German Infantry Weapons

Gewehr 98k

The Karabiner 98 k, introduced in 1935, was a modernised version of the original Gewehr 98, which had been in service since 1898. It was a bolt-action rifle firing the standard 7.92mm round. It had a fixed internal magazine, which was loaded with 5 round clips. The 98 k could be fitted with a bayonet, the Schiessbecher device for firing rifle grenades, various telescopic sights and weighed 9lb. Despite being a little dated, it was a reliable and accurate weapon with an effective range of up to 800m. It was also simple and cost effective to mass produce.

Gewehr 41

The Gewehr 41 was the first German attempt at producing a semi-automatic rifle using a gas operated recoil system. After a lengthy trial period it was issued in late 1942. It fired the standard 7.92mm round and featured an internal magazine holding 10 rounds, which was loaded with two 5 round clips. The Gewehr 41 had a complicated and unreliable gas operated action that was very sensitive to fouling. The muzzle assembly consisted of many fine parts and was difficult to keep clean, disassemble and maintain under field conditions. It was also both front-heavy due to the large muzzle, gave a large kick when fired due to the inefficient gas operating mechanism and was ill suited for mass production. The weapon weighed 11lb and was unpopular among the troops, but despite this production continued well into 1944. The G 41 could be fitted with a bayonet and the ZF4 telescopic scope. However the G 41 was not adapted for fitting with the Schiessbecher rifle grenade-firing device.

Gewehr 43

Following the failings of the Gewehr 41, an improved weapon was developed, the Gewehr 43. Captured examples of the Russian Tokarev rifle, which employed a much simpler and more effective gas-operated mechanism, were duly incorporated by the Germans. Introduced in late 1943, this new semi-automatic rifle had an improved gas recoil system and was fed by a removable 10-round magazine. It fired the standard 7.92mm round and weighed only 8.9lb. Its simplified design was also much cheaper and easier to mass produce. The weapon was also known as the Karabiner 43, abbreviated to K 43. It became a popular weapon amongst German snipers, who appreciated its simple and reliable design. It could be fitted with the ZF4 telescopic scope and the Schiessbecher device for firing rifle grenades. However it was not adapted to be fitted with a bayonet.

Maschinenpistole MP 38 / MP 40

Introduced in mid 1940 as an improved version of the MP 38, the MP 40 was reasonably accurate and easy to handle. It was fed by a removable 30-round magazine and fired a 9mm round. However the weapon was prone to jamming if the magazine mechanism was not kept clean. It was simple to manufacture and weighed 10.5lb. The weapon incorporated a folding metal stock to add stability during firing.

Sturmgewehr 44

This revolutionary weapon was finally introduced into service in February 1943, following extensive trials. Initially designated MP43 it was later renamed Sturmgewehr 44. The weapon was a gas-operated, automatic weapon that could be fired both in single-shot and full automatic mode. The weapon weighed 9.5lb, fired a 7.92mm round and was fed by a removable 30 round magazine. It could be fitted with a bayonet, the Schiessbecher rifle grenade device or the ZF 4 scope. The Sturmgewehr 44 could also be fitted with ZF 1229 Vampir, an infrared night sighting device or the Krummerlauf, a bent barrel with a periscope-sighting device for shooting around corners.

Fallschirmjägergewehr 42

The Fallschirmjägergewehr ("paratrooper rifle") was a specially adapted automatic rifle produced for German airborne forces. It was introduced into service as Fallschimrjägergewehr 42, abbreviated FG 42, in December 1943. Initial problems encountered with the weapon were a strong recoil and lack of stability during firing, which were remedied in subsequent versions. The weapon used a gas-operated recoil system. The weapon weighed 4.98kg. It was fitted with an integral bayonet, which could be folded back under the weapon when not in use. Also fitted was an integral bipod to add stability during firing, again this could be folded away when not in use. The weapon was magazine fed from box-magazines of 10 or 20 rounds capacity and fired an Infanteriepatrone 7.92mm round. It could be fitted with telescopic sights and was often used as a sniper rifle. The rifle-grenade device Gewehrgranatgerät or Schiessbecher could also be attached to the FG 42.

