N.I.M. Third Reich Weapons

German World War Two weapons carry great traditions which influence weapon systems of modern times.  Basic German infantry weapons of the common German Soldier during World War Two, will continue to influence infantry weapon systems, well into the new millennium beyond the year 2000, for many decades to come.

This section contains the Sturmgewahr44 German Assault Rifle, the German MP40 Sub-Machine Gun, and the Lugar Pistole 08.

German World War Two Assault Rifle

 Sturmgewehr 44 (Mashinenpistole MP43)

By 1944, the German Army was throwing new weapons into operation in order to turn the events to Germany's favor.  It was during this stage of World War Two the Sturmgewehr 44, German Assault Rifle, was put into operation during the final months of the war.

Less than 120,000 Sturmgewehr 44 Assault Rifles were produced  for the entire German Army, towards the final months of World War Two, due to an over-taxed industry.

The Sturmgewehr 44, even though in limited use during the war, had proven to be the best single infantry fire-arm of World War Two.

The same 7.92 mm caliber common to other German weapons was retained; however, the bullet was shorter than its predecessor with a much smaller propellant charge. This created a reduced lethal range of around 500 meters.    This also generated a lighter recoil effect, which allowed the inclusion of fully automatic fire as well as single shots, which could be well aimed at each target.

This gave the user an advantage over every other rifleman he would encounter in a normal infantry battle.

A weapon which could fire rounds automatically, and semi-automatically, with less of a kick when fired, proved to be best infantry weapon for a single soldier to carry in combat.

Ammunition was carried with two pouches, each pouch containing three magazines { 30 rounds per Magazine}, with possibly an additional magazine loaded in the rifle, creating a total of 210 rounds for each Sturmgewehr 44 operator to carry until re-supply.

Following World War Two, the Soviets copied captured German Sturmgewehr44's, and created the Soviet AK-47, which was also copied by the Red Chinese.

During the second half of the 20th Century, the Soviet and Red Chinese made AK-47 became the most widely produced weapon on earth.

The AK-47, is only a copy of the German Sturmgewehr44 Assault Rifle.

GERMAN WORLD WAR TWO SUB-MACHINE GUN

MP40 Schmeisser  Maschinen Pistole 40

The MP40 German Sub-Machine Gun was the MOST famous German Infantry weapon of World War Two.

The MP40 German Sub-Machine Gun was carried by Infantry Squad Leaders and specified soldiers, within an normal Infantry Squad.  The Squad Leader was normally a German Sergeant.  The Squad normally contained 8 to 15 soldiers.   The other soldiers in the squad were armed with bolt action rifles, most of the war, some of the squad members assisted to operate crew served weapons such as heavier machine guns, mortar teams, or anti-tank weapons.

The MP40 is an up-date of  the MP38, which suffered from a tricky safety system, which often failed. The safety system was fixed and mass production simplified, with the updated version of the German Sub-machine gun called the MP40.

MP40, OUTFOULDED RIFLE STOCK, LOADED MAGAZINE

The basic ammunition load was seven magazines, {32 rounds per Magazine}. One Magazine was kept in the weapon, and six Magazines were carried in two pouches, with each pouch holding three magazines, for a total of 224 rounds, for a basic load, for each MP40 Schmeisser operator until re-supply .

Officially there were six magazines issued, total of 192 rounds, carried by each MP40 operator, until re-supply.

The Luger

(Pistole 08)

The Lugar is the most famous German World War Two, and World One, pistol.

The Luger was carried by a variety of  German Military Personnel, armed forces assisting the Germans during World War Two.   The Lugar was used to arm machine gunners, mortar gunners, medics, auxiliary police detachments,  and foreign nationals assisting German Armed Forces during World War Two.

Two eight round magazines were issued, one magazine was loaded into the Lugar, and the other magazine was held in a pouch, located on the holster.

During World War Two, the German Military considered the Pistol, especially the Lugar, to be a good backup system for most soldiers who operated heavier weapons.

It was not uncommon, for the basic German infantry soldier, to also carry a pistol, in addition to his rifle or main battle weapon, during World War Two, as a good backup system, if the main battle weapon ever failed.

RETURN TO N.I.M. WEAPONS OF THE THIRD REICH

RETURN TO N.I.M. SUBJECTS

CLICK HERE for N.I.M. MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION