. It was developed and put into service in 1942. The designers have greatly simplified and reduced the cost of the production of these weapons. So, in its production, spot welding and stamping were widely used, and the number of parts was reduced to 200. The trigger mechanism of the machine gun in question allowed only automatic firing - 1200-1300 rounds per minute. Such significant changes adversely affected the stability of the unit during firing. Therefore, to ensure accuracy, it was recommended to fire in short bursts. Ammunition for the new machine gun remained the same as for the MG-34. The range of aimed fire was two kilometers. Work on improving this design continued until the end of 1943, which led to the creation of a new modification, known as the MG-45.
This machine gun weighed only 6.5 kg, and the rate of fire was 2400 rounds per minute. By the way, not a single infantry machine gun of that time could boast of such a rate of fire. However, this modification appeared too late and was not in service with the Wehrmacht.
PzB-39 and Panzerschrek
PzB-39 was developed in 1938. This weapon of the Second World War was used with relative success at the initial stage to combat tankettes, tanks and armored vehicles with bulletproof armor. Against heavily armored B-1s, British Matildas and Churchills, Soviet T-34s and KVs), this gun was either ineffective or completely useless. As a result, it was soon replaced by anti-tank grenade launchers and reactive anti-tank guns "Pantsershrek", "Ofenror", as well as the famous "Faustpatrons". The PzB-39 used a 7.92 mm cartridge. The firing range was 100 meters, the penetration ability made it possible to "flash" 35-mm armor.
"Panzerschreck". This German light anti-tank weapon is a modified copy of the American Bazooka rocket-propelled gun. German designers provided him with a shield that protected the shooter from hot gases escaping from the grenade nozzle. Anti-tank companies of motorized rifle regiments of tank divisions were supplied as a matter of priority with these weapons. Rocket guns were exceptionally powerful weapons. "Panzershreki" were weapons for group use and had a service crew consisting of three people. Since they were very complex, their use required special training in calculations. In total, in 1943-1944, 314 thousand units of such guns and more than two million rocket-propelled grenades were produced for them.
Grenade launchers: "Faustpatron" and "Panzerfaust"
The early years of World War II showed that anti-tank guns were not up to the task, so the German military demanded anti-tank weapons with which to equip an infantryman, acting on the principle of "shot and thrown." The development of a disposable hand grenade launcher was started by HASAG in 1942 (chief designer Langweiler). And in 1943 mass production was launched. The first 500 Faustpatrons entered the troops in August of the same year. All models of this anti-tank grenade launcher had a similar design: they consisted of a barrel (smooth-bore seamless pipe) and an over-caliber grenade. An impact mechanism and an aiming device were welded to the outer surface of the barrel.
"Panzerfaust" is one of the most powerful modifications of the "Faustpatron", which was developed at the end of the war. Its firing range was 150 m, and its armor penetration was 280-320 mm. The Panzerfaust was a reusable weapon. The barrel of the grenade launcher is equipped with a pistol grip, in which there is a firing mechanism, the propellant charge was placed in the barrel. In addition, the designers were able to increase the speed of the grenade. In total, over eight million grenade launchers of all modifications were manufactured during the war years. This type of weapon inflicted significant losses on Soviet tanks. So, in the battles on the outskirts of Berlin, they knocked out about 30 percent of armored vehicles, and during street fighting in the capital of Germany - 70%.
Conclusion
The Second World War had a significant impact on small arms, including the world, its development and tactics of use. Based on its results, we can conclude that, despite the creation of the most modern weapons, the role of rifle units is not decreasing. The accumulated experience of using weapons in those years is still relevant today. In fact, it became the basis for the development and improvement of small arms.
The holiday of the Great Victory is approaching - the day when the Soviet people defeated the fascist infection. It is worth recognizing that the forces of the opponents at the beginning of World War II were unequal. The Wehrmacht is significantly superior to the Soviet army in armament. In support of this "ten" small arms soldiers of the Wehrmacht.