Maschinengewehr 34 (MG34)

The Maschinengewehr 34 ("machine rifle 34") was introduced in 1936. Its high quality design made for a comparatively costly and slow production rate. The precision machined parts also proved to be very sensitive and prone to malfunction in the harsh conditions of field use. The MG 34 could use both magazine and belt-fed 7.92mm ammunition. These were available in saddle drum magazines of 75 rounds, belts of 50 rounds and boxed belts of 250 rounds. The MG34 could be used in either the light or heavy sustained fire roles. The weapon was fitted with a bipod for use in the light role and could be mounted on a tripod in the heavy role. It had a high rate of fire, up to 900 rounds per minute and the gun was fitted with a quick-change barrel to prevent overheating and prolong barrel life.

Maschinengewehr 42 (MG42)

A simpler and more rugged version of the MG34, the MG42 was introduced in early 1941. It incorporated many of the same features as the MG34, including an integral bipod and a quick-change barrel. However its greatly simplified design increased its effectiveness and improved its durability in the field. In addition it was also far quicker to produce and used less resources. The weapon was air-cooled and recoil-operated with a slightly recoiling barrel. The recoil mechanism was based on a newly invented construction of a breech with rollers. Again the weapon could be used in either the light or heavy roles. The MG42 had an extremely high rate of fire of up to 1500 rounds per minute. The higher rate of fire led to a decreased barrel life compared to the MG34. Later barrels were chrome-plated in order to prolong their life. The belted 7.92mm ammunition was fed from the left.

Faustpatrone

Development of the Faustpatrone ('Fist-Cartridge') began in November 1942. The Faustpatrone klein 30 ('Fist-Cartridge small') had a total weight of 3.2kg and a total length of 98.5cm. It's projectile had a length of 36cm and a warhead diameter of 10cm, which carried a shaped charge of 400g. Fitted to the warhead was a wooden shaft with folded stabilizing fins. These bent blades straightened into position as the warhead left the launch tube. The warhead was accelerated to a speed of 28m/s (92 fps), had a range of about 30m (100ft) and could penetrate armour up to 140mm thick. A crude aiming device was used, fixed at a range of 30m (100ft). The weapon first entered service in August 1943. Due to the odd shape of the warhead it tended to ricochet off of sloped armour. Caution had to be paid to the back blast of the weapon as it created an explosive blast up to 3m (10ft) to the rear of the tube. The Faustpatrone klein remained in production well into 1945.

Panzerfaust 30

The Panzerfaust 30 ('Tank-Fist 30') was developed to replace the Faustpatrone klein. The size of the warhead was increased, to prevent the ricochet effect of the Faustpatrone. The explosive content of the warhead was also doubled to 800g, which in turn increased the armour penetration to 200mm. Because of the increased size of the warhead the stabilizing fins were accordingly enlarged. The weapon weighed 5.1kg and had an effective range of 30m. The weapon first entered service in August 1943 and production ran until August 1944, when it began to be replaced by the Panzerfaust 60.

Panzerfaust 60

It was soon realised that the short range of the Panzerfaust 30m placed the firer in unnecessary danger and so the propellant of the successor model Panzerfaust 60m was increased to 134g. This increased projectile velocity to 45m/s (150fps) and improved the effective range to 60m (200ft). Tube diameter was also increased to 5cm. Other changes included a new arming / firing system. The Panzerfaust 60m, was to become the most popular and widely used Panzerfaust type. The weapon had the same length as its forerunner but now weighed 6.1kg. It entered service in September 1944.

Panzerfaust 100

Further development of the weapon system lead to a new firing tube, with a two-stage propellant. This resulted in a projectile speed of 60m/s (200fps) and an increased range of 100m (330ft). Consequently the model was designated the Panzerfaust 100 and entered service in November 1944. The weapon's outward appearance remained largely unchanged by this modification, not even the tube was lengthened, however the weapon increased in weight to 6.8kg.

