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| P08 Luger |
| Named the Luger after its designer, this was the standard German service pistol from 1908 until 1938. The Luger was manufactured in two calibers - 9mm Parabellum (9X19), and .30 Luger. It served as a sidearm for many Officers of the Wehrmacht, as well as many a machine gun crew. |
| Name:
Po8 (Luger) |
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| P38 |
| The Walther P38 replaced the Luger as the German service pistol in 1938. It's reliable double-action design meant that it could be safely carried with a round in the chamber, unlike the Luger. |
| Name: P38 |
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| K98k |
| The Mauser K98k rifle was the standard Infantry rifle of the German Army throughout World War II and literally millions were made. They are not hard to find and are part of the basic kit. A must for all German WWII reenactors. |
| Name:
Karabiner 98k (K98k) |
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| G43 |
| When German troops on the eastern front in 1941-42 saw themselves exposed to the unexpected effects of Soviet self-loaders and had no weapon that could come near equaling the enemy's rapid-fire rifles, the German designers were finally given the permission and freedom to make further developments. The result was the self-loading G41which in 1943, after various tests and improvements, became the G43. Roughly 500,000 were made. The G43 is a fine addition to any collection. |
| Name:
Selbstlade - Gewehr 43 (G43) |
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| MP38/40 |
| Introduced into service in 1939, the MP38/40 served the German Soldier well from the invasion of Poland in September 1939 to the collapse of the Third Reich in May 1945. The difference between the MP38 and the MP40 was mostly cosmetic, with the exception of an improved safety device on the MP40. Perhaps the most famous of all German weapons of WWII, over one million MP38/40's were produced, and many survived the War. The MP40 is still considered a classic by most reenactors/collectors. |
Name:
Maschinenpistole 38/40 (MP 38/40) |
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| MP44 |
| Introduced into service in late 1943, and christened the "Sturmgewehr" by Adolf Hitler himself in 1944. The MP44 was an outstanding combat and industrial success story. In spite of all difficulties more than 425,000 are said to have been manufactured. Luckily for the allies, less than 1/3 of these are said to have reached the front lines and most of them on the eastern front. This weapon was the first true assault rifle. |
| Name:
Sturmgewehr 44/Machinenpistole 44 (STG44/MP44) |
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| MG34 | ||
| Introduced into the Wehrmacht in 1935 and seeing extended service in the Spanish Civil War, the MG34 provided the German Soldier the world's first machine gun that was fully capable of providing a high volume of sustained firepower without sacrificing speed of movement or tactical flexibility. Today, every military power in the world employs machine guns that have evolved from the basic configuration and principles of the MG34. | ||
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| MG42 | ||
| Perhaps the finest weapon produced in WWII, and with a rate of fire unmatched by any weapon on the battlefield, the MG42's 1200rpm and distinctive "ripping" sound while firing, made it the most feared weapon of its time. More than 400,000 were manufactured by Wars end. | ||
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| Handgranate 24/39 |
| The stick grenade, or "potato masher" was based on a WWI design and was used throughout the War. It consisted of a hollow wooden staff with a pull-out string, fuse and detonator, and the canister of thin sheet steel with the powder charge. The stick grenade had to be activated before use by unscrewing the safety cap on the stick end and then inserting one of the detonators brought along in a small case. The stick grenade could not only be used individually, but also as a concentric charge (above right). These were used in numerous situations when more power was needed. In the spring of 1940, the stick grenade was complemented by the egg shaped hand grenade (model 39, above left). Compared to the stick grenade, it had the advantages of an already primed trigger button, was 50% lighter, easier to throw, and was not as big and awkward to carry. |
| Name:
Handgranate 24/39 |
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| Panzerfaust |
| The Panzerfaust was perhaps the finest one man anti-tank weapon of WWII. There were three types built during the war. The model numbers corresponded to the weapons range - the model 30, 60, and 100, the first of which hit the front lines in September 1943. The Panzerfaust could only be fired once then the tube was thrown away. It was not only convenient, but proved to be quite deadly, and accurate from close range. The model 60 (above left) and the model 100 gave the German soldier even more armor penetration... Millions of these weapons were produced from late 1943 to 1945. |
| Name: Panzerfaust 30
"small"/ 60 "large" |
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| Panzerschreck |
| Introduced in 1944, the Panzerschreck ... unlike the Panzerfaust, was reload able and required two men to operate. It fired an 88mm rocket, and would take out just about anything on the battlefield. Obviously, it could also be reused, many times... |
| Name: Panzerschreck |
