The history of the first assault rifle Sturmgewehr Stg.44. Information desk: About the monuments to Schmeisser and Kalashnikov About sighting devices

The article is devoted to the hottest topic in the arms world about plagiarism of the Soviet assault rifle Mikhail Kalashnikov AK-47 from an assault rifle by Hugo SchmeisserStG-44(MP -43-Latin). For reference on Russian/domestic qualifications, automatic small arms using an intermediate cartridge are called “machine guns”; according to foreign classification, this type of weapon is called an “assault rifle”, so the article will focus on “machine guns”. The reason for the dispute is the poor education of people in this topic (technical and historical vacuum) and the unwillingness to look deeper into the essence of the dispute, plus a great desire to rewrite history based on arguments and distorted facts. Below in the article everything will be laid out on the “shelves” without “foaming around the mouth”, what comes from, when and why.

Proponents of plagiarism insist exclusively on:

• AK-47 visually similar in layout to StG-44, the use of an intermediate cartridge and gas-operated automation, which had no analogues
• Hugo Schmeisser was brought to the USSR to create a future AK-47
• Mikhail Kalashnikov could not create AK-47, since he had no technical education, no experience in creating firearms, and after its creation he did not create a single type of weapon. Simply put, there wouldn’t be enough “brains”

Visual similarity between AK-47 and STG -47

The design of the machines is similar in layout (visually) and there is nothing else in common between them. Technical similarities between AK-47 And STG-44, the same as that of an angle grinder and a hammer drill. If you look into the design of the machine guns, then the technical difference between them is HUGE, namely the HUGE similarity of the machine guns: top-mounted gas-operated automatics and an intermediate cartridge (7.62x41 mm for AK-47, to be more precise, after 1948, 7.62x39 mm and 7.92x33 mm for StG-44).

From the table we can see that the technical approach to automatic machines is completely different. Complete and incomplete disassembly of machine guns have nothing in common. ShutterStG-44slides inside the upper receiver, atAK-47the bolt slides along grooves in the receiver. The difference is obvious in the recoil springs and the way they are located. Due to the large return springStG-44, which is necessary to return the shutter with a long stroke (remove the misalignment of the shutter and make extraction sleeves), so the machinecannot be produced with or without a folding stock. The triggers for the machines are different.

Let's compare the layout right away AK-46, which turned into AK-47. Here we are immediately struck by the familiar method of not completely disassembling an assault rifle by dividing the receiver into upper and lower parts. Which immediately hints at the similarity of assembly/disassembly with StG-44. But this method of disassembly and assembly has been familiar to Kalashnikov since the beginning of 1942, when he created the Kalashnikov submachine gun model 1942, and six months later he created the Kalashnikov machine gun 1942/43, the drawings of which were ready back in 1942. That is, a year and a half before the creation of MP-43 (future StG-44).

Hugo Schmeisser was not a “pioneer” in the creation of automatic small arms. Gas-operated automatic, barrel locking by skewed bolt, intermediate cartridges like StG-44 was used by John Garand when creating the M1 Garbine rifle in 1923. It should also be noted that the use of gas-operated automatics in small arms began in early 1940, when the USSR began producing small arms with gas-operated automatics in 1927 with the adoption of the DP-27 machine gun, and the first sample of the Degtyarev self-loading rifle was presented in 1917 .

Weapons with automatic gas release, rotary locking of the barrel and automatic firing, like a machine gun AK-47 was created back in 1883 by the Mexican gunsmith Manuel Mondragon when creating the M1883/M1908 automatic rifle. In 1923, this design was used by Isaac Lewis (photo-1, photo-2) when creating a machine gun. In the USSR, this design was used by Bulkin in 1944 when creating the AB-44 assault rifle.
How we see automatic circuits of machines AK-47 And STG-44 existed long before the Second World War. Logically, it turns out that Hugo Schmeiser himself plagiarized.

Hugo Schmeisser helped create the AK-47 with the USSR

This statement is not true, since Hugo Schmeisser was brought to Izhevsk by the USSR at the end of October 1946, he began work in November 1946, that is, two months before the final GAU competition. It turns out that Hugo Schmeisser arrived after Vasily Lyuty (leading GAU specialist on small arms and mortar weapons) gave an opinion on the correction and modernization of the competitive AK-46 to level AK-47. Mikhail Kalashnikov worked in Izhevsk, and Hugo Schmeisser in Kovrov; there are 1000 km between these cities. If there was a need for the knowledge of Hugo Schmeisser to create a machine gun, then he would have worked in Izhevsk. Also, remote work at that time was not possible due to the lack of modern technologies - graphic editors and analogues of the Internet. After returning home to Germany in June 1952, Hugo Schmeiser did not publish information about his involvement in the creation AK-47. Additionally, there is information that Werner Gruner, the creator of the German MG-38 machine gun, who was in the field of electric welding and stamping, helped produce the AK-47 using the stamping method. Then the question arises “why,” if the AK-47, before the adoption of the AKM in 1959, was manufactured with a milled receiver, and not by stamping, like the STG-44. Plus, the USSR had experience in manufacturing weapons using the stamping method in manufacturing PPSh and PPS.

