What weapons did nazi soldiers use in World War 2?

Answer 1

Pistols: Colt 1911 Smith & Wesson Model 1917 (not a standard issue, but used anyways)

Bolt Action Rifles: Springfield Model 1903 (used mainly as a sniper rifle after Garand was issued)

Semi-Automatic Rifles: M1 Garand (M1-E7 Garand had scope and flash suppressor) M1 Carbine (M1A1 had folding stock and pistol grip for paratroopers)

Submachine Guns: Thompson M1A1 Thompson M1928A1 (Tommy Gun) M3A1 'Greasegun' M2 Carbine (considered an SMG because it fires a pistol cartridge)

Rocket Launchers: M1 2.36 inch Bazooka

Light and Heavy Machine Guns: M1918A2 Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) M1917 .30cal Water Cooled Machine Gun (too many models to differentiate) M1919 .30cal Air Cooled Machine Gun (too many models to differentiate) Browning M2HB 'Ma Deuce'

Flamethrowers: M1A1 M2-2

Grenades: M2 'Pineapple' MKA3 Concussion AN-M8 Smoke AN-M14 Incendiary M15 White Phosphorous M9 Anti-Tank Rifle Grenade M17A1 Fragmentation Rifle Grenade

AnswerThe US combatatant used many and various weapons. They had the standard bayonet or knife issued that served both as a utility tool and a close combat weapon.

Officers and NCOs were issued 45 caliber Colts, although some airmen had revolvers. The M-1 Garand semi-auto rifle was the most prevalent weapon. Many NCOs and squad leaders carried the Thompson SMG. The most common version (issued from 1942 on) was not like the Chicago piano from gangster movies. The forward hand grip had been removed, plus a wooden stock had been added around the barrel. This would accept either 20- or 30-round stick magazines. Early war (M1928) Thompsons also accepted 50, 100, or 200 round drum magazines.

Each squad was also to have a BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle). This weapon was big but was a fully automatic weapon that could lay down suppressive fire. It had some serious stopping power. In addition to this, there was the flame thrower, which saw more action in the Pacific theater.

Hand grenades were another weapon issued to combat troops. Also when assaulting bunkers or other fixed emplacements, they would satchel charges.

.30 and .50 caliber MG teams (2-3 men: 1 firer, 1-2 loaders/carriers) might be attached to rifle platoons as needed, along with the mortar teams.

As for other items, some servicemen would use enemy weapons, but most collected these (and just about anything else that was not riveted down) as trophies.

Answer 2

The Nazi light infantry arsenal included as the standard rifle the Mauser Model 1898, in 7.92MM. (Usually rounded off to 8MM). This was the identical rifle with which Germany had fought WWI. In WWII though the most often used version was the 98k, the carbine, which was some six inches shorter than the rifle, and had a turned down bolt handle.

The Germans developed a replacement for the Model 98, the Sturm Gewehr 1943, which was the first operational assault rifle. It was the inspiration for the Russian AK 47, though the Russians deny it. Not a great many of these were made so most German soldiers finished the war with the Model 98k.

Each German soldier also usually had to carry a number of ammunition belts for their machine guns, with which they were lavishly provided. These were excellent weapons, the Model 1934 being the first. It had an extremely high rate of fire, and took a lot of skilled machining to manufacture. So the Germans made a simplified version, the Model 1942, which required less to manufacture and had the rate of fire lowered. One innovation of these weapons was a quick-change barrel, which could be swapped out for a fresh one when the first became overheated from rapid firing and was on the verge of warping out of shape. German machine gun crews were provided with an asbestos glove, like a large oven mitt, to make these barrel changes. So excellent was this gun that it was largely copied by the US as the Model 1960 (M 60) light machine gun, which was the standard US light machine gun until very recent years.

The German submachine gun was the Schmeisser Model 1938 ( a redesign for simplification was the Model 1940), in 9MM, the same cartidge as German pistols used. It had a 32-round stick magazine, and was called by Allied soldiers a "burp gun", for the sound it made when fired.

Pistols included Lugers and Walthers.

The German stick grenade was also identical with the WWI model. US soldiers called it a "potato masher". It looked like a soup can with a wooden handle attached to the bottom sticking straight down. This handle was a great idea, it gave better leverage for throwing them farther. The explosive charge was also larger than US grenades.

Answer 3

British weapons.

Lee Enfield rifle, Thompson SMG, Bren LMG, Vickers HMG.

Answer 4

PPSh-41, Tokarev, Mosin Nagant, various grenades, Molotov cocktails, DP machinegun, others.

Answer 5

slightshine guns and springfeild's