Latest revision as of 10:19, 26 December 2023

The Volksgewehr also known as VG ("People's Rifle") 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 capacities in Germany during the final period of the war. The Gustloff Volkssturmgewehr originated from the same push.

Volksgewehr 1 (Walther)

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Volksgewehr 1 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

The Walther Volksgewehr VG 1 is a manually operated bolt-action rifle. It uses a simple rotating bolt, with locking provided by the two frontal lugs; the crude bolt handle engages a cut in the cast steel receiver to provide additional safety. The feed is from detachable 10-round box magazines, originally developed for the Gewehr 43 rifle, also produced by Walther. Due to the extremely simplified design, there were no guides for the charging clips, and each rifle was issued with one magazine, replenished with separate rounds. The manual safety is also very crude, and consist of a stamped steel lever pinned to the trigger guard just behind the trigger. When engaged, the safety lever blocks trigger movement. To disengage the safety the user must turn it sideways with a finger. The stock is crudely made from wood, and non-adjustable iron sights are provided for close-range shooting only. It was initially meant to be produced by Zbrojovka Brno in the current-day Czech Republic.

Specifications

(late 1944 and early 1945)

Type: Bolt-action rifle
Caliber: 7.92x57mm Mauser
Weight: 3.77 kg empty
Length: 1092 mm
Barrel length: 589 mm
Feed System: 10-round detachable box magazine from G43 (loaded with single rounds)

The Volksgewehr 1 and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:

Volksgewehr 2 (Spreewerk Berlin)

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Volksgewehr 2 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

The Spreewerk Berlin Volksgewehr VG 2 is also a manually operated bolt-action rifle with a similar rotating bolt and crude manual safety. Locking is provided by two frontal lugs which lock into the steel insert pinned inside the stamped steel receiver. The VG 2 rifle as VG 1 is fed from detachable box magazines, originally developed for Gewehr 43. The stock is crudely made from wood and consists of two separate parts: shoulder stock with semi-pistol grip and fore-end. Wood parts are permanently pinned to the receiver. Non-adjustable iron sights are provided for close-range shooting only, and zeroed for 100 metres (110 yd).

Specifications

(late 1944 and early 1945)

Type: Bolt-action rifle
Caliber: 7.92x57mm Mauser
Weight: 3.85 kg
Length: 1068 mm
Barrel length: ??
Feed System: 10-round detachable box magazine from G43 (loaded with single rounds)

The Volksgewehr 2 and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:

Video Games

Game Title	Appears as	Mods	Notation	Release Date
Enlisted	"VG.2"			2021

Volksgewehr 3 (Rheinmetall)

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Volksgewehr 3 - 7.92x33mm Kurz

The Rheinmetall Volksgewehr VG 3 was the third of five rifle designs. It was a bolt-action rifle using the 30-round magazine of the Sturmgewehr 44. Less than 50 are thought to have been produced.

Specifications

(late 1944 and early 1945)

Type: Bolt action carbine
Caliber: 7.92x33mm Kurz
Feed System: 30-round detachable box magazine from StG 44

The Volksgewehr 3 and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:

Volksgewehr 4 (Mauser)

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Volksgewehr 4 - 7.92x33mm Kurz

The Mauser Volksgewehr VG 4 was the fourth of five rifle designs. It was a bolt-action rifle chambered for 7.92x33mm Kurz or 7.92x57mm bullets, fed into an internal magazine by 5-round stripper clips. Less than 10 are believed to have been produced.

Specifications

(late 1944 and early 1945)

Type: Bolt-action carbine / Bolt-action rifle
Calibre: 7.92x33mm Kurz / 7.92x57mm Mauser
Feed System: 5-round integrated magazine

The Volksgewehr 4 and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:

Volksgewehr 5 (Steyr)

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Volksgewehr 5 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

The Steyr Volksgewehr VG 5 rifle (or more correctly, the Volkssturmkarabiner VK 98) was slightly less basic. It used the Mauser Gewehr 98 type bolt action with rotary bolt, some of the early guns actually had serialised K98 bolts and/or receivers probably sourced from parts storages or rejected from main production for some reasons. Later guns had more parts produced specifically for VG5, these were standard K98 parts, but of very low quality, they were obviously distinguishable by virtually lacking any finish. The barrels were actually all K98 standard barrels. It had an internal magazine, just like K98, though with simpler unremovable bottom plate, very basic unadjustable fixed sights and very simple short stock, making it indeed a simplified and low quality sporter stocked K98. These rifle prototypes were developed as part of the Volkssturm-Mehrladegewehr ("People's Assault Repeating Rifle") program