There wouldn't be enough "brains"

At the time of creation AK-47 Kalashnikov had a technical education, which he received at the Moscow Aviation Institute (he was sent for training in mid-1942, after the introduction of his second submachine gun), which was evacuated to Samarkand (Kazakh SSR) at the end of 1941. In mid-1942, he had experience in creating two submachine guns with different automation systems. Before the war, Kalashnikov was a tank driver and created a device for more efficient shooting from TT through the viewing slots of tanks. The first experimental submachine gun had gas-operated automatics - samples and drawings have not been preserved. The second surviving experimental Klyushnikov submachine gun of the 1942 model with a semi-blowback was distinguished by a screw coupling to slow down the bolt; this semi-blowback was first used in the design of a weapon by Kalashnikov. In mid-1943, Kalashnikov presented a prototype of a machine gun, which began to be designed simultaneously with a submachine gun, but due to the busyness of work on the experimental Kalashnikov submachine gun of 1942. In October 1944, Kalashnikov presented the GAU with the Kalashnikov SKK-44 self-loading carbine, but preference was given to the Simonov SKS carbine, which was a famous weapons designer. So, experience and technical education at the time of creation AK-47 Kalashnikov had it. In 1943 he was transferred to the staff of the design bureau with a salary.

The second important point is that when creating AK-47 Kalashnikov worked in the team of Alexander Alekseevich Zaitsev and Vasily Ivanovich Solovyov. Also, when creating the machine, the designers had to communicate a lot with technologists, metallurgy specialists, and lathes.

The third important point is the big technical difference between the AK-46 and AK-47, which was announced for testing for the GAU in 1946, that according to the terms of the competition it was impossible to make serious technical modifications. Appearance of the usual design for testing in December 1946 AK-47 associated with Vasily Lyuty. Vasily Lyuty was at that time one of the main members of the GAU commission, who recommended that Kalashnikov make technical changes and technical solutions from other assault rifles that took part in the competition. The main technical solutions were borrowed from the Bulkin AB-46/TKB-415 assault rifle, which was in the lead throughout the competition. As we can see, Kalashnikov borrowed a bolt group with rotary locking of the barrel and receiver from the Bulkin assault rifle. Initially, the AK-46 had a different gas piston that did not have a rigid fastening with a bolt and a different receiver design. Lyuty’s task was to adopt modern weapons, which he did with the help of Kalashnikov.

Initially AK-47 could be called AKZ-47-according to the abbreviations of the main designers of the assault rifle—Avtomat Kalashnikov-Zaitsev model 1947. But one of the highest military officials considered that a modern and formidable weapon had been created, and the inclusion of Zaitsev’s surname was not appropriate, after which Zaitsev and Solovyov found themselves in the “shadow” of Kalashnikov:
“A machine gun is a formidable modern weapon. How can Zaitsev appear in its name? What does a bunny mean? It’s not serious. Here’s a Kalash - yes!”

Mikhail Kalashnikov did not know how to draw, yes, this is true, which is confirmed in his memoirs by Alexander Zaitsev, who was engaged in drawing work. But to be fair, many gunsmiths of that time did not know how to draw and did not have a technical education. Hugo Schmeisser also did not know how to draw and did not have a technical education. You can remember John Browning, who, without a technical education, became the most famous gunsmith in the World and created more than 50 types of small arms. Already at the age of 4, before he could read and write, he already knew the names of all parts of small arms. Among the domestic gunsmiths without technical education, we must highlight Mikhail Margolin, who, without education and being completely BLIND, from the age of 18 was able to create a small-caliber machine gun, a rifle, and a sports pistol MTs-1/MTsM. And creating more advanced weapons based on created weapon samples should not come as a surprise; none of the gunsmiths created anything from scratch or reinvented gunpowder. If you take any weapon, you can easily discern plagiarism in it. Plagiarism in the weapons world must be understood as a complete copying of a weapon, and not its individual components, and how you can create what has been created can only be modernized.
There is a rumor that Mikhail Kalashnikov is just a pseudo-designer who was promoted to gunsmiths and that after AK-47 they did not create anything. But then the question arises, who created the Saiga, AK-74, AKSU, APK, PK, PKM, PP "Bison", PKT, RPK

