Sturmgewehr! by Hans-Dieter Handrich

[CroGer]

Since I am a gun enthusiast, I bought the book "Sturmgewehr!", assuming that it would only be a book about the development of the german assault rifle.

But holy cow

That book is NOT just about the development of this weapons. It starts with WW1, goes through all german small arms development programms since WW1, describes the strategic rationale, offers some of the best statistics about the number of small arms produces, and then only goes very far in depth about the Mkb. 42 to post-war assault & battle rifles.

Overall, it is a complete book about german weapons development, which does not only focus on the technical part.

IMO, it is the best book written about that subject that you can find.

The book has got a whooping 532 pages and every page is worth reading.

The book has recently reviewed by Ian from Forgotten Weapons. It seems to be that in the english translation, the book is quite expensive.
I could buy the book in german for a relatively low price.

Overall I would call this book a must have for everybody who is into german World War-weaponry.

[Reigo2]

Any chance that the book includes statistics about StG44 allocation to divisions during 1944?

[CroGer]

Not in form of tables.
There is a lot of information where the first batches of Stg's went, but hidden in a lot of text. For example, you'll read that in later 1944 over 8000 went to the Heeresgruppe Nord in the Baltics, that newly conscripted "Volksgrenadiere"-units were preferred, and that it went to both the western and eastern front. But I just started reading this book a couple of days ago.

[CroGer]

Any chance that the book includes statistics about StG44 allocation to divisions during 1944?

You might find this informative.

Early 1944 the GendInf did a survey on how the Stg performs. Here he book provides a table of where the Stgs went until April 44

The questions are also interesting.

Read like this

number = infantry division / number: number of Stg used

Hgr South Ukraine: 240

15. / 120
6. / 120

Hgr Northern Ukraine: 612

1. / 612


Hgr Mitte:

6. / 41
12. / 49
31. / 88
35. / 114
36. / 88
45. / 17
110. / 58
129. / 18
131. / 60
221. / 18
260. / 42
267. / 35
337. / 112
383. / 49

other units Hgr Mitte: 3.845

78. StDiv: 120
KAbt E: 143
AOK 9: 200
5.JgDiv: 220
SkiJgBrig 1: 1488
KavRgt Mitte: 770
25 PzGrenDiv: 115

Hgr Nord: 2.325

11. / 1140
93. / 174
122. / 861

28.JgDiv: 150


All data are from march 1 - 28th of april 1944

The answers to the servey are interesting:

1) can the STG replace the MP40 & K98? All but 5th Jaeger Division of Hgr Mitte answered with yes. 5th JgDiv answered 80% MP40
2) what was the experienced effective range in semi auto and full auto?
All gave the effective ranges of semi auto at 400-600 meter for both semi&full, but the 5th JgDiv again, who answered with 200 meters
3) Can the Stg reduce the number of LeMG required?
Answers differed. 19 units answered "yes", 5 answered "No"
4) How much ammo is suggested per rifleman? 21 units answered "720", one answered 540, other answered rabged between 1000 and 1500
5) How much ammo is necessary? Answers ranged from 180-360

This book is awesome.

[Reigo2]

Thank you for the data! The list is unfortunately incomplete. For example the 227th Infantry Division received 102 StG44 in February 1944. The III SS Panzer Corps lost 10 StG44 during March but no information which division and when the StG44 were received. As of 9 April 1944 the 58th Infantry Division had 90 StG44, the Estonian 2nd and 3rd Border Defense Regiment each had 40 StG44. (Information comes from NARA T-312 R1265 and R1626.)

[kfbr392]

I got myself said book (German 2nd edition, 2016) for Christmas. Have not had so much anticipation and then satisfaction on Christmas in many years. What a thick, super informative book, heavy in text, drawings, and details - not a photo album! The sheer amount of data is simply astonishing even - or especially - to the expert. Well worth the €55.

[Aetius]

I'm investigating the battles of Siedlce and Radzymin, east of warsaw (end July-begin august 1944).
A number of units in this area apparantly had some Stg44's, can someone who owns the book check out following units if they received Stg44's before august 1944 and if so how many?
-3rd SS Totenkopf division
-5th SS Wiking division
-Fallchirm-Panzer division Hermann Goring
-1131 grenadier brigade (was a walkure unit wich should have received Stg44's)
Thanks in advance

[Aetius]

Does it specify how the new Stg44 was used during testing phase in early 1944?
1 man with Stg44 in every zug or as a few sturmzug's per company where an entire zug was equipped with Stg44?

Wich units within the division got most of the Stg44, regular infantry, pioniere, fusiliere(aufklarer) battalions?