MP44 Sturmgewehr (“storm rifle”)
Since when has Hollywood ever been concerned with depicting
anything, let alone military small arms, with historical accuracy? To his credit Speilberg came close with
Saving Pvt. Ryan, though there were some gaffs even with the American M1 Garands (the all had the wrong rear sight).
It’s kinda funny, but in history books I see about as many pictures of American troops carrying MP44s as I see pictures of German soldiers with them. Especially after the Battle of the Bulge. I guess our GIs knew a good thing when they saw it. Obviously it impressed the dogfaces more than the Generals and bean counters in the Pentagon.
Lots of MP44s were made but Allied bombing kept most of them from reaching the troops at the front. After WWII the East Germans used MP44s for decades, it’s even possible production continued behind the Iron Curtain long after the end of WWII. I was watching a TV show on the Berlin Wall Crisis, at one point they showed East German boarder guards at a check point and they were all carrying MP44s in circa 1961.
After Germany reunified it was found that the East Germans had over 100,000 MP44s still in war reserve storage. Some of these guns are now being sold in
SHOTGUN NEWS as parts kits without the receiver. Another company is selling aluminum mock receivers, so for only $600 or $700 anyone can have their own non-firing Sturmgewehr. -- Kernel