Panzerschreck

The development of this weapon was inspired following the capture of American M9A1 Bazookas in Tunisia. It was designated Raketen-Panzerbüchse ('Rocket Tank Rifle') but was commonly referred to as the Panzerschreck ('Tank Terror').
The weapon was designed as a reloadable weapon, to be used by a two man team. The firing tube was 164cm long and weighed 9.25kg. The projectile used was the RPzB.Gr. 4322 round, which carried a shaped charge of 660g and weighed 3.3kg. A sheet metal stabilizer ring at the rear of its shaft stabilized the projectile's flight path. The propellant continued to burn after it left the tube for another 2m, by which time the projectile had reached its velocity of 105m/s (345fps). The maximum effective range of the weapon was 700m, but normal engagement ranges were between 200m and 400m. Due to a lack of protection for the firer against the propellant particles, the weapon was quite unpopular and so in October 1943, a protective shield was implemented into the weapon's design. This shield gave the weapon a nasty kickback from the projectile's rocket back blast. An improved version of the weapon, the Raketenpanzerbüchse 54 was introduced in November 1943. It weighed 11kg and fired the newly developed RPzB.Gr.4992. The armour penetration of both rounds was 230mm. A final version of the weapon, the RPzB.54/1 was introduced in December 1944. The tube length was reduced to 135cm, which among other changes led to a reduced weight of 9.5kg. The ignition system was also changed and the sights were redesigned and improved.

Stielhandgranate 24

The most common German hand grenade used during the eastern front campaign was the Stielhandgranate 24 ('stick hand grenade 24'), which was a modification of the WWI German M1915 grenade. The grenade's time fuse was activated by unscrewing a safety cap on the base of the handle and then pulling the Abreisszünder ('rip detonator') safety cord. The grenade weighed 480g and the explosive head contained 165g of explosives. Modifications of the M24 resulted in the longer M39 grenade in 1939 and the later M43 variant, which featured a different fuse configuration in 1943. The M24, M39 and M43 grenades were all armed with a four to five second time delay fuse and had an effective radius of approximately twelve to fourteen yards.
Up to six explosive heads could be placed together, atop a single handle, to make a large explosive grenade bundle known as the 'Geballte Ladung' ('forceful/big charge'). It was often used as an improvised AT weapon or against strongpoints. To increase the shrapnel effect the hand grenade had a very thin metal skin which fragmented on detonation. Later modifications saw the introduction of the 'Splitterringe' ('shrapnel rings') which were attached to the cylindrical heads. The shrapnel rings were copied from the Russians who used this method in their RGD 33 hand grenades.

Eihandgranate 39

The other common German hand grenade was the Eihandgranate 39 ('egg hand grenade 39'), which was introduced in early 1940. It weighed only 230g and contained 112g of explosives. Its small size reduced the lethality of the weapon to only eight to ten yards.
The Eihandgranate used the same fuse assembly (the BZE 39) as the Model 43 Stielhandgranate (Stick Grenade). The fuse assembly was screwed into the top of the sheet-metal body and to activate the grenade, the domed cap was unscrewed and the pull-cord that had been coiled inside it was tugged sharply before throwing at the target. The colour of the cap indicated the burning time of the type of fuse fitted. Typically, a delay of around four seconds was used. However, if a grenade was to be used as a fixed booby-trap then an instantaneous fuse would be fitted.
In September 1944, a separate fragmentation sleeve was introduced for the grenades, in order to increase their lethality. Later in the war, due to shortages of raw material, the Eihandgranaten were manufactured from concrete, with scrap metal pieces inserted into the cast.

Panzerhandmine / Hafthohlladung

The most effective German handheld anti tank mine was the Panzerhandmine 3 or PzHM 3. Introduced in March 1942, it had a bottle like shape and used three strong U shaped magnets on the base to fix the weapon to the armour of a tank. It carried a shaped charge of 1kg, capable of penetrating up to 130mm of armour. An improved version, the Panzerhandmine 4, was slightly larger, had stronger magnets and an improved penetration performance of 150mm. The weapon had a time fuse which detonated it seven seconds after it was armed, allowing the operator time to vacate the area. The weapon could also be fitted with a four and a half second igniter if it was to be thrown.
The Panzerhandminen, were succeeded by the Hafthohlladung ('attach hollow charge') which were basically enlarged Panzerhandminen. The most common type, the Hafthohlladung 3, weighed 3kg and had a shaped charge of 1.5kg that could penetrate up to 140mm of armour.