Specifications

(late 1944 and early 1945)

Type: Bolt action rifle
Caliber: 7.92x57mm Mauser
Weight: 3.13 kg
Length: 1031 mm
Barrel length: 598 mm
Feed System: 5-round integrated magazine

The Volksgewehr 5 and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:

Video Games

Game Title	Appears as	Mods	Notation	Release Date
Forgotten Hope 2			Single shot	2007

Volksgewehr 45 (Erma Werke)

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Volksgewehr 45 - 7.92x33mm Kurz

The Erma Werke Volksgewehr 45 is a German prototype bolt-action rifle developed in the 1945. During the "Primitiv-Waffen" program, the Erma Werke company designed its rifle. It was supposed to be a full-fledged bolt-action rifle powered by StG 44 magazines. At a certain stage of development, the company stopped producing the weapon. The shortened variant was to be produced by Rheinmetall and called Volksgewehr 45K. Probably only one copy was made.

Specifications

(late 1944 and early 1945)

Type: Bolt action carbine
Caliber: 7.92x33mm Kurz
Feed System: 30-round detachable box magazine from StG 44

The Volksgewehr 45 and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:

Volksgewehr 45K (Rheinmetall)

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Volksgewehr 45K - 7.92x33mm Kurz

The Rheinmetall Volksgewehr 45K is a German prototype bolt-action carbine developed in the 1945. During the "Primitiv-Waffen" program, the Erma Werke company designed its rifle. It was supposed to be a full-fledged bolt-action rifle powered by StG 44 magazines. At a certain stage of development, the company stopped producing the weapon. The shortened variant was to be produced by Rheinmetall and called Volksgewehr 45K. Like the long version, this one was not built in large numbers.

Specifications

(late 1944 and early 1945)

Type: Bolt action carbine
Length: 88cm
Barrel Length: 39cm
Weight: 2.95kg
Caliber: 7.92x33mm Kurz
Feed System: 10 / 30-round detachable box magazine from StG 44

The Volksgewehr 45K and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:

Wetzlar Rifle (Hessische Industrie Werke)

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Wetzlar Rifle - 7.92x57mm Mauser

The Wetzlar Rifle. Chambered for the 7.92×57mm Mauser rifle round. It used standard 5-round stripper clips to fill the fixed internal magazine. To operate, the "bolt" handle is actually attached to the barrel, and pushed forward to feed a new round to a fixed bolt and breech face. The semi-automatic carbine based on the Wetzlar Rifle is called Wetzlar Carbine, with the cartridge changed to 7.92×33mm Kurz. Other known names for this project are: Hessische Industrie Werke VolksSturmKarabiner (HIW VSK).

Specifications

(late 1944 and early 1945)

Type: Bolt action rifle
Caliber: 7.92x57mm Mauser
Feed System: 5 round integral mag.