Conclusion

Machine designs AK-47 And StG-44 do not have common technical solutions, and plagiarism is out of the question. If we were talking about plagiarism, then there would be 100% copying of the machine. Stealing, copying, disassembling and creating an owl at that time was the norm/necessity and all countries of the World were doing this despite the moral standards of copyright. Hugo Schmeisser could not help in creating the AK-47, since he was 1000 km from Mikhail Kalashnikov, and technical shortcomings and recommendations for creating AK-47 Vasily Lyuty were drawn up 1 month before the arrival of Hugo Schmeisser in the USSR, that is, the technical specifications for the creation AK-47 have already been embodied in metal. At the time of its creation, Mikhail Kalashnikov had practical and theoretical experience in creating small arms, and also had a technical education, which he received in Samarkand (Kazakhstan) at the Moscow Aviation Institute, where he was sent by Anatoly Blagonravov, and a year later he was accepted into the design bureau in Kovrov. Mikhail Kalashnikov did not single-handedly create the AK-47; its creation was influenced by the design of the Bulkin AB-46 assault rifle and the supervision of Vasily Lyuty, who gave recommendations for improving the AK-46 and lobbied for Kalashnikov’s design. Do not forget about the help of Alexander Zaitsev and Vasily Solovyov, who found themselves in the “shadow” of Kalashnikov. The domestic design school of small arms had outstanding gunsmiths (Shpagin, Degtyarev, Bulkin, Lyuty, Tokarev, Simonov, Shpagin, Dementyev, Sudaev, ....) rich experience in creating successful models of small arms. Domestic gunsmiths did not need the help of German captured gunsmiths.
Well, a couple of questions for those who believe that the AK-47 is still a plagiarism of the STG-44:

• What prevented the military from sending Hugo Schmeisser to the same design bureau as Kalashnikov to help?
• If it is believed that the AK-46 is a copy of the StG-44, fine, so be it, but the AK-46 was not produced, and the AK-47 has little in common with the design of the AK-46.

P.S. For people who, after facts and arguments, continue to believe in Kalashnikov’s plagiarism, then this is their right...."
It's crap everywhere: the designs are crap, the competition is crap, the designer is crap... But how did the “candy” turn out?

About the AK-47 in general

The Kalashnikov assault rifle, or as it is more often called AK-47, is known all over the world. From its creation in 1947 until it entered service with the USSR Army in 1949, this machine gun was a mandatory participant in all armed conflicts on our planet. For many African tribes, this machine gun has become something more than just a weapon; quite often its image can be found on the national flags of the countries of the continent. Such popularity of the AK is quite understandable; this machine gun is recognized as the most durable and lethal weapon in its class. Despite its power, it is so unpretentious that it copes well not only with the sands and dust of Africa and Eastern countries, but also with the swamps and jungles of Vietnam. Due to its simplicity, the production cost of this machine is low, which determines such production volumes. The wide distribution of the AK-47 also occurred due to the fact that the modern army, for the most part, has been re-equipped with a modified AK-74 for quite some time, but at the same time, decommissioned AK-47s are still in excellent condition and continue to work. And of course, there will always be people who will gladly make money on weapons that have been decommissioned, but are still quite usable. Now the armament of the army of the Russian Federation, and most CIS countries, uses various modifications of the AK-47, ranging from small, police AKSU to RPK machine guns.

RPK machine gun (Kalashnikov light machine gun)

AKSU (Kalashnikov Automatic Folding Short)

Was there a copy

There are many secrets and questions surrounding the creation of this excellent weapon, but the main one is that Kalashnikov did not invent his own machine gun, but simply copied the weapon from the German Stg-44 assault rifle. This rifle was invented by the famous German gunsmith Hugo Schmeisser back in 1942. Rumors of plagiarism are also fueled by the fact that after the war, more than 50 samples of the Stg-44 rifle were taken to the city of Izhevsk, where the AK-47 was actually created, for technical disassembly. In addition to the rifles themselves, more than 10,000 pages of technical documentation about the Stg-44 were sent to the plant. Of course, after this, evil tongues began to say that Kalashnikov simply slightly changed the Stg-44 and released his AK-47 assault rifle. It is known for certain that after the occupation of the city of Suhl by Allied troops, the production of weapons in Germany was prohibited, and a little later, in 1946, Hugo Schmeisser and his family were offered to go to the Ural factories that produced weapons as a consultant. It is also known that the German lived for some time in Izhevsk and it was after this that the creation of the legend - the AK-47 - was completed.

If we draw such conclusions, then all the weapons in the world are copied from each other. By and large, the AK-47 assault rifle and the German Stg-44 assault rifle have similarities only in appearance and in the trigger mechanism. But in this matter, Kalashnikov cannot be accused of stealing the idea of ​​this mechanism from Hugo Schmeisser, since the German himself borrowed it from the Kholeka company, which developed the first self-loading rifles ZH-29 back in the 20s.

Self-loading rifle ZH-29

If you look closely at the middle part of the rifle, a similar design can be seen in any modern machine gun, but for some reason it never occurs to anyone to say that all modern weapons are copied from this self-loading rifle.

Kalashnikov, in fact, could have taken a German rifle as the basis for creating his machine gun, but the AK-47 is an original invention that is completely different from the German model not only in its tactical and technical characteristics, but also in its internal structure. Almost all the parts and important components in the AK-47 are completely different from the STG-44. Moreover, even the principle of disassembling these automatic rifles is completely different. The difference is visible everywhere, from the locking mechanism, re-locking on the AK-47 and the skew on the STG-44; The fire mode translators for STG and AK are completely different; the trigger principle of operation, despite its similarity, also has different practical implementation. If you consider each part of the machines separately, you will not find anything in common with each other.