1 Mauser 98k
A German-made repeating rifle that entered service in 1935. In the Wehrmacht troops, this weapon was one of the most common and popular. In a number of parameters, the Mauser 98k was superior to the Soviet Mosin rifle. In particular, the Mauser weighed less, was shorter, had a more reliable shutter and a rate of fire of 15 rounds per minute, against 10 for the Mosin rifle. For all this, the German counterpart paid with a shorter firing range and weaker stopping power.
2. Luger pistol
This 9mm pistol was designed by Georg Luger back in 1900. Modern experts consider this pistol the best at the time of the Second World War. The design of the Luger was very reliable, it had an energy-efficient design, low accuracy of fire, high accuracy and rate of fire. The only significant defect of this weapon was the impossibility of closing the locking levers with the design, as a result of which the Luger could become clogged with dirt and stop firing.
3.MP 38/40
This Maschinenpistole, thanks to Soviet and Russian cinema, has become one of the symbols of the Nazi war machine. Reality, as always, is much less poetic. Popular in media culture, the MP 38/40 has never been the main small arms for most units of the Wehrmacht. They armed drivers, tank crews, detachments of special units, rear guard detachments, as well as junior officers of the ground forces. The German infantry was armed for the most part with the Mauser 98k. Only sometimes MP 38/40 in a certain amount as an "additional" weapon were transferred to assault squads.
4. FG-42
The German semi-automatic rifle FG-42 was designed for paratroopers. It is believed that the impetus for the creation of this rifle was Operation Mercury to capture the island of Crete. Due to the nature of the parachutes, the Wehrmacht troops carried only light weapons. All heavy and auxiliary weapons were landed separately in special containers. This approach caused heavy losses on the part of the landing force. The FG-42 rifle was a pretty good solution. I used cartridges of caliber 7.92 × 57 mm, which fit into 10-20 piece magazines.
5. MG 42
During the Second World War, Germany used many different machine guns, but it was the MG 42 that became one of the symbols of the aggressor in the yard with the MP 38/40 PP. This machine gun was created in 1942 and partially replaced the not very reliable MG 34. Despite the fact that the new machine gun was incredibly effective, it had two important drawbacks. First, MG 42 was very sensitive to contamination. Secondly, it had an expensive and labor-intensive production technology.
6. Gewehr 43
Before the outbreak of World War II, the Wehrmacht command was least interested in the possibility of using self-loading rifles. It was assumed that the infantry should be armed with conventional rifles, and for support, have light machine guns. Everything changed in 1941 with the outbreak of the war. The semi-automatic rifle Gewehr 43 is one of the best in its class, second only to the Soviet and American counterparts. In terms of its qualities, it is very similar to the domestic SVT-40. There was also a sniper version of this weapon.
7.StG44
The Sturmgewehr 44 assault rifle was not the best weapon of the Second World War. It was heavy, absolutely uncomfortable, difficult to maintain. Despite all these shortcomings, the StG 44 was the first modern type of assault rifle. As you might guess from the name, it was already produced in 1944, and although this rifle could not save the Wehrmacht from defeat, it revolutionized the field of handguns.
8. Stielhandgranate
Another "symbol" of the Wehrmacht. This hand-held anti-personnel grenade was widely used by German forces in World War II. It was a favorite trophy of the soldiers of the anti-Hitler coalition on all fronts, in view of its safety and convenience. At the time of the 40s of the XX century, the Stielhandgranate was almost the only grenade completely protected from arbitrary detonation. However, it also had a number of shortcomings. For example, these grenades could not be stored in a warehouse for a long time. They also often leaked, which led to wetting and deterioration of the explosive.
9. Faustpatrone
The first single-shot anti-tank grenade launcher in the history of mankind. In the Soviet army, the name "Faustpatron" was later assigned to all German anti-tank grenade launchers. The weapon was created in 1942 specifically "for" the Eastern Front. The thing is that the German soldiers at that time were completely deprived of the means of close combat with Soviet light and medium tanks.