50mm Granatwerfer 36

The small 50mm Granatwerfer 36 was developed in 1935. It used a relatively complicated design and although it was fitted with a special optical aiming device it proved to be disappointingly inaccurate. The GrW 36 weighed only 14kg. It fired the Wurfgranate 38 round, which carried 120g of explosives. The minimum range was 60m and the maximum range was 520m.
The Germans made extensive use of captured Russian 50mm mortars under the designation 50mm Granatwerfer 205/3(r). This cleverly designed small Russian mortar weighed only 11.8kg and had a maximum range of 800m.

80mm Granatwerfer 34

The standard German mortar was the 80mm Granatwerfer 34 or Gr.W.34. Developed in 1932, it proved to be a very reliable weapon and was immediately accepted. The mortar weighed 57kg including the 19kg tube. The vehicle-mounted version of the weapon carried the designation Granatwerfer 67, abbreviated Gr.W.67. The mortars maximum range was 2.4km when it fired the standard Wurfgranate 34 round which carried 550g of explosives. The round could be set to detonate on impact or in an airburst. It could also fire the Wurfgranate 40, a larger round with an increased explosive charge of almost 5kg. However this decreased the maximum range to 950m.
The Germans also made extensive use of captured Russian 82mm mortars, which were designated as 82mm Granatwerfer 274(r). It weighed 57kg and had a maximum range of 3.1km.
A lighter version was designed for use by airborne troops, the kurzer 80mm Granatwerfer 42, also 80mm Granatwerfer kurz ("short"). It featured a specially shortened barrel. Although the weight was reduced to 26kg, the shortened barrel provided less velocity and decreased the effective range to 2.6km.

120mm Granatwerfer 42

In 1941, following the capture of the impressive Russian PM 38 120mm mortar, German forces pressed them into service designated as the 120mm Granatwerfer 378(r).
Following their successful implementation, the Germans developed their own heavy mortar, the 120mm Granatwerfer 42. The weapon consisted of a circular base plate, the tube and the supporting bipod, weighing 285kg. Because of its excessive weight, a two wheeled axle was utilised, enabling the mortar to be towed into action. The axle could then be quickly removed before firing.
The weapon fired the Wurfgranate 42 round, which carried 3.1kg of explosives and had a maximum range of slightly over 6km. The weapon proved a very successful design, was reliable, effective and simple to produce.

Flammenwerfer 34/41

The first German flamethrower that was introduced was the Flammenwerfer 34 in late 1934. However, with a total weight of 36kg it was too heavy to be effective. It was constructed with two tanks, one containing 11.8 litres of fuel, whilst the second smaller tank contained the propellant, which was pressurized nitrogen. It was replaced in 1941 by the Flammenwerfer 40 small, which weighed only 21.8kg. The reduction in weight was mainly achieved by reducing the amount of fuel to 7.5 litres.
The next development was the Flammenwerfer 41. It weighed 22 kg and used hydrogen instead of nitrogen as the propellant. However the extreme temperatures on the eastern front led to ignition problems when firing the liquid. So the Flammenwerfer mit Strahlpatrone 41 ("flame thrower with jet cartridge") was developed, which had an additional magazine with 10 ignition cartridges that ensured lighting of the liquid in freezing temperatures. The weapon weighed 18kg and held 7 litres of fuel. It had a maximum range of up to 30m. It remained the standard flamethrower type until the end of the war.

Panzerbüchse 38

The first German anti-tank rifle to be introduced in 1939 was the Panzerbüchse 38. It was a manually loaded single shot weapon with moving barrel. The weapon utilised a rather complicated mechanism, which was prone to jamming if it was allowed to get dirty in the field. It was fitted with a bipod to add stability when firing. It also suffered from considerable recoil and was difficult to manufacture.
The weapon had an overall length of 161.5cm. It weighed 16.2 kg. It fired the Patrone 318 round which could penetrate 30mm of armour at 100m.

Panzerbüchse 39

An improved version of the anti tank rifle, the Panzerbüchse 39, was introduced in March 1940. It too featured a vertical breech block mechanism. It retained the barrel of the PzB 38 and had a slightly increased overall length of 162.0cm. Its weight was reduced to 12.6kg. Its performance data was similar to the PzB 38, as it again fired the same Patrone 318 round, giving armour penetration of 30mm at 100m. Production of the PzB 39 ceased in November 1941 as it was felt that the weapon was too ineffective against the new heavily armoured Russian tanks.