STG-44 and AK

If we talk about ammunition for these machine guns, then they have an external resemblance, however, like many other ammunition in the world. This is not surprising, because this bullet shape is recognized as the most successful in terms of all ballistic characteristics. Further, if we talk about the caliber, the AK-47, as you know, uses a 7.62x39 mm caliber cartridge. The STG-44 used the 7.92x33 cartridge. A similar caliber can also be explained quite easily, because before the creation of weapons of this type, the main weapons were various rifles with a caliber of 7.62.

Cartridges for AK and STG-44

If we talk about “plagiarism,” then Kalashnikov could most likely liken his assault rifle to another Russian-made weapon - the Tula Bulkin assault rifle or TKB-415, which, unfortunately, was never fully developed and did not go into serial production, despite a good design and technical characteristics. Unfortunately for those who like to accuse M. Kalashnikov of plagiarism, the AK-47 and TKB-415 also have nothing in common except their appearance.

Bulkin assault rifle TKB-415

Bottom line

In conclusion, it must be said that in the AK-47 there are indeed many elements copied from weapons of various types, but this was not done in order to deliberately copy weapons, but in order to collect all the best that was developed in the field of automatic weapons of that time . It was thanks to his ability to evaluate and choose the best that Kalashnikov managed to create such a magnificent weapon, which has been used by countries around the world for more than 50 years and does not become obsolete. It should also be noted that if Kalashnikov copied the STG-44 rifle from Germany, why then the production of this weapon was not continued, because the STG-44 can only be found in private collections or museums, and the Kalashnikov assault rifle not only continued to exist, but also continues constantly modified, each time turning into an increasingly formidable weapon.

A unique and extremely rare item, a cold assault rifle (automatic) of German production SHP MP 44 or Stg 44 sturmgewehr - Stg 44 Sturmgewehr. Chilled by the Hammer weapon factory. Number 5793. Blank caliber 7.62x39mm. The history of the Stg 44 assault rifle began with the development by Polte AG (Magdeburg) of an intermediate 7.92x33 mm cartridge of reduced power for firing at a distance of up to 1000 m, in accordance with the requirements put forward by the HWaA (Heereswaffenamt - Wehrmacht Arms Directorate). In 1935-1937 numerous studies were carried out, as a result of which the initial tactical and technical requirements of the HWaA for the design of weapons for a new cartridge were reworked, which led to the creation in 1938 of the concept of light automatic small arms, capable of simultaneously replacing submachine guns, repeating rifles and light machine guns in the army . On April 18, 1938, HWaA entered into an agreement with Hugo Schmeisser, owner of the company C.G. Haenel Waffen und Fahrradfabrik" (Suhl, Thuringia), a contract for the creation of a new weapon, officially designated MKb (German: Maschinenkarabin - automatic carbine). Schmeisser, who headed the design team, handed over the first prototype of the machine gun to the HWaA at the beginning of 1940.

At the end of the same year, a contract for research under the MKb program. received by the Walther company under the leadership of Erich Walther. A version of this company's carbine was presented to officers of the HWaA artillery and technical supply department at the beginning of 1941. Based on the results of firing at the Kummersdorf training ground, the Walter assault rifle showed satisfactory results, however, fine-tuning of its design continued throughout 1941. In January 1942, the HWaA demanded that C.G. Haenel" and "Walther" will provide 200 carbines each, designated MKb.42(H) and MKb.42(W), respectively.

In July, an official demonstration of prototypes from both companies took place, as a result of which HWaA and the leadership of the Ministry of Armaments remained confident that improvements to the assault rifles would be completed in the very near future and production would begin at the end of the summer. It was planned to produce 500 carbines by November, and to increase monthly production to 15,000 by March 1943, however, after the August tests, HWaA introduced new requirements into the technical specifications, which briefly delayed the start of production. According to the new requirements, the machine guns had to have a bayonet lug mounted, and also be able to mount a rifle grenade launcher. In addition to this, C.G. Haenel had problems with a subcontractor, and Walther had problems setting up production equipment. As a result, not a single copy of the MKb.42 was ready by October.

The production of machine guns grew slowly: in November, Walther produced 25 carbines, and in December - 91 (with a planned monthly production of 500 pieces), but thanks to the support of the Ministry of Armaments, the companies managed to solve the main production problems, and already in February the production plan was exceeded (1217 machines instead of thousands). By order of Minister of Armaments Albert Speer, a certain number of MKb.42s were sent to the Eastern Front to undergo military tests. During the tests, it was revealed that the heavier MKb.42(N) was less balanced, but more reliable and simpler than its competitor, so HWaA gave its preference to the Schmeisser design, but required some changes to be made to it.

Throughout the history of mankind, many samples have been created. According to military experts, among the wide variety of similar products, models such as the German STG 44 assault rifle and the Kalashnikov assault rifle occupy a special place. was widely used by warring parties during the Great Patriotic War. There are many similarities between the German STG 44 assault rifle and the AK. Mostly professionals are aware of all the design features of both models. Not everyone knows that the predecessor of the Belgian development FN FAL, adopted by NATO and becoming the main competitor to many modern firearms, including the AK-47, is the German assault rifle STG 44.

