The standard weapon of choice for an individual in Hitler's army was the classic repeating rifle, and German attempts to build a more flexible, shorter-length version date back to the late 19th century. The result was the M1898 rifle in 7.92×57 mm calibre, also known as the Gewehr 98. It was produced between 1899 and 1903, after which it was supplemented by a slightly more modern variant, which was used by the Imperial Infantry during the Great War. It was still a relatively long rifle for normal battlefield use (1250 mm), so in 1935 an even shorter variant, the Kar 98k, was born.
The design of the carbine did not differ much from its older sister, and at first glance you can recognize the 98k model by the recesses on the sides of the stock or the end of the barrel protruding only minimally from the forend. The most significant difference, however, was in the number of pieces produced, with over 14 million Kar 98k's of 1110 mm in length produced. During World War II, it was the most common rifle of the Wehrmacht soldier, and was popular for its durability and the simplicity of the rotating Mauser slide, as well as for its relatively good accuracy even at longer ranges.
The legendary pistol
If any German weapon became a welcome prey to the Allied soldiers, it was the famous "Parabellum" or Luger 08 pistol. It was not a very modern type, as its designation came from the year of its introduction into the arsenal (1908). By the end of the war, about 2.5 million of the weapon were produced, with an eight-round magazine for 9×19 mm cartridges and a characteristic hinged breech-locking mechanism. This guaranteed reliable function, but was also a major source of problems - soldiers could only rely on it if it was perfectly clean. Even so, the parabella was renowned for its excellent accuracy, ergonomic angle of the grip to the axis of the 102mm barrel or high quality of workmanship.
The P08's uncertain reliability in field conditions led German generals in the 1930s to call for a new service pistol that would also be cheaper to produce. The Walther Armory responded with a series of experimental models, which gave rise to the Heeres Pistole (army pistol) later rebranded as the P38. Walther's 9mm gun with a 127mm barrel was characterized by a very good level of workmanship or a double-action trigger allowing the hammer to be cocked and fired in a single pull of the trigger. There was also a warning light indicating the presence of a cartridge in the chamber and other safety features. Adding to its unmistakable and attractive appearance, it is no wonder that the Pistol 38 continued to serve (not only) in the German armed forces for decades after the end of the global conflict.
Cheap and powerful schmeissers
The MP 40 submachine gun was a simplification of the successful MP 38, and over time the Germans produced about a million examples. Designer Heinrich Vollmer made extensive use of plastics as well as pressing and spot welding. This made production cheaper and at the same time allowed the production of many parts to be handed over to small subcontractors. The gun "fed" from 32-shot box magazines fired the same 9mm cartridge as the aforementioned Wehrmacht pistols, which also simplified logistics.
The 9mm "bees" left the barrel at a relatively low cadence of 500 rounds per minute, which the designers opted for in an effort to make the gun easier to handle and more accurate. Technically, they achieved the lower rate of fire by using a pneumatic silencer - a spring-loaded rod piston housed inside the bolt. The submachine gun did not have a firing mode switch, so in theory it could be fired only in bursts, but the low cadence allowed experienced soldiers to fire single shots. Although the Allies nicknamed the MP 38/40 automatic rifle "schmeissers", the designer of this name was not involved in its development.
Deadly Cadence
We must not forget the famous MG 34 machine gun - one of the best weapons of its category of the 20th century, which became the first representative of the concept of the universal machine gun. When using a folding bipod, the Maschinengewehr 34 could function as a light machine gun moving with the advancing infantry squad; when mounted on a tripod, it turned into a stationary support weapon firing long bursts. Other advantages of the 7.92×57 mm calibre machine gun with a cadence of up to 900 rounds per minute included a weight of only 12.1 kg and easy replacement of the overheated barrel even in field conditions. The functional mechanism used the principle of a short barrel lock with breech lock, the arrangement of the barrel axis and shoulder rest in a single line contributed to good maneuverability during firing.
The weapon, introduced into the Wehrmacht armament in 1936, had perhaps the only disadvantage of being expensive and difficult to produce. It was therefore to be replaced by the infamous "Hitler Saw", aka the simplified MG 42. In its construction, the cheap production methods already proven in the MP 40 machine gun were applied, while the expensive chip machining remained only for the most stressed parts, led by the barrel and breech. The new breech-locking system relied on rollers fitting into a recess in the sleeve at the end of the receiver.
Operators liked the MG 42 for its weight of only 11.5 kg and its unprecedented cadence of up to 1,200 rounds per minute, although this rate of fire made aiming difficult. When the automatic first appeared on the battlefields of the Eastern Front and North Africa in 1942, it commanded the enemy's justified respect. This was compounded by the eerie sound of fire, reminiscent of tearing paper. Work on an improved MG 45 was interrupted by the end of the war.
For the elite units
On the borderline between a light machine gun and an automatic rifle was the specialised Fallschirmjägergewehr 42, designed for parachute hunters or paratroopers. This modern piece from Rheinmetall and Krieghoff used powder gases from the barrel to drive the automatic, and a magazine for 20 rounds of 7.92×57 mm ammunition was inserted into the weapon atypically from the side. The Paragan could fire both single shots and bursts with a theoretical cadence of 750 rounds per minute. He shouldered the FG 42 with a large steel stock, which was replaced by a cheaper wooden stock during the war. Stability during firing was provided by a folding bipod.
The most famous of the German submachine guns was the pioneering Sturmgewehr 44, considered by experts to be the first mass-produced assault rifle in history. It was an automatic weapon fitted with a box magazine for 30 rounds of 7.92×33 mm, combining the best of both a repeating rifle and a submachine gun. While the long rifle lent itself to effectiveness and accuracy even at 600 mm (the maximum distance at which most combat takes place), the Maschinenpistole took from the short rifle its great firepower and more compact dimensions suitable for engagements in the woods or urban areas. The combination of performance and good handling of the StG 44 attracted the attention of all Allied armies after the defeat of the Third Reich, who promptly ordered the development of similarly designed weapons from domestic armouries.
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