10. PzB 38
The German Panzerbüchse Modell 1938 anti-tank rifle is one of the most obscure types of small arms from World War II. The thing is that it was discontinued already in 1942, as it turned out to be extremely ineffective against Soviet medium tanks. Nevertheless, this weapon is a confirmation that such guns were used not only in the Red Army.
In continuation of the weapon theme, we will introduce you to how shooting balls from a bearing.
The advantages of PP (rate of fire) and rifles (range of aimed and lethal fire) were designed to combine an automatic rifle. However, almost until the very end of World War II, none of the countries managed to create a successful mass weapon of this class. The Germans came closest to this.
At the end of 1944, the 7.92-mm Schmeisser assault rifle (Sturm-Gewehr-44) was adopted by the Wehrmacht. It was a further development of the assault rifles of 1942 and 1943, which successfully passed military tests, but were not put into service. One of the reasons for the delay in the mass production of such promising weapons was the same conservatism of the military headquarters, which, in connection with new weapons, did not want to make changes to the established staffing tables of army units.
Only in 1944, when the overwhelming fire superiority of both the Soviet and the Anglo-American infantry over the German became obvious, did the “ice break” and the StG-44 was put into mass production. However, the factories of the weakened Third Reich managed to produce only a little more than 450 thousand units of this AB before the end of the war. She never became the main weapon of the German infantry.
There is no need to describe the StG-44 for a long time, because all its main characteristics, design solutions and design were embodied after the war in the Soviet Kalashnikov assault rifle of the 1947 model. The main differences between the AK-47 and the German prototype are associated only with the caliber of the cartridge: the standard 7.62 mm Soviet instead of the 7.92 mm German.
The Germans themselves called them Wunderwaffe, which in translation sounds like "Guns that surprise." The term was first introduced by their Ministry of Propaganda at the beginning of World War II and referred to a super weapon - one that was technologically advanced and revolutionary in terms of war. The majority of these weapons never managed to leave the blueprints, and what they managed to create never reached the battlefield. After all, either it was made in small numbers and no longer affected the course of the war, or it was implemented years later.
15. Self-propelled mine "Goliath"
It looked like a small tracked vehicle, to which explosives were attached. In total, the Goliath could hold about 165 pounds of explosives, developed a speed of about 6 miles per hour and was remotely controlled. Its key drawback was that the control was carried out using a lever that was connected to the Goliath by a wire. It was worth cutting it, and the car became harmless.
The most powerful german weapons of world war ii, also known as the "Weapon of Vengeance", consisted of several chambers and had an impressive length. In total, two such guns were created, and only one was put into action. Aimed at London, it never fired, but from the one that posed a threat to Luxembourg from January 11 to February 22, 1945, 183 shells were fired. Only 142 of them reached their target, but no more than 10 people were killed in total and about 35 were wounded.
13. Henschel Hs 293
This anti-ship missile was definitely the most effective guided weapon of the war. It was 13 feet long and weighed an average of 2 thousand pounds, more than 1000 of these went into service with the German air force. They had a radio-controlled airframe and rocket engine, while having 650 pounds of explosive in the nose of the warhead. They were used against both armored and unarmored ships.
12. Silbervogel, "Silver Bird"
The development of the "Silver Bird" began in 1930. It was an aerospace bomber that could travel distances between continents carrying an 8,000-pound bomb. In theory, he had a special system that prevented him from being detected. Sounds like the perfect weapon to destroy any enemy on Earth. And that is why it was never realized, because the creator's idea was far ahead of the possibilities of those times.
Many believe that the StG 44 is the first assault rifle in the world. Its initial design was so successful that the M-16 and AK-47 were subsequently made from it. Hitler himself was very impressed with the weapon, calling it the "Storm Rifle". The StG 44 also had a host of innovative features, from infrared vision to a "curved barrel" that allowed it to fire around corners.