This fact gives reason to show greater interest in the weapons of Wehrmacht soldiers. Information about the history of creation, design and technical characteristics of the German assault rifle STG 44 is presented in the article.

Introduction to weapons

The STG 44 assault rifle (Sturmgewehr 44) is a German assault rifle created during the Second World War. In total, German industry produced 450 thousand units. According to experts, the German assault rifle STG 44 is the first mass-produced model of assault rifles. Compared to submachine guns used during the war, the rifle has an improved firing rate. This became possible thanks to the use of more powerful ammunition in the German STG 44 assault rifle (photo of the weapon is presented in the article). Such a cartridge is also called “intermediate”. Unlike pistol cartridges used in pistols and submachine guns, rifle ammunition has improved ballistic properties.

About the history of the German assault rifle STG 44

The development of intermediate cartridges, carried out in 1935 by the Magdeburg arms company Polte, laid the foundation for the creation of the German rifle. The caliber of 7.92 mm ammunition made it possible to fire effectively at distances of no more than a thousand meters. This indicator met the requirements for cartridges from the Wehrmacht Arms Directorate. The situation changed in 1937. Now, after numerous studies conducted by German gunsmiths, the management of the Directorate has come to the conclusion that a more effective cartridge is needed. Since the existing weapons were structurally unsuitable for the tactical and technical capabilities of the new ammunition, in 1938 a concept was formulated according to which the main emphasis was on light automatic rifle models that would become a worthy replacement for submachine guns, repeating rifles and light machine guns.

Start of production

The history of the production of the German assault rifle STG 44 begins with the conclusion of an agreement between the Armament Directorate and the company C.G. Heanel, owned by Hugo Schmeisser. According to the contract, the arms company was to produce an automatic carbine chambered for a new intermediate cartridge. The MKb rifle became such a weapon. In 1940, the first samples were handed over to the customer. Walther also received a similar order. Two years later, both companies submitted their samples - models MKbH and MKbW - for Hitler's consideration. The latter (MKbW rifle), according to experts, turned out to be too complex and “capricious”. The device provided by C.G. Heanel, was considered the best. This type of rifle is characterized by: robust design and high tactical and technical characteristics. In addition, the reliability, durability of the weapon and ease of disassembly were appreciated. In the documentation this model is listed as MKb.42. The Minister of the Wehrmacht Armament Directorate put forward a proposal, after making some design changes, to send several of these samples to the Eastern Front.

What was improved in MKb.42?

• The trigger was replaced with a Walter trigger system. According to experts, such a replacement will have a beneficial effect on the accuracy of combat during single shooting.
• Changes affected the design of the sear.
• The rifle was equipped with a safety catch.
• The gas chamber tube was shortened and equipped with 7-mm holes designed to allow the remaining powder gases to escape. Thanks to this, difficult weather conditions are no longer an obstacle to using the rifle.
• The guide bushing was removed from the return spring.
• The tide for mounting the bayonet was abolished.
• The butt design has been simplified.

1943-1944

The modified model was already listed in the documentation as MP-43A. It soon entered service and was supplied to the Eastern Front for soldiers of the 5th SS Wiking Panzer Division. In 1943, German industry produced over 14 thousand units of such weapons. In 1944, a new abbreviation was provided for the model - MP-44. Some historians suggest that it was Hitler who renamed the MP-44 to the Stumgever STG 44.

The characteristics of the first German assault rifle were appreciated by the Nazis. The use of such weapons had a positive effect on the firepower of the German infantry. Selected units of the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS were armed with German assault rifles (Sturmgewehr) STG 44. By the end of the war, Germany had produced at least 400 thousand weapons. However, these models began to be widely used in the final phase of World War II. The reason for this was the shortage of cartridges for the German STG 44 assault rifle. Photos of the cartridges are presented in the article. According to military experts, the lack of ammunition prevented the weapon from having a major impact on the course of World War II.

Post-war time

Nazi generals paid a lot of attention to the topic of the German STG 44 assault rifle in their memoirs. Despite the lack of ammunition, the weapon performed at its best. Even after the end of World War II, the first German assault rifle STG 44 is not forgotten. Until 1970, the model was in service with the police and army of both Germany itself and several other Western countries. According to some information sources, during the conflict in Syria, both warring parties used German STG 44 assault rifles.

Device Description

The rifle is equipped with a gas-operated type of automatic operation. Powder gases are discharged through special holes in the barrel. The barrel channel is locked by tilting the bolt. The rifle is equipped with a non-adjustable gas chamber. If it is necessary to clean the machine, the chamber plugs and the auxiliary rod are unscrewed. A special punch is provided for this procedure. The German assault rifle STG 44 is equipped with a trigger-type trigger. The weapon is designed for single and burst firing. The mode is regulated by a special translator, the location of which is the trigger guard. The ends of the translator are located on both sides of the receiver and are designed in the form of buttons with a corrugated surface. In order to fire in bursts from the German STG 44 assault rifle, the translator should be installed in position D. Single fire is possible in position E. In order to protect the owner from unplanned shots, the designers equipped the weapon with a safety lever, which is located on the receiver below the translator. The trigger lever is locked if the safety is set to position F. The inside of the butt has become the location for the return spring. This design feature of the rifle eliminates any possibility of designing modifications with a folding stock.

