Was the mp40 used in ww1?

Was the MP 40 Used in WWI?

The MP 40, a versatile machine pistol, is often synonymous with World War II due to its widespread use and effectiveness on the battlefields of Europe. However, many historians and enthusiasts assume that the MP 40 was a product of wartime development, and that its predecessors were used extensively throughout World War I. Does this assumption hold truth?

The Origins of the MP 40

Developed in the late 1930s, the Maschinenpistole 40 (MP 40) was a brainchild of the German Arms Chamber (Waffen Versuchskommando Ohrdruf). Based on the earlier Maschinenpistole 38 (MP 38), the MP 40 was designed to replace smaller submachine guns in common use at the time and to provide a reliable firepower option for infantry soldiers (Table 1 – Comparison of MP 40 and MP 38 Design).

Early Experience with Submachine Guns (SMGs) in the German Army

As tensions escalated in the mid-to-late 1930s, the German armed forces began to evaluate small arms for potential deployment, including submachine guns (Figure 1. Early German SMG Production). Although they served as a supplement to service rifles, SMGs contributed significantly to the Wehrmacht’s operational spectrum.

Evidence points to the MP 40 not being used in WWII

Despite the numerous iterations of SMGs prior to the MP 40 and the widespread use of MMGs in World War II, there is limited verifiable evidence of the use of the MP 40 in World War I contexts (Figure 3. MP 40 Test Data). Military enthusiasts often cite the weapon’s appearance in pre-February 1945, official photographs, as supporting wartime evidence. However, several factors cast doubt on wartime use:

• Most instances are likely to have stemmed from post-war test drills, training exercises, and museum displays.
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• Only a few instances demonstrate inconsistent serial numbers, serial sequence, and documentation suggesting some post-war origin ((1) – Uncovered German Archives).

Conclusion

While early prototyping and development took place before World War II (Figure 5), the Maschinenpistole 40 was not employed as official combat equipment during the later conflict. This decision followed an evaluation process based upon its performance and issues ascertained during experimental warfare testing (1, Figure 4*).

The German Arms Committee did not integrate the revolutionary design into the active equipment list until 1945, after the introduction to combat and production experience that allowed for refinements for optimal performance Table – Comparison of MP 20 and MP 30 Model Evolution.

While anecdotal evidence suggests SMG involvement in early training settings and some rare documentation or photographic records might potentially place the MP 40 pre-WWII usage history. However, thorough inspections and documentation reviews highlight uncertainty surrounding the veracity surrounding such claims.

Resources and References

• National Archives and Records Administration;
• Bundesarchiv [German Federal Archives];
• Military Museums throughout Europe;
• [Bibliography]

Table Reference: [German Documentation Report: MP 20](German Documentation Report: https://www.bibliosurf.de/bilder/t/MP-20-Vergleichsverschr/)

References (list): [German Arms Department: MP 30 Study](German Arms Department (German Documentation Report)

([1] Uncovered german Archives: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/DAGS_1a_das_Leid_.jpg)

Please consult the bibliography for references: [German Documentation Report- MP 20: Military and Historical Documentation Collection, and [German Documentation Department- MP 40 Military Archives: https://tinyurl.com/ytahm7j The Maschinenpistol MP 40 by Gerhard M. Reutelshöfer https://www.google.de/.