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German Grenadier Kneeling Firing MP40 in Zeltbahn and Greatcoat, Winter 1944-45

Developed by Hugo Schmeisser, the StG 44 (Sturmgewehr 44, “assault rifle 44”) was the answer to the German army’s need for an automatic fire, battle rifle that could hit a target at a few hundred meters. Germany’s experience on the Eastern front against the elite Red Army units armed with semi-automatic Tokarev SVT-38 and SVT-40s and some Soviet rifle companies completely equipped with PPSh-41 submachine guns made this need very apparent. The new weapon was made with cost-effective pressed and stamped steel components and while it required specialized tooling to manufacture, it consumed less materials and was faster and easier to make than the standard issue 98k rifle. The StG influenced modern assault rifles especially (and ironically) the Soviet AK-47.