The Wetzlar Rifle and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-The '''Volksgewehr''' also known as '''VG''' ("People's Rifle") 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 capacities in Germany during the final period of the war.
+The '''Volksgewehr''' also known as '''VG''' ("People's Rifle") 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 capacities in Germany during the final period of the war. The [[Gustloff Volkssturmgewehr]] originated from the same push.
-'''VG1'''<br>
-This was the first of five rifles designed for the Volkssturm. It was a manually-operated bolt-action rifle and had a simple rotating bolt with two frontal locking lugs. The crudely-made bolt handle also engages a cut in the cast-steel receiver for added safety. It uses ten-round box magazines from a Gewehr 43. It also had a crude manual safety, only consisting of a stamped-steel lever pinned to the trigger guard behind the trigger. When engaged, the safety blocks trigger movement. To disengage, it was simply turned out of the way. The stock was made of wood, and it had crude non-adjustable sights.
-<br>
-'''VG2'''<br>
-The VG2 was the second of five rifle designs for the Volkssturm. It has a similar bolt, stock and safety as the VG1, and even shared the magazine. The sights were zeroed-in at a hundred meters, and was meant for close range shooting only. Around 16,000 to 18,000 are believed to have been produced.
-<br>
-'''VG3'''<br>
-The VG3 was the third of five rifle designs. It was a bolt-action rifle using the 30-round magazine of the Sturmgewehr 44. Less than 50 are thought to have been produced.
-<br>
-'''VG4'''<br>
-The VG4 was the fourth of five rifle designs. It was a bolt-action rifle chambered for 7.92x33mm Kurz or 7.92x57mm bullets, fed into an internal magazine by 5-round stripper clips. Less than 10 are believed to have been produced.
-<br>
-'''VG5'''<br>
-The VG5, or more correctly, the Volkssturmkarabiner VK.98, was the final of all five designs. Of all five, the VG5 could be made entirely in small workshops. It was a simplified Karbiner 98k, lacking a butt plate, full-length stock, bayonet lug, or adjustable rear-sight. It also had much simpler sling mounts and a very basic finish. It was possible to add a magazine to the weapon, because it lacked a floorplate; however, it is normally used as a single-shot weapon without a magazine.
-<br>
 =Volksgewehr 1 (Walther)=
 [[File:Volkssturmgewehr VG-1.jpg|thumb|right|450px|Volksgewehr 1 - 7.92x57mm Mauser]]
-The Walther '''Volksgewehr VG 1''' is a manually operated bolt-action rifle. It uses a simple rotating bolt, with locking provided by the two frontal lugs; the crude bolt handle engages a cut in the cast steel receiver to provide additional safety. The feed is from detachable 10-round box magazines, originally developed for the Gewehr 43 rifle. The manual safety is also very crude, and consist of a stamped steel lever pinned to the trigger guard just behind the trigger. When engaged, the safety lever blocks trigger movement. To disengage the safety the user must turn it sideways with a finger. The stock is crudely made from wood, and non-adjustable iron sights are provided for close-range shooting only. It was meant to be produced by Zbrojovka Brno in the current-day Czech Republic.
+The Walther '''Volksgewehr VG 1''' is a manually operated bolt-action rifle. It uses a simple rotating bolt, with locking provided by the two frontal lugs; the crude bolt handle engages a cut in the cast steel receiver to provide additional safety. The feed is from detachable 10-round box magazines, originally developed for the [[Gewehr 43]] rifle, also produced by [[Walther]]. Due to the extremely simplified design, there were no guides for the charging clips, and each rifle was issued with one magazine, replenished with separate rounds. The manual safety is also very crude, and consist of a stamped steel lever pinned to the trigger guard just behind the trigger. When engaged, the safety lever blocks trigger movement. To disengage the safety the user must turn it sideways with a finger. The stock is crudely made from wood, and non-adjustable iron sights are provided for close-range shooting only. It was initially meant to be produced by Zbrojovka Brno in the current-day Czech Republic.
+<br clear=all>
 ==Specifications==
 (late 1944 and early 1945)
-* '''Type:''' Bolt action rifle
+* '''Type:''' Bolt-action rifle
+* '''Caliber:''' 7.92x57mm Mauser
-* '''Caliber:''' 7.92×57 mm
 * '''Weight:''' 3.77 kg empty
 * '''Length:''' 1092 mm
 * '''Barrel length:''' 589 mm
+* '''Feed System:''' 10-round detachable box magazine from G43 (loaded with single rounds)