About ammunition

Cartridges numbering 30 are contained in a detachable sector double-row magazine. Wehrmacht soldiers equipped their rifles with 25 cartridges. This was explained by the presence of weak springs in the stores, unable to ensure a high-quality supply of ammunition. In 1945, a batch of magazines designed to hold 25 rounds was produced. That same year, German designers invented special locking devices that limited equipment to 25 rounds of standard magazines.

About sights

The German rifle is equipped with a sector sight, which ensures effective shooting at distances of no more than 800 m. The sighting bar is equipped with special divisions, each of which is equal to a distance of 50 m. The slots and front sights in this model of weapon are triangular in shape. Options for rifles with optical and infrared sights were not excluded.

About additional accessories

Included with the rifle were:

• Six stores.
• A special machine with which stores were loaded with ammunition.
• Belt.
• Three barrel covers.
• A special tool used to unscrew the gas chamber. In addition, this device was used to dismantle trigger guards.
• Pencil case. It contained a brush for cleaning the barrel channel.
• Manual.

About grenade launchers

The Wehrmacht Armament Directorate formulated a requirement that an assault rifle must be suitable for firing grenades. The first models of weapons were characterized by the presence of a special thread on which flame arresters were mounted. They decided to use the threaded mount to install grenade launchers on German STG 44 assault rifles. The characteristics of the weapon turned out to be insufficiently reliable for this. It turned out that such a design was futile. In order to adapt the grenade launcher to the assault model, a batch of rifles (MP 43) was developed, in which the front part of the barrel contained a special ledge. In addition, the pedestals for the front sights had to be redone.

The installation of grenade launchers became possible only after these design modifications were completed. Since ammunition for grenade launchers, unlike rifle grenade launchers, was represented by a wide range, the designers faced a problem due to the lack of a special expulsion cartridge. Since during the use of automatic weapons, powder gases are consumed when feeding ammunition, the required pressure was not enough to fire a grenade from a rifle. The designers should have developed a special device.

In 1944, two expelling cartridges were created: one with a charge of 1.5 g was intended for firing fragmentation grenades, and the second with a charge of 1.9 g was intended for armor-piercing cumulative grenades. In 1945, the weapon was successfully tested. However, according to experts, special sights should also be developed for rifles that fire grenades, which was never done.

About curved-barrel devices

Assault rifles were adapted for shooting from trenches and from behind tanks. Such firing became possible thanks to the presence of special curved-barrel attachments. The service life of such devices did not exceed 250 shots. Initially it was planned to use 7.92x57 mm rifle ammunition. But during testing it turned out that the power of such cartridges was too great for curved-barrel attachments, which failed after only a hundred shots. The gunsmiths decided to use 7.92x33 mm cartridges.

1944 was the year the first curved-barrel device for an assault rifle appeared. The nozzle was presented in the form of a rifled barrel bent at 90 degrees. Special openings were provided for the product through which powder gases escaped. The designers managed to increase the service life of the nozzle, compared to the first samples, to 2 thousand shots. A bevel angle of 90 degrees was provided. However, the German infantrymen were not satisfied with this indicator of curvature. The designers had to change the angle to 45 degrees. However, after the tests, it turned out that such a bevel angle entails rapid wear of the nozzles. As a result, the curvature had to be reduced to 30 degrees. With the help of these devices, German soldiers could also fire grenades. Especially for this purpose, the holes in the nozzles were covered, since a large amount of gases was required for the grenade to fly out. The firing range of the rifle grenade launcher was 250 m.

In 1945, the curved-barrel attachment Deckungszielgerat45 was manufactured. With the help of this device, the German soldier had the opportunity to shoot grenades from a full-fledged shelter. The device was a frame to which a rifle was attached using special latches. The lower part of the frame was equipped with an additional metal butt and a wooden pistol grip. Its trigger mechanism was connected to the trigger of the rifle. Aiming was carried out using two mirrors installed at an angle of 45 degrees.

TTX

• STG 44 refers to automatic weapons.
• Weight - 5.2 kg.
• The size of the entire rifle is 94 cm, the barrel is 419 mm.
• The weapon fires 7.92x33 mm ammunition. Caliber 7.92 mm.
• The projectile weighs 8.1 g.
• The fired bullet has a speed of 685 m/s.
• Automation uses the principle of removal of powder gases.
• The barrel channel is locked by tilting the bolt.
• The aimed shooting range is 600 m.
• Ammunition supply sector store.
• Within one minute you can fire up to 500-600 shots.
• Country of origin - Third Reich.
• The rifle was created by designer Hugo Schmeisser.
• The rifle entered service in 1942.
• The total number of rifle units produced is 466 thousand.

