The Volkssturmgewehr (“People’s Assault Rifle”)\[3\] is the name of several rifle designs developed by Nazi Germany during the last months of World War II. They share the common characteristic of being greatly simplified as an attempt to cope with severe lack of resources and industrial capacity in Germany during the final period of the war.
Gustloff Volkssturmgewehr
Volkssturm Gewehr VG 1-5.JPG
Gustloff Volkssturmgewehr, also known as the Gustloff Volkssturmgewehr VG.1-5
Type
Semi-automatic rifle
Place of origin
Nazi Germany
Service history
In service
February–May 1945
Used by
Nazi Germany
Wars
World War II
Production history
Designed
Late 1944
Produced
January–May 1945
No. built
Approx. 10,000\[1\]
Variants
Selective fire variant
Specifications
Mass
4.6 kg (10.1 lb)\[2\]
Length
885 mm (34.8 in)\[2\]
Barrel length
378 mm (14.9 in)\[2\]
Cartridge
7.92×33mm Kurz
Action
Gas-delayed blowback
Muzzle velocity
660 m/s (2,200 ft/s)
Effective firing range
300 m
Feed system
30-round detachable StG 44 box magazine
Sights
Iron
The weapon’s name can be translated directly either as “People’s assault rifle” or “Volkssturm rifle.” Volkssturm, the German late war militia home defense force, means “People’s Assault”; Sturmgewehr translates as “assault rifle”.