After the adoption of the StG 44, the English translation ' assault rifle' became the accepted designation for this type of infantry small arm. According to one account, the name was chosen personally by Adolf Hitler for propaganda reasons and means 'assault rifle' as in 'to assault an enemy position', although some sources dispute that Hitler had much to do with coining the new name besides signing the order. Developed from the Mkb 42(H) 'machine carbine', the StG 44 combined the characteristics of a carbine, submachine gun, and automatic rifle. The variety in nomenclatures resulted from the complicated bureaucracy in Nazi Germany. MP 43, MP 44, and StG 44 were different designations for what was essentially the same rifle with minor updates in production. The rifle is fitted with a ZF 4 telescopic sight. Ī soldier demonstrates the transitional MP 43/1 variant, used to determine the suitability of the rifle for sniping purposes, October 1943. The StG's influence can still be seen in modern assault rifles, which, after World War II, became the global standard for infantry rifles. The StG largely influenced the Soviet AK-47, introduced three years after the war concluded. The StG 44 fulfilled its role effectively, particularly on the Eastern Front, offering a greatly increased volume of fire compared to standard infantry rifles. Other rifles at the time were designed to hit targets of over a thousand meters, but this was found to be in excess of the range in which most enemy engagements actually took place. The StG 44 was the first successful assault rifle, with features including an intermediate cartridge, controllable automatic fire, a more compact design than a battle rifle with a higher rate of fire, and being designed primarily for hitting targets within a few hundred metres. The StG 44 was an improvement of an earlier design, the Maschinenkarabiner 42(H). It is also known by its early designations as the MP 43 and MP 44 ( Maschinenpistole 43 and 44).

The StG 44 (abbreviation of Sturmgewehr 44, 'assault rifle 44') is a German assault rifle developed during World War II by Hugo Schmeisser.

Adjustable sights, rear: V-notch front: hooded post

Calibre springs