About the advantages and disadvantages

According to experts, the STG 44 is a revolutionary example of automatic small arms. The rifle has the following advantages:

• Excellent accuracy of hits when shooting at close and medium distances.
• Compactness. The rifle was very easy to use.
• Excellent rate of fire.
• Good ammunition characteristics.
• Versatility.

Despite the presence of undeniable advantages, STG 44 is not without some disadvantages. The weaknesses of the rifle include:

• The presence of a weak magazine spring.
• Unlike other rifle models, the STG 44 has a large mass.
• The presence of a fragile receiver and unsuccessful sighting devices.
• The German assault rifle does not have a handguard.

According to military experts, these shortcomings were not critical. By carrying out a small modernization, the weaknesses of the German rifle could be easily eliminated. However, the Nazis no longer had time for this.

According to military experts, the German STG 44 assault rifle and the AK are very similar. In 1945, the Americans occupied the city of Sühl. It was in this city that the company of H. Schmeisser was located. Having made sure that the businessman was not a Nazi, the Americans did not detain him, and showed absolutely no interest in STG 44. US soldiers were convinced that their automatic rifles were better than German rifles.

In the Soviet Union, work on the creation of an intermediate cartridge has been carried out since 1943. The impetus for this was the appearance of captured rifle models among Soviet designers. In 1945, all technical documentation on the assault rifle was removed from Schmeisser's enterprises in the USSR.

In 1946, 62-year-old Hugo Schmeisser and his family went to the Soviet Union, namely to Izhevsk. In this city, Soviet designers carried out work to create a new machine gun. A German gunsmith was invited to the enterprise as an expert. Soviet designers used technical documentation for the German Schmeisser assault rifle. It is for this reason that debates about the origin of the Soviet “Kalash” are still raging among specialists and amateurs of automatic small arms. Some argue that the AK is a successful copy of the STG 44.

Finally

Using captured German rifles, Soviet soldiers stormed Berlin. STG 44 had a huge impact on the further post-war development of automatic weapons.

In addition to the Kalashnikov, the design of the German rifle was used by Belgian designers during its creation. Experts do not rule out that the STG 44 was also the prototype for the American rifle, since both models are very similar in design. In the ranking of the best small arms automatic weapons, the German rifle takes 9th place.

The Second World War seriously stimulated the development of weapons and military equipment. Armies that entered the war sometimes emerged from it with a completely different face and more advanced weapons. The German armed forces were also at the forefront of technical thought.

As a result of Germany's defeat, many ideas ended up abroad, promoting new products in other countries. One of the first mass-produced models known in the world was the Sturmgever 44 assault rifle, one of the first such examples chambered for an intermediate cartridge.

The history of the creation of Sturmgever

Even during the break between the world wars, theorists and military personnel were concerned with the issue of uniformity and fundamentally new technical characteristics of firearms among soldiers. Rifle cartridges were unnecessarily powerful. They retained lethal force for an average of a couple of kilometers, while the real battle took place on average at a distance of 300 meters.

However, the problem was not the strength of the cartridge, but its large dimensions and difficulty of use in automatic weapons. The pistol cartridge performed well at distances of up to 200 meters, after which both penetration and shooting accuracy greatly decreased. As a result, the armed forces of the world's countries faced World War II armed with rifles and submachine guns.

A new type of weapon and ammunition made it possible to use logistics capabilities much more efficiently.

An increased amount of ammunition carried and transported due to uniformity, an increase in the strength, range and density of fire by the unit, all this and much more was provided by the new cartridge.

Intermediate ammunition, which has the lethality of a rifle cartridge and is suitable for automatic weapons, has been sought since the beginning of the twentieth century. The unitary cartridges created at that time were not widely used and had almost no effect on the armament of soldiers. Only in 1940, the engineers of the German Polte managed to create a successful cartridge, 7.92x33 mm Kurz (short).

According to the plans of the High Command, the Wehrmacht was to be rearmed; instead of submachine guns and rifles, the soldiers were to receive a universally uniform
weapon.

Even earlier, in 1938, an agreement was concluded between the Armament Directorate and the Schmeisser company on the development of a new type of weapon for an intermediate cartridge. In 1940, he handed over the developed sample for research, and around the same time a new contract was concluded with the Walter company with the same technical specifications. At the beginning of 1942, both options were demonstrated at a meeting with Hitler.

Tests showed the failure of the Walter model; it was too capricious and difficult to operate. Schmeisser's model, on the contrary, proved to be convenient, and it was decided to arrange front-line tests.

After successful use in the East and the elimination of minor shortcomings, in 1943 a sample of a fundamentally new small arms was put into service under the marking MP-43A or MP-431.

It took a long time to choose the name of the weapon. In the early years, it was believed that engineers were working on an automatic carbine. In 1944, the Fuhrer proposed the name assault rifle, and this name was assigned to all samples of this type of weapon in the West. Interesting fact: Hitler was initially against a new type of personal small arms.

He was presented with an option that had been tested by the troops, revised several times, and was highly appreciated by the generals, who enjoyed Hitler’s trust. Under pressure from positive reviews, the Fuhrer had to give in, and the StG.44 was put into mass production.

Weapon design

Automation is based on the removal of powder gases from the barrel bore. They move the bolt back, and locking occurs by tilting the bolt. The impact mechanism is of the trigger variety.

The machine gun is capable of firing both automatic fire in bursts of varying lengths and single shots.

Ammunition is supplied by magazine method, from a sector-type double-row magazine with 30 rounds of ammunition. The sight allows you to shoot at eight hundred meters. Separately, it is worth highlighting the return spring, located in the wooden butt. This does not make it possible to produce weapons with a folding stock.

Since the weapon went into service with the troops, essentially “raw,” it has many disadvantages, as well as advantages:

• unsuccessful aiming devices, taking into account the fact that the machine gun fires accurately at short and medium combat distances;
• heavy weight compared to rifles and submachine guns, but good ergonomics and compactness;
• insufficient strength of the receiver,
• weakness of the spring in the magazine;
• unfinished forend, inconvenient for the shooter;
• excellent rate of fire from the positive aspects of the weapon.

It is worth noting that almost all the shortcomings are associated with “childhood diseases” or wartime conditions. These shortcomings are quite easily eliminated, as demonstrated by operating experience, since from the moment they were put into service until the end of the war, the machine guns were modernized several times and, literally, the weapons were improved on the assembly line.

If Germany had more time and resources, history could have changed greatly due to the massive use of new weapons, analogues of which either had worse characteristics or were in development.

Interesting are the developments to improve the StG.44, carried out by German designers until the very end of the war. In addition to mounts for sights and grenade launchers, a device for firing at night was developed. The Vampire sight made it possible to see a target at a distance of up to one hundred meters. The downside was the weight of the sight, more than 2 kg, as well as the 13 kg power supply carried on the back.

Combat use

Initially, the new assault rifle was used in the SS Viking division. Subsequently, these weapons also entered service only with elite units of the German army. A total of 400 thousand samples were produced, which was not a very large number, but that was not the main problem.

There was a catastrophic shortage of ammunition for the machine gun; the industry could not cope with orders for the front.

This, and the fact that the weapon was delivered en masse to the troops in 1944, when the question of Germany’s defeat remained a matter of time, did not allow the rifle to make a significant contribution to combat operations.

Meanwhile, the Allies took a closer look at the new weapons. The Americans did not like the Sturmgever; the generals considered the M1 carbines to be a much better weapon. True, this did not stop American infantrymen from happily using captured models throughout the war. The Soviet army appreciated the capabilities of the assault rifle.

The saturation of PPSh did not affect the use of a fundamentally different captured weapon, and its low mass use is associated with the main problem, the insufficient amount of ammunition. Captured samples influenced the 7.62×39 intermediate cartridge designed in the Union.

Post-war life of StG.44 and interesting facts

Speaking about the German assault rifle, one cannot fail to mention the discussion surrounding its role in the creation. After the end of World War II, Schmeisser, who had not tarnished himself as a Nazi criminal, was released. He was immediately offered cooperation with the Soviet authorities, and he spent a long time in Izhevsk, at an arms factory.

At the same time, the young designer Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov is working on the creation of his weapons in Kovrov, on the basis of a weapons factory.

One way or another, we can talk about the external similarity between the StG.44 and the AK, but if you look inside, the difference will become obvious. Despite the same principle, the removal of powder gases, the design itself is significantly different.

The location of the return spring, locking, the principle of disassembly, and many other small differences make it possible to talk about different samples. The provocative question of whether Kalashnikov made the machine gun, or Schmeisser, remains on the conscience of lovers of cheap sensations and searches in an empty dark room for a cat.

In the post-war period, the machine gun was used by the armies of both Germanys, the IDF in many wars with Arab countries, as well as in military conflicts in Korea, Vietnam and some African countries. The proliferation of other types of weapons did not allow the machine gun to become widespread, but it made its contribution to wars.

There is evidence of its use in the conflict in Syria, already in the 21st century. He got there from Israeli warehouses, laden with outdated machine guns.

The StG.44 received unexpected success in Soviet cinema.

During the filming of the film "Pirates of the 20th Century", the director and screenwriters decided that it would be nice to arm the villains with something new. Since rumors about the American M16 had already reached the public, but the film studio could not get prop samples, it was decided to slightly “modernize” the German StG.44.

A handle was welded on top to make it look like the “black rifle” of American soldiers. It is unclear why, but they welded the connection between the stock and the receiver, eliminating the possibility of disassembling and cleaning the weapon. Soviet citizens, especially school-age ones, were shocked by the appearance of the new weapon in the movies, and this made the pseudo-M16 good advertising. This was followed by appearances in several more films about the “friendship” of the Soviet and American people.

As a result, hundreds of samples of Eugene Stoner's real creations were purchased for the warehouses of film studios, leaving this interesting hybrid to the delight of movie blooper fans. From time to time, the StG.44 appears in films about war and various shooting games.

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