Hugo Schmeisser
Hugo Schmeisser | |
---|---|
Born | Hugo Schmeisser 24 September 1884 |
Died | 12 September 1953 | (aged 68)
Occupation | Inventor |
Relatives | Louis Schmeisser (father) |
Hugo Schmeisser (24 September 1884 – 12 September 1953) was a German developer of 20th century infantry weapons.
Schmeisser was born in Jena, Thuringia. His father, Louis Schmeisser (1848–1917), was one of the best-known weapons designers in Europe. The life and work of Hugo Schmeisser mostly took place in the weapons manufacturing city of Suhl, Thuringia.
Before and during World War I
The submachine guns of Theodor Bergmann are closely connected with its name recognition and weapons production in the time leading up to the First World War. Schmeisser also received his fundamental training in weapons technology at Bergmann, where 7.63 mm and 9 mm machine gun rounds were being researched. He remained in Suhl during World War I because of the importance of his expertise in machine gun technology.[1]
Before and during World War II
Manufacturing regulations in the
As the Nazis
Berthold Geipel of Erma designed the MP 36 using Vollmer's EMP. The chief designer,
Schmeisser's most important work had been underway since 1938. This new automatic weapon, with a shortened 7.92 mm cartridge, allowed for smart usage of resources and high production. At first named the Mkb 42, it later received the designation of MP-43, and it became one of the first assault rifles. By 1943, 10,000 had been manufactured for the front. For a short time, Hitler stopped production, as he was mysteriously opposed to the new weapon. In 1944, after troop testing verified the new weapon's effectiveness, Hitler authorized mass production of the MP-43 as well as further research into a new MP-44. In April 1944 the new weapon received the designation of "Sturmgewehr 44" ("Assault Rifle 44"). The StG 44 was arguably Schmeisser's most important weapon development.[4]
After World War II
On 3 April 1945 American troops began to occupy the city of Suhl. Weapons manufacturing was prohibited during this time. Hugo Schmeisser and his brother Hans were interrogated for weeks by weapon expert teams of the American and British secret services. At the end of June 1945, American troops evacuated Suhl and all of Thuringia. One month later, the Red Army assumed control over the area, starting a civilian works project to manufacture weapons for the Soviet Union. By August 1945, the Red Army had created 50 StG 44s from existing assembly parts, and had begun inspecting their design. 10,785 sheets of technical designs were confiscated by the Soviets as part of their research.
Schmeisser was one of 16 Germans for which a special department (no. 58) was created at factory number 74, later known as
Schmeisser worked in Izhevsk until 1952 when he and other German specialists returned to Germany. At short notice, his stay in the Soviet Union was extended beyond that of the other weapon specialists by a half year. He finally returned home on 9 June 1952. Schmeisser died on 12 September 1953, and was buried in Suhl. The 50th anniversary of his death was honored by a ceremony held in Suhl, as he is recognized as one of the most important technical designers of infantry weapons of the 20th century.[5]
There is a theory about Hugo Schmeisser's participation in the design and development of the Kalashnikov AK-47 rifle due to its visual similarities to the Sturmgewehr 44.[Note 1] There are two main reasons why this theory may not be true: Firstly, the AK-47 was designed and its first experimental specimen was produced at Factory No. 2 in Kovrov, the same factory that hosted the design bureau of Vasiliy Degtyaryov.[6] Kalashnikov moved to Izhevsk only in 1948, when serial manufacture of AK-47 was ordered for troop trials.[7] Secondly, when production of the recently adopted AK was transferred from Factory No. 524 to Factory No. 74 in 1949, the official orders explicitly prohibited German engineers working there from access to classified developments, including the AK.[7] However, the Soviets were under no obligation to disclose to Schmeisser the purpose of the work they employed him to complete.
Designs
Schmeisser had no role in the development of the
- 9mm Largo.[5]
- Bergmann MG 15nA machine gun; light machine gun (by World War I standards, 12.9 kg) manufactured in 5,000 units towards the end of the war.[5]
- Bergmann MP 18; about 17,000 made, not counting various clones and close copies.[8]
- Haenel Schmeisser mod. I pocket pistol in 6.35 mm, based on two Schmeisser patents. Some 40,000 were made.[9]
- Haenel mod. 1928 Parabellum P08. about 25,000 units sold.[10]
- MP 28[8]
- Haenel mod. 33 Junior; an air rifle resembling the Kar98.[10]
- MP 41, about 26,500 made mostly for export to the Nazi Germany allies.[4]
- MkB 42(H)[4]
- MP 43/1
- StG 44 (former MP 43, MP 44)[4]
- Aberdeen Proving Grounds
Notes
- ^ Despite appearances, the two rifle designs differ considerably in their internal design. Differences include the bolt locking mechanism, trigger mechanism and the placement of the rifles' recoil springs.
Bibliography
- ^ ISBN 978-1-85109-480-6.
- ISBN 978-1-78096-385-3.
- ^ Musgrave, Daniel D.; Nelson, Thomas B. (1967). The World's Assault Rifles and Automatic Carbines. T. B. N. Enterprises. p. 28.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4402-3692-1.
- ^ ISBN 0-87349-460-1.
- OCLC 1290245746.)
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: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link - ^ OCLC 1280152745.)
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: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link - ^ ISBN 0-87349-902-6.
- ISBN 978-1-4402-1688-6.
- ^ a b Wolff, Eldon G. (1958). Air Guns. New York: Duckett's Publishing Co. p. 180.
Further reading
- Boot, Alexander (14 July 2014). "Mikhail Kalashnikov: Russia's famous small arms designer". Engineering and Technology Magazine. 9 (7).
- Moczarski, Norbert: Die Ära der Gebrüder Schmeisser in der Waffenfabrik Fa. C.G. Haenel Suhl 1921–1948. Ein weitgehend unbekanntes Kapitel Suhler Industriegeschichte. In: Hildburghausen: Jahrbuch des Hennebergisch-Fränkischen Geschichtsvereins, S. 237–268. 1999.
- Gotz, Hans Dieter, German Military Rifles and Machine Pistols, 1871–1945, Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. West Chester, Pennsylvania, 1990. OCLC 24416255
- G. de Vries, B.J. Martens: The MP 38, 40, 40/1 and 41 Submachine gun, Propaganda Photos Series, Volume 2, Special Interest Publicaties BV, Arnhem, The Netherlands. First Edition 2001.
- Smith, W.H.B, Small arms of the world : the basic manual of military small arms, Harrisburg, Pa.: Stackpole Books, 1955. OCLC 3773343
- Günter Wollert, Reiner Lidschun, Wilfried Kopenhagen, Illustrierte Enzyklopädie der Schützenwaffen aus aller Welt: Schützenwaffen heute (1945-1985), Berlin: Militärverlag der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik, 1988. OCLC 19630248
- Clinton Ezell, Edward, Small Arms of the World, Eleventh Edition, Arms & Armour Press, London, 1977.