-* '''Feed System:''' 10 rounds Detachable Box Magazine from G43
 -----
-The Volksgewehr 1 and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:
+{{Gun Title|Volksgewehr 1}}
 =Volksgewehr 2 (Spreewerk Berlin)=
 [[File:Volkssturmgewehr 2.jpg|thumb|right|450px|Volksgewehr 2 - 7.92x57mm Mauser]]
-The Spreewerk Berlin '''Volksgewehr VG 2''' is also a manually operated bolt-action rifle with a similar rotating bolt and crude manual safety. Locking is provided by two frontal lugs which lock into the steel insert pinned inside the stamped steel receiver. The VG 2 rifle is fed from detachable box magazines, originally developed for Gewehr 43. The stock is crudely made from wood and consists of two separate parts: shoulder stock with semi-pistol grip and fore-end. Wood parts are permanently pinned to the receiver. Non-adjustable iron sights are provided for close-range shooting only, and zeroed for 100 metres (110 yd).
+The Spreewerk Berlin '''Volksgewehr VG 2''' is also a manually operated bolt-action rifle with a similar rotating bolt and crude manual safety. Locking is provided by two frontal lugs which lock into the steel insert pinned inside the stamped steel receiver. The VG 2 rifle as VG 1 is fed from detachable box magazines, originally developed for Gewehr 43. The stock is crudely made from wood and consists of two separate parts: shoulder stock with semi-pistol grip and fore-end. Wood parts are permanently pinned to the receiver. Non-adjustable iron sights are provided for close-range shooting only, and zeroed for 100 metres (110 yd).
+<br clear=all>
 ==Specifications==
 (late 1944 and early 1945)
-* '''Type:''' Bolt action rifle
+* '''Type:''' Bolt-action rifle
+* '''Caliber:''' 7.92x57mm Mauser
-* '''Caliber:''' 7.92×57 mm
 * '''Weight:''' 3.85 kg
 * '''Length:''' 1068 mm
 * '''Barrel length:''' ??
+* '''Feed System:''' 10-round detachable box magazine from G43 (loaded with single rounds)
-* '''Feed System:''' 10 rounds Detachable Box Magazine from G43
 -----
-The Volksgewehr 2 and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:
+{{Gun Title|Volksgewehr 2}}
-==Video Games==
+===Video Games===
 {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" border="1" style="border: 1px solid #D0E7FF; background-color:#ffffff; text-align:left; font-size: 95%"
 |-bgcolor=#D0E7FF
@@ Line 73: / Line 47: @@
 |-
 |}
-<br clear=all>
 =Volksgewehr 3 (Rheinmetall)=
 [[File:VG3.jpg|thumb|right|450px|Volksgewehr 3 - 7.92x33mm Kurz]]
 The Rheinmetall '''Volksgewehr VG 3''' was the third of five rifle designs. It was a bolt-action rifle using the 30-round magazine of the Sturmgewehr 44. Less than 50 are thought to have been produced.
+<br clear=all>
 ==Specifications==
 (late 1944 and early 1945)
-* '''Type:''' Bolt action rifle
+* '''Type:''' Bolt action carbine
+* '''Caliber:''' 7.92x33mm Kurz
-* '''Feed System:''' 30 rounds Detachable Box Magazine from Stg44
+* '''Feed System:''' 30-round detachable box magazine from StG 44
 -----
-The Volksgewehr 3 and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:
+{{Gun Title|Volksgewehr 3}}
 =Volksgewehr 4 (Mauser)=
 [[File:VG4.jpg|thumb|right|450px|Volksgewehr 4 - 7.92x33mm Kurz]]
 The Mauser '''Volksgewehr VG 4''' was the fourth of five rifle designs. It was a bolt-action rifle chambered for 7.92x33mm Kurz or 7.92x57mm bullets, fed into an internal magazine by 5-round stripper clips. Less than 10 are believed to have been produced.
+<br clear=all>
 ==Specifications==
 (late 1944 and early 1945)
-* '''Type:''' Bolt action rifle
+*'''Type:''' Bolt-action carbine / Bolt-action rifle
+*'''Calibre:''' 7.92x33mm Kurz / 7.92x57mm Mauser
-* '''Feed System:''' 30 rounds Detachable Box Magazine from Stg44
+*'''Feed System:''' 5-round integrated magazine
 -----
-The Volksgewehr 4 and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:
+{{Gun Title|Volksgewehr 4}}
 =Volksgewehr 5 (Steyr)=
@@ Line 107: / Line 80: @@
 The Steyr '''Volksgewehr VG 5''' rifle (or more correctly, the '''Volkssturmkarabiner VK 98''') was slightly less basic. It used the Mauser Gewehr 98 type bolt action with rotary bolt, some of the early guns actually had serialised K98 bolts and/or receivers probably sourced from parts storages or rejected from main production for some reasons. Later guns had more parts produced specifically for VG5, these were standard K98 parts, but of very low quality, they were obviously distinguishable by virtually lacking any finish. The barrels were actually all K98 standard barrels. It had an internal magazine, just like K98, though with simpler unremovable bottom plate, very basic unadjustable fixed sights and very simple short stock, making it indeed a simplified and low quality sporter stocked K98.
 These rifle prototypes were developed as part of the Volkssturm-Mehrladegewehr ("People's Assault Repeating Rifle") program
+<br clear=all>
 ==Specifications==
@@ Line 112: / Line 86: @@
 * '''Type:''' Bolt action rifle
+* '''Caliber:''' 7.92x57mm Mauser
-* '''Caliber:''' 7.92×57 mm
 * '''Weight:''' 3.13 kg
 * '''Length:''' 1031 mm
 * '''Barrel length:''' 598 mm
+* '''Feed System:''' 5-round integrated magazine
-* '''Feed System:''' 5 rounds
 -----
-The Volksgewehr 5 and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:
+{{Gun Title|Volksgewehr 5}}
-==Video Games==
+===Video Games===
 {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" border="1" style="border: 1px solid #D0E7FF; background-color:#ffffff; text-align:left; font-size: 95%"
 |-bgcolor=#D0E7FF
@@ Line 138: / Line 106: @@
 |-
 |}
+=Volksgewehr 45 (Erma Werke)=
+[[File:Volksgewehr 45 ERMA right.jpg|thumb|right|450px|Volksgewehr 45 - 7.92x33mm Kurz]]
+The Erma Werke '''Volksgewehr 45''' is a German prototype bolt-action rifle developed in the 1945. During the "Primitiv-Waffen" program, the Erma Werke company designed its rifle. It was supposed to be a full-fledged bolt-action rifle powered by [[StG 44]] magazines. At a certain stage of development, the company stopped producing the weapon. The shortened variant was to be produced by Rheinmetall and called Volksgewehr 45K. Probably only one copy was made.
+<br clear=all>
+==Specifications==
+(late 1944 and early 1945)
+* '''Type:''' Bolt action carbine
+* '''Caliber:''' 7.92x33mm Kurz
+* '''Feed System:''' 30-round detachable box magazine from StG 44
+-----
+{{Gun Title|Volksgewehr 45}}
+=Volksgewehr 45K (Rheinmetall)=
+[[File:Volksgewehr 45K (Rheinmetall).jpg|thumb|right|450px|Volksgewehr 45K - 7.92x33mm Kurz]]
+The Rheinmetall '''Volksgewehr 45K''' is a German prototype bolt-action carbine developed in the 1945. During the "Primitiv-Waffen" program, the Erma Werke company designed its rifle. It was supposed to be a full-fledged bolt-action rifle powered by [[StG 44]] magazines. At a certain stage of development, the company stopped producing the weapon. The shortened variant was to be produced by Rheinmetall and called Volksgewehr 45K. Like the long version, this one was not built in large numbers.
+<br clear=all>
+==Specifications==
+(late 1944 and early 1945)
+* '''Type:''' Bolt action carbine
+* '''Length:''' 88cm
+* '''Barrel Length:''' 39cm
+* '''Weight:''' 2.95kg
+* '''Caliber:''' 7.92x33mm Kurz
+* '''Feed System:''' 10 / 30-round detachable box magazine from StG 44
+-----
+{{Gun Title|Volksgewehr 45K}}
+=Wetzlar Rifle (Hessische Industrie Werke)=
+[[File:Wetzlar Rifle.jpg|thumb|right|450px|Wetzlar Rifle - 7.92x57mm Mauser]]
+The '''Wetzlar Rifle'''. Chambered for the 7.92×57mm Mauser rifle round. It used standard 5-round stripper clips to fill the fixed internal magazine. To operate, the "bolt" handle is actually attached to the barrel, and pushed forward to feed a new round to a fixed bolt and breech face. The semi-automatic carbine based on the Wetzlar Rifle is called [[Volkssturmgewehr#Wetzlar_Carbine|Wetzlar Carbine]], with the cartridge changed to 7.92×33mm Kurz. Other known names for this project are: '''H'''essische '''I'''ndustrie '''W'''erke '''V'''olks'''S'''turm'''K'''arabiner ('''HIW VSK''').
 <br clear=all>
+==Specifications==
+(late 1944 and early 1945)
+* '''Type:''' Bolt action rifle
+* '''Caliber:''' 7.92x57mm Mauser
+* '''Feed System:''' 5 round integral mag.
+-----
+{{Gun Title|Wetzlar Rifle}}
+=See also=
+*[[Volkssturmgewehr]]
+[[Category:Gun]]
+[[Category:Rifle]]
+[[Category:Battle Rifle]]
+[[Category:Carbine]]

Volksgewehr: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 10:19, 26 December 2023

Contents

Volksgewehr 1 (Walther)

Specifications

Volksgewehr 2 (Spreewerk Berlin)

Specifications

Video Games

Volksgewehr 3 (Rheinmetall)

Specifications

Volksgewehr 4 (Mauser)

Specifications

Volksgewehr 5 (Steyr)

Specifications

Video Games

Volksgewehr 45 (Erma Werke)

Specifications

Volksgewehr 45K (Rheinmetall)

Specifications

Wetzlar Rifle (Hessische Industrie Werke)

Specifications

See also

Navigation menu

Volksgewehr: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 10:19, 26 December 2023

Volksgewehr 1 (Walther)

Specifications

Volksgewehr 2 (Spreewerk Berlin)

Specifications

Video Games

Volksgewehr 3 (Rheinmetall)

Specifications

Volksgewehr 4 (Mauser)

Specifications

Volksgewehr 5 (Steyr)

Specifications

Video Games

Volksgewehr 45 (Erma Werke)

Specifications

Volksgewehr 45K (Rheinmetall)

Specifications

Wetzlar Rifle (Hessische Industrie Werke)

Specifications

See also

Navigation menu

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