10. "Big Gustav"
The largest weapon used in history. Manufactured by the German company Krupp, it was not inferior in terms of gravity except perhaps to another weapon called the Dora. It weighed over 1360 tons and its dimensions allowed it to fire 7-ton projectiles in a range of up to 29 miles. The “Big Gustav” was extremely destructive, but not very practical, because it required a serious railway to be transported, as well as time both for assembling and disassembling the structure, and for loading parts.
9. Radio-controlled bomb Ruhustahl SD 1400 "Fritz X"
The radio-controlled bomb was similar to the aforementioned Hs 293, but armored ships were its primary target. It had excellent aerodynamics, thanks to four small wings and a tail. It could hold up to 700 pounds of explosives and was the most accurate bomb. But among the disadvantages was the inability to turn quickly, which caused the bombers to fly too close to the ships, putting themselves under attack.
8. Panzer VIII Maus, "Mouse"
The Mouse was fully armored, the heaviest vehicle ever built. The Nazi super heavy tank weighed an astonishing 190 tons! Its size was the key reason why it was not put into production. At that time, there was no engine with sufficient power for the tank to be useful, and not a burden. The prototype reached speeds of 8 miles per hour, which is too low for military operations. Moreover, not every bridge could withstand it. "Mouse" could only easily break through enemy defenses, but it was too expensive to go into full-scale production.
7. Landkreuzer P. 1000 Ratte
If you thought that the "Mouse" was huge, then in comparison with the "Rat" - it is just a child's toy. The design had a weight of 1,000 tons and armament, which had previously been used only on naval ships. It was 115 feet long, 46 feet wide, and 36 feet high. At least 20 personnel were required to operate such a machine. But again, the development was not implemented due to impracticality. The "Rat" would not have crossed any bridge, and would have destroyed all roads with its tonnage.
6. Horten Ho 229
At a certain point in the war, Germany needed an aircraft that could carry a 1000 kilogram bomb in itself at a distance of 1000 km, while developing a speed of 1000 km / h. Two aviation geniuses, Walter and Reimer Horten, came up with their own solution to this problem, and it looked like the first stealth aircraft. Horten Ho 229 was made too late and was never used by the German side.
5. Infrasonic weapons
In the early 1940s, engineers developed a sonic weapon that was supposed to literally turn a person inside out due to powerful vibrations. It consisted of a gas combustion chamber and two parabolic reflectors connected to it by pipes. A person who fell under the influence of a weapon experienced an incredible headache, and once within a radius of 50 meters, he died in a minute. The reflectors had a diameter of 3 meters, so the invention was not used, because it was an easy target.
4. "Hurricane gun"
Developed by the Austrian researcher Mario Zippermair, who devoted many years of his life to the creation of anti-aircraft installations. He came to the conclusion that hermetic vortices could be used to destroy enemy aircraft. The tests were successful, so two full-scale designs were released into the light. Both were destroyed by the end of the war.
3. "Solar gun"
We've heard about the Sonic Cannon, the Hurricane, and now it's Sunshine's turn. German physicist Hermann Oberth undertook its creation in 1929. It was assumed that working due to the incredible size of the lens, the cannon would be able to incinerate entire cities and even be able to boil the ocean. But at the end of the war, it was clear that the project could not be implemented, because it was far ahead of its time.
"V-2" was not as fantastic as other weapons, but it became the first ballistic missile. It was actively used against Britain, but Hitler himself called it only too large a projectile, which has a wider radius of destruction, but at the same time is too expensive.
A weapon whose existence has never been proven. There are only references to how it looked and what effect it had. In the form of a huge bell, Die Glocke was created from an unknown metal and contained a special liquid. Some activating process made the bell deadly within a 200 meter radius, causing blood to clot and a host of other lethal reactions. During the test, almost all scientists died, and their original goal was to launch the bell in a jet way into the northern part of the planet, which would have promised death to millions of people.