Hitler's StG-44 in Postwar Service

Go to kamikoto.com/MARKFELTON and get an additional $50 off on any purchase with code MARKFELTON. Thanks to Kamikoto for sponsoring this video!
It's the world's first assault rifle - hundreds of thousands of StG-44s have ended up serving postwar right up to the present conflict in Ukraine.
Dr. Mark Felton FRHistS, FRSA is a well-known British historian, the author of 22 non-fiction books, including bestsellers 'Zero Night' and 'Castle of the Eagles', both currently being developed into movies in Hollywood. In addition to writing, Mark also appears regularly in television documentaries around the world, including on The History Channel, Netflix, National Geographic, Quest, American Heroes Channel and RMC Decouverte. His books have formed the background to several TV and radio documentaries. More information about Mark can be found at: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Fe...
Visit my audio book channel 'War Stories with Mark Felton': • One Thousand Miles to ...
Help support my channel:
www.paypal.me/markfeltonprodu...
/ markfeltonproductions
Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Mark Felton Productions. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Mark Felton Productions does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
Source: 'StG-44 in Africa after WWII', wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com/2...
Credits: US National Archives; Library of Congress; The Full 9; Redut Film; Ralf Dillenburger; KrisfromGermany; DDT.

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

Go to kamikoto.com/MARKFELTON and get an additional $50 off on any purchase with code MARKFELTON. Thanks to Kamikoto for sponsoring this video!

[@bosnjakball]

Epic bro keep up good work

[@vorynrosethorn903]

This company is a scam, their knives are made in China with low quality steel and the company itself is a Chinese one with a front office in Japan. Do not buy from them, there are plenty of genuine Japanese knife makers, local retail stores might even stock them but one thing is certain, they will be both much better quality and a good deal cheaper than a Chinese scam company.

[@victorbeauvois]

The GERMAN'S gun technology still the best today 👍very interesting and content top notch

[@Mr_Fancypants]

No. They are just chinese factory tin knifes.

[@jms972]

I would say the Russian Fedorov Avtomat designed in 1913 was the first assault rifle, in service 1915 by the Russian empire, only about 3000 was produced . But in mass production the sturmgewehr was the true first assault rifle.

[@junfour]

*Fun fact:* In this video, Dr. Mark Felton says "StG-44" a total of 23 times. Excluding the Kamikoto ad, this is a rate of about three and a half StG-44s per minute.

[@zacharydurocher4085]

Époustouflant

[@HollandNights]

These are the stats we need

[@junfour]

@@HollandNights We should all have Sturmgewehrs!

[@seavixen125]

Now that's a drinking game I can get behind

[@chapman9230]

Thats very funny

[@johncole2469]

Iraq, May 2003, OIF-1: I got my hands on the following in Baghdad: STG-44, MP-38, P-08 Luger, Artillery Luger, 2x consecutively serial numbered C-93 Borchardts, Mauser C-96. The drool was flowing. I have pics I took of it all.

[@rustcohle379]

U obviously weren’t allowed to bring those back home with you right?

[@johncole2469]

@@rustcohle379 Correct.

[@rileyp1419]

I've heard stories of guys hiding AK parts in oil pans before being shipped home.

[@johncole2469]

@@rileyp1419 actually in fuel tanks of various vehicles. Primarily M1A1 Abrams tanks.

[@samallardyce2522]

thats cool but did you find weapon of mass destruction?

[@fortis3686]

Ah yes, whether it’s modern ww2 games, re-enactors, museums, or random 3rd world insurgents, it seems this gun is just everywhere no matter where you look.

[@Mr_Fancypants]

Yet the AK 47 gets all the glory

[@auyongahmeng2588]

Won't be surprise if we ever get off planet earth...and colonize other worlds...it and the AK47 will probably end up there too : )

[@FindecanorNotGmail]

It was used without a magazine by the Rebel Alliance defenders on planet Hoth a long long time ago in a galaxy far far away. Those were also equipped with a scope of sorts, telescoping stock, proper front grip and extra knobs and doodads.

[@miguelgameiro8063]

@@Mr_Fancypants 1 in every 3 guns in this world is an automatic kalashikov that why they get the glory

[@amirhaikal6672]

@@auyongahmeng2588 probably some fucked up version of it made even worst than china.

[@clarkcoleman9793]

I owned a legal one 30 years ago. Also I had a MP40 parts gun. Wish I still had them .They are worth much more now than when I sold them.

[@bobdollaz3391]

Why did you sell them?

[@kre1187]

@@bobdollaz3391 Rough times financially or maybe moved to a state not pro 2A if I had to guess. We all have regrets like that.

[@Jreb1865]

There's actually quite a few on the registry... You don't see many for sale because it's a weapon collectors tend to hold once they acquire one. Same with MG-42s... Neither one are shooters guns any longer. Ammo cost took care of that. Not gonna find much 8mm for 10 cents a round any longer...

[@ChairmanPaulieD]

@@kre1187 yup Governor Kathy Hochul wouldn’t allow it in NYC .. how the HELL did she actually win last night’s midterm election 🤷‍♂ 😒

[@alexsurber3424]

That's pretty cool, I myself am trying to build one that's semi auto atf compliant mp44 from gathering parts as well as incorporating new parts made by SSD such as a newly made receiver flat i just aquired recently.

[@thedoctor755]

A friend of mine was a peacekeeper in Serbia in the 90's, and remembers seeing StG's still in crates, being issued in that conflict.

[@nicholasdiaz9424]

Don't open those old wounds, that was a political nightmare for Bosnia and Croatia's war for independence.

[@thedoctor755]

@@nicholasdiaz9424 just passing on what my friend saw.

[@TroyTempest777]

@@nicholasdiaz9424 Don't be such a drama queen..if we can't talk about wars ,we won't learn from them.

[@castronator29]

@@haltungsprechen Tito is called Tito because he was in a war full of "Díaz". What do you know about this guy's reasons to say that? I personally know many "Díaz" and "Fernández" that were present in Bosnia at that time.

[@rickieboy246]

@@haltungsprechen Both sides should have been genocided :) coming from a non biased third party ;)

[@dmeinhertzhagen8764]

During my second tour in Bosnia in 2001. One of the duties incumbent to my platoon was to perform a weekly inspection on a Bosnian Army weapons cantonment site. Beside the hundreds of Yugoslav and Soviet made firearms, the place was a gold mine for German WW2 firearms. Several dozens Stg-44, MP-40’s, crates of walthers and Lugers still in cosmoline. German marked MG-34’s & MG-42’s, they even had a three or four Pak-40 anti-tank guns with German made ammo dated 1944. We never knew how they got this equipment, nor where it came from and what became of it?

[@richardcowling7381]

A lot of it was basically left behind when the Whermacht was withdrawing from Yugoslavia at the end of ww2. Wasn't just weapons, a friend of mine was part of the peacekeeping operation there and recalled, (and swiped), WW2 German uniform items and webbing packed in crates being used as packing material for other items, as well as things like range finders, radio equipment, vehicle spares, which were still in the original grease and packing material.

[@JohnDoe-pv2iu]

Some of the material went back in storage and some got 'redistributed'. A lot of that material turned up later in Irag and Afghanistan. It seems Bin Laden's money (and others) bought a lot of 'Cheap' gear for their low level fighters... Ya'll Take Care and be safe, John

[@johnmc8785]

During German occupation, MG-42's, Mauser K-98's, and other German-designed small arms were manufactured in Yugoslavia. There were several postwar Yugo variants of the Mauser K-98 produced, including the M-42/47, and M-48/48a. MG-42's were manufactured postwar as the MG-53(?), still in 7.92 Mauser caliber. The Yugoslavians had incredible amounts of surplus WW2 arms and ammo held in reserve.

[@hankjones7829]

You should have taken Everything, moved to Montana and lived like a king.

[@schmitzkatzewupper]

@@richardcowling7381 Wehrmacht ...sorry I couldn't resist 😅

[@rocco74superhuman45]

Thanks for this video. Its like Christmas to me. 😃When I was about 15 years old, I found a Sturmgewehr in the woods with a metal detector with my uncle back home in Czechoslovakia. It was my first find, and it looked as if someone had put it there a month ago. Just thrown away with a leaf in the ditch and 2 spare magazine on top of that. I remember that day I couldn't even sleep and I looked at her all night. Only the stack was eat up. Since then I have loved this submachine gun and would not trade it for anything else.

[@RyleKittenhouse]

Amazing story. Does it still work ?

[@RogerThat787]

Merry Xmas

[@KRACKER13]

Brother that is too awesome good for you I wish I could go there more than anything to help find soldiers that were lost for their families but finding stuff would be damn sure cool all the same great story brother

[@matty6848]

@@KRACKER13 nothing stopping you Joe. If it’s a passion you would like too fulfil in your life why don’t you look into it? You can get flights very cheap these days and a cheap hotel for a couple of week. That’s something to put on your bucket list maybe🙂👍

[@hades0572]

@@matty6848 Few hundred for your passports, couple grand for flights maybe a grand in total for hotels (cheap one) that's almost 3 thousand dollars right there but then the bills stack up back home and no income coming in to counter them. Yeah, you might be able to go overseas and strike something off your bucket list but most can't. Suggesting this is feasible for most just tells us that you live a privileged life.

[@tdhawk7284]

Fascinating. I figured these weapons would be as rare as hens’ teeth, a few sitting in museums. I had no idea. Thank you, sir.

[@opoxious1592]

Yet, they cost a fortune if you want to own one.

[@Matt_w739]

@@opoxious1592 That's because they were only imported to the West (mainly America) in tiny numbers during the 50s & 60s. And the ones that weren't are war trophies. I bet less than one in 30 ever manufactured, made it into western civilian hands.

[@minuteman4199]

In about 1983 my local gun store was selling an Stg 44 and a crate of ammo for about 300 bucks. They had been converted to semi auto, probably by Century Arms.

[@browngreen933]

That needs verification.

[@derekp2674]

At roughly the same time, some semiauto converted examples could also be found in the hands of keen UK shooters. But, after the 1987 mass shooting at Hungerford, semi auto centrefire rifles became 'prohibited items' in the UK.

[@Zogerpogger]

That woud be worth thousands today.

[@minuteman4199]

@@Zogerpogger Except for the fact that this is Canada and they were banned and probably either buried or chopped up. It's also relative since I had a Mosin Nagant that I bought back then for 40 dollars.

[@Zogerpogger]

@@minuteman4199 I would like to get a mosin one day, I imagine it would be about 300 USD now.

[@mrivantchernegovski3869]

One of my Dads mates had STG44 here in New Zealand,Dad had a M1 Carbine and bunch of mags that he had traded a GI a Luger for in Lower Germany,Dad was in the 2NDNZEF in WW2,brother got his carbine and he was buried with his Issue 303 that he brought home somehow.

[@RT-mm8rq]

I can imagine the additional carnage this weapon would of caused if it had been issued to the Wehrmacht earlier in the war.

[@danielaramburo7648]

The Germans would have lost anyway. They had a severe lethal shortage of fuel, with a fuel shortage in a modern war, you will lose.

[@WormholeJim]

If it had been standard issue at the onset of Barbarossa, possibly it would have provided that extra umph to have made Germany capture Moscow at end of '41. This doesn't necessarily mean the war in the east would have been won. USSR likely would have fallen, but the huge landmass of Russia would likely have splintered up in so many sovereign states, each with it's wn stance towards the Germans in west Russia.

[@alexisXcore93]

out of all the miracle weapons hitler wanted for germany, the StG had the most potential to change the tides of the war

[@kamilpotato3764]

@@alexisXcore93 In what way? If war in Europe would drag bit further Germany would get nuked.

[@alexisXcore93]

@@kamilpotato3764 it had the potential to make a more tangible change than, lets say a fucking rail gun lol

[@mattyb567567]

Thanks for the great content Mark! You have reignited my passion for WW2 era history.

[@dr.wilfriedhitzler1885]

We had all, but in less numbers to win the war.

[@Bigsky1991]

Months after the Berlin wall came down, I was cruising through various DDR Depots. I saw cases and cases if these in Dresden. With a West German arms dealer we split a truckload of these...around 1500 pcs, to include Ammo and the ultra rare Stg ammo pouches. We kept some for movie work, with most of them going to English arms guys. We split the load up according to condition. Blued, and Parkerized. Very worn and very nice. The loose/beat ones were Demil'd and we sold them as "parts kits" (Teilesätze) in German. We sold these for years to collectors at the Stuttgart and Beltring Militaria shows. Made a ton of money on these and a mountain of MP-44s from the sane cache. All in collectors hands now.

[@wolfgangwust5883]

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing.

[@JaegerMatthias]

Lol thank you for your service 😆👌

[@tanthaman]

Prove it.

[@hairydogstail]

The STG.-44 (MP-44) has constant recoil and Eugene Stoner stated it was this rifle where he and Sullivan first saw constant recoil. Today it still is the most controllable assault rifle with full auto..

[@vevenaneathna]

eh, an M4 with like a tungsten bolt or m11 223 conversion w/ tungsten bolt has a similar rate of fire, around 600, way less mass going down range 55 grain vs 125 grain, and the bolt in the m4 cycles directly backwards, instead of the clunky up and back slamming linkage of the stg44. yeah it weights a lot more so it might feel like less recoil, but imo its not. the Cetme-L is a similar weight and fires 223. seems like its rate of fire is around 900 rpm but i think would have less felt recoil if the weapons weight was a major factor.

[@John77Doe]

The M-14 jerks up when fired full automatic. 😃😃😃😃😃

[@azkrouzreimertz9784]

You have a source on the constant recoil bit? I cant find a reference to it. Also the most controllable assault rifle? Idk man makes no sense

[@TADP0LE9806]

I doubt very much that it's the most controllable in auto at all. The stock isn't in-line with the action like on an AR-style rifle and the action doesn't move in a purely linear fashion either. The cartridge itself by its very nature will kick harder than 5.56 or 5.45mm

[@jeffb-c]

Lmao yeah idk why ur trying to fit the whole barrel down ur mouth, no weapon from 1944 is going to be at all relevant to the capabilities of modern firearms

[@LTPottenger]

There is an stg45 prototype and they fire it on forgotten weapons. Don't know why but this weapon just calls out to me, truly amazing.

[@coversum]

you can clearly see its genes in the later Cetme and G3s... amazing

[@browngreen933]

Not just you. Everybody.

[@AndrewAMartin]

@@coversum The StG44 and StG45 are different designs, the 44 being gas operated and the 45 being delayed blowback. The 45 evolved into the CETME and then the G3 -- the Mauser engineers behind the design making their way to France and Spain before eventually going back to Germany.

[@LTPottenger]

ak is probably based on stg but stg is more accurate. If it had a little more range it would be like combining the best of ak and m16. That's essentially what the cetme does, with even greater range than the m16, but it never caught on due to nato nonsense.

[@johncole2469]

I have the following: HK-91, HK-93, SP-5. All trace origins to the G3, further to STG-45(M), STG-44, and to the MKb-42. Glad I have them.

[@DenisStosic]

Thank you dr. Felton for your work. There were Krummerlauf attachments (the curved barrel ) designed for the Sturmgewehr 44; Maschinenpistole-Vorsatz "P" (for tank crews) and Maschinenpistole-Vorsatz "I"(for infantry). Also, there was Vampir Infra red rifle telescope attachment for night vision. You could make a sequel from this episode about that exciting attachments.

[@ragingjaguarknight86]

I got lucky. I scored myself a working, GSG StG-44 in 22LR. One of the coolest things is that since I use mostly old German guns, I was able to reuse my repro sling for my kar98k for it until I could reorder another one. Knowing weapons development history came in very handy, I know that the StG's closest "descendants" are the HK series. I bought an HK scope mount and was able to mount an ACOG clone atop it. I get some weird looks whenever I take it to the range. I also purchased the official scope mount that replaces the rear sight but I don't use it. Overall, an informative and helpful video. 😎👍

[@NothusDeusVagus]

I enjoy your high-quality presentations and look forward to the next installments. Thank you.

[@thEannoyingE]

Great video as always, nice to hear your voice again. Incidentally, when my uncle was in Vietnam, I’m sure his platoon captured some SGT-44’s in his service 67-69.

[@tanks1945]

Your the man Dr. ! A short history on the gun changer of the 20th century is a good history fix I needed.

[@KK-zq3dm]

You are always amazing professor Felton. The numbers of German WW2 weapons is a testimony to their quality and craftsmanship. Absolutely fascinating again! Thanks Mark

[@RogerThat787]

Thank you for thanking Mark

[@mitchjames9350]

I am pretty sure these are made in the modern day.

[@matty6848]

Ironically it was they’re over engineering that was they’re biggest downfall on the eastern front in Russia, especially with the harsh winters. When roughly made Soviet guns would rattle, you could drop them in mud, pick them and they’d still work. Not the finally engineered German guns that would jam, pins would snap etc. same with they’re tanks and fighter planes and bombers. Cheap Mass production won against small, superior production of the Germans

[@siegessaule]

In the film, Danger Close (2019) there is a scene where they cut to a NLF guerilla wielding an STG44. There's lots of cool guns in that movie, but I'm glad they went out of their way to get the STG44 some screen time. If you played WW2 games growing up like a lot of millenials, it's the most legendary firearm of all time.

[@kwanchan6745]

in the classic film "battle of the bulge", the opening scene is of captured german prisoners, an stg44 is picked up as an example of fresh weapons being issued in the modern british film "the bunker", the "cockney krauts" are also sporting stg44

[@Zogerpogger]

Perhaps the NLF aquired it from former Waffen SS troops who were deployed by the French in Indochina.

[@Gerhold102]

@@Zogerpogger Doubtful those German Heer, Luftwaffe, Waffen SS and Gestapo men recruited to the Foreign Legion would have still had their SMGs or Maschinenpistole with them. I suspect they would have been issued with French equipment.

[@Zogerpogger]

@@Gerhold102 You're probably right. I'm too lazy to research it now, but interesting question for sure. I imagine the allied powers would try and find a use for all of the captured equipment though (some examples in the video even).

[@Gerhold102]

@@Zogerpogger There's a fictional work written by Robert George Elford (pseudonym?) entitled 'Devil's Guard' based on ex-German WW2 personnel recruited by the Légion Étrangère to fight the Viet Minh. It's based on probable fact - certainly they were very well-versed in anti-partisan operations and interrogation methods. When the Yanks took over from the French these men offered to transfer their services. The Americans declined on the basis that they were too ruthless and brutal for US sensibilities. It's a good read but reflects Nazi ideology.

[@AbsoluteKhan.]

A1 content as always! Thank you, Mark!

[@DOMINIK99013]

This is a lie, in 1955 almost all Sa 23/25 were replaced by Sa 24/26, the last Stg and ww2 submachine guns in general were replaced at the end of 1950 by the Sa 23/25. This is a lie, in 1955 almost all Sa 23/25 were replaced by Sa 24/26, the last Stg and ww2 submachine guns in general were replaced at the end of 1950 by the Sa 23/25.

[@imathreat209]

Dude on the right looks happy as hell

[@thefool1086]

living the best life

[@reecewarzy4233]

I would be too if I where him.

[@jakobmax3299]

Because he somehow got his hand on 7,98mm-33mm ammo...

[@danielaramburo7648]

@@jakobmax3299 he is like: yes!!!! Finally got my ammo after being on the waitlist for 7 months!!!!!

[@Blei1986]

...and suddenly, a barrel bomb appears from above *Assad wins again*

[@TBagr]

As the owner of several H&K Mp 5 variants, I’d love to add one of these to my collection.

[@toddewire13]

Thank you Mark for another extraordinary video glad your health is feeling better now!

[@bobbalouie9941]

Absolutely fascinating, as are all of your videos, Dr. Felton!

[@mrhamburger6936]

A friend of mine's Uncle brought back an STG 44 from World War II it's missing The Recoil spring in the firing pin and the spare firing pin is missing I guess these assault rifles had different design firing pins and Bolt during the mid-90s a lot of STG parts kits were available for a couple hundred dollars in the United States now the kits are several thousand dollars

[@wirelessone2986]

If you can find them

[@mrhamburger6936]

@@wirelessone2986 I wish I back in the mid 90s I wish I would have picked up two or three of those because they were real cheap even AK-47 parts kits cheap back then

[@mrhamburger6936]

@@gratefulguy4130 collectors and class three people bought all those kits up and parts to keep their stuff going

[@nikopoulos5241]

I would for sure buy that rifle lol

[@duellingscarguevara]

A polish guy on YT fires a 9mm modern reproduction. Dunno about parts.

[@ronrobertson59]

A friend of mine is a class 3 firearms dealer and has one of these along with about a hundred other cool machine guns. I fired the STG-44 it it much more controllable than the AR-47.

[@MrSloika]

I've seen one in the flesh as well, although the collector who owns the thing wouldn't let me fire it, since it was worth $40,000 at time, it's probably appreciated a lot since then.

[@ronrobertson59]

@@gratefulguy4130 AK I'm so used to typing AR-15 I guess my brain got confused.

[@ronrobertson59]

@@MrSloika E.O. Mowrer and son's in Orrville ohio got all has machine guns in the 70's before the manufacturer law bit class 3 ownership in the butt.

[@r0ky_M]

@@ronrobertson59 Maybe we could talk about all the compromises in the stg.44 that make the AK47 superior for actual combat service.

[@onyx9943]

the 8mm Kurz is less powerful than 7.62x39mm... Also, the StG-44 is about a full kilogram heavier than an AK...

[@browngreen933]

My pal has a deactivated MP-44. Bought it in a gunshop in West Germany where he was stationed in the US Army in the 1960s. Even then it cost $150 USD.

[@candyking543]

I had the chance to fire one in Vegas this past summer, probably was the same one shown in this video! Awesome video Mark, you have the best WW2 content on KZbin!

[@michaelashton8754]

I'd be very interested to hear you explore stories of weapons that have taken long traceable journeys. I suspect some surplus weapons have been bought and sold dozens of times, bouncing from conflict to conflict.

[@matty6848]

True Mike. Most of those WW2 era guns have passed that many borders and hands it would be almost impossible to get a accurate history on them. Shame I know, but that’s the situation.

[@philbob_d9254]

This one was excellent doctor. I also love your dry humor jokes during your analysis. I watch you all the time now. Keep up the good work

[@natureman494]

Thanks for putting context to these photos I’ve been seeing for years.

[@Balthorium]

I remember during the Syria war a entire shipping container was filled with these rifles in a massive pile.

[@e30325ikiller]

but those were jugo made

[@osier769]

A topic I didn't know I wanted know until seeing the title. In my ignorance I expected most of the remaining units to be in the hands of collectors and museums. Thanks Mark.

[@ghostwriter1415]

You still don't know their not where you thought they were.

[@osier769]

@@ghostwriter1415 _They're_ probably not. 😏

[@TylerMcL3more]

Your videos are amazing as always Mark! May you live a long and happy life so you can keep bringing us these things! :) Cheers bud!

[@carlbrown9082]

Thanks, Dr. Felton. I've had a fascination with WW2 weaponry since my earliest memories, and the STG-44 is one of my favourites.

[@fraiday7292]

This was a great video, Dr. Felton. Very informative, as are all of your other videos. Quick side note, did anyone else notice the FG42 on top of the table at 3:14?

[@chlebowg]

Knew of about a dozen in Iraq in 03'. I had two MP44s, one mag and 60 rds of East German ammo.

[@wirelessone2986]

There has to be at least one that came back stashed in a connex box somewhere

[@koolaidria4801]

I wonder what ever happened to them. Probably shredded or steamrolled.

[@Blei1986]

@@koolaidria4801 waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

[@occidentadvocate.9759]

German Genius. Decades ahead of its time. The fact its still used allmost 80 years later proves its quality.

[@wilhelm2462]

It's quality was proven in the war... what you find these days is simply what is available to the people in warzones because they don't have the modern guns or not enough of them. Just because people still use these after 80 years deoesn't mean it's because of it's quality. The deciding factor usually is that it's available and still somewhat capable or at least useful to fill places until you have more modern equipment. For example when you have a limited ammount of modern weapons you still can arm background units who are not supposed to fight with older equipment and they will do fine. The real prove of quality is the fact that you can see how our weapons inspired future designs for example the similarities of a M9 compared to the fancy old P.38 or MG's that are fully or partly based on the MG42 just to name a few.

[@supernovaexpress5241]

Honestly I think the Germans get too much credit for their combat effectiveness in WW2.. When the United States joined the fight, we completely slammed those Nazi scum. For example, during the battle of the Bulge; it was extremely common for entire units of German soldiers to be wiped out in their attempts to launch counter offensives against far superior U.S forces. There are a few instances where entire German regiments charged allied lines and would see high casualty percentages like 70-80%. Meanwhile U.S forces would only lose like 1-5 men during these fights. Once U.S soldiers went on the offensive against German soldiers, we'd still take few casualties. Germans were getting mopped by the Americans. The only reason people applaud the effectiveness of the German army was because of the early war period when they were killing thousands upon thousands of poorly equipped and poorly trained Soviet soldiers. This is not at all impressive. Once the Germans met a real army, we completely wiped them off the face of the Earth. The only reason the United States had so many casualties was because we fought against Imperial Japan. They had rugged terrain and their people were actual warriors who weren't afraid to die.

[@thebrettyouneed178]

​@@supernovaexpress5241 I love how your whole post reads as if you were there 😂 besides that, who said they were effective? They just had cool stuff.

[@starwarsgames5467]

@@supernovaexpress5241 Americans fought 20% of the Wehrmacht, still took higher casualties and think they were the superior army🤣

[@chucknorris6640]

@@supernovaexpress5241first of all the us fought like 4% of the German soldiers, and most of them were auxiliary or second line United, the best units were used against the red army and some against the British

[@thedoctor755]

Another fascinating video, Mark! Don't know if you ran into the details surrounding the development of the weapon, but it of course started out as the MkB-42 (Machinenkarbiner 42), then refined into the StG-43. Hitler initially didn't want any more "rifles", only subguns, so it the name was simply changed to the MP-43. Then later settling on the "Sturmgewehr" name after all. MP-43's saw some of their first front-line trial use with the 5.SS Division "Wiking" on the Eastern front.

[@thedangersofboredom]

The man firing it from the armored vehicle in the opening of the video is a good friend of mine. Probably one of the most talented and fascinating people I have ever known. A very pleasant surprise along with a great production. Thank you.

[@nmisnotnewandnotmexico.2262]

I knew an American WW2 veteran about 1999 who had brought home a captured StG-44. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge at St.Vith. He was very kind to allow me to handle and inspect the demilled weapon because of my interest in military history. He explained that the weapon had to be deactivated before he could bring it back to the U.S. Even in that condition it was still an impressive example of a "Wunderwaffe" actually used in combat in 1944-45.

[@stevewilson7819]

If they were brought back as a DEWAT then the soldiers didn’t have to pay the $200 tax when they registered it with the ATF.

[@theshepherd9382]

another cracking video Mark, keep up the good work buddy!

[@WayneLambrightIII]

You make the best videos, I'm so happy to find you, keep up the great work thank you.

[@Garrattwayne]

Thank you for a another great video. The StG-44 & the K98 was my favourite weapons of WW2. When I went to Poland back in 2019 in the summer with just me and my Son (Nice to get away from the Wife lol) We went to a indoor shooting range and we shot loads of WW2 Guns. A dream Come True. Keep the great Videos coming Mark.

[@steffenwurster352]

Where did the users in Africa and Ukraine got the ammo?

[@ATruckCampbell]

@@steffenwurster352 Africa, more than likely came with the weapons. Ukraine, probably more of a war trophy than actual use.

[@crownprincesebastianjohano7069]

They are also the standard battle rifle of the Rebel Alliance and seen in the battles of Hoth and Endor. The propmasters of Lucasfilm and added a few bits to them to make them look futuristic.

[@dat_hobo_mf6852]

Mark is one of the best youtubers on the platform in the current year. Never stop the uploads!

[@manuelponce4682]

Really interesting!!! All your videos all so well researched that I enjoy a lot!!!! Great pictures and facts of this great and the first assault rifle. There is more of those in Africa apparently, than in hands of the collectors.

[@Mirokuofnite]

A few years back I remember seeing a picture from Syria. A guy had a STG-44 hooked up to a remote control arm.

[@bryansmith1920]

Thank you once again for adding shades to the colour of history Although I'm a 68yr old ex-Soldier that enjoyed weapon training at the butts I loved long distance shooting the Brit Army SLR I used, had to be replaced because of barrel wear But "OMG" didn't someone at procurement get it wrong SA80 really If you can still find it on the internet checkout an interview with an SAS squaddie about combat with the F15 against the Argy Special forces on a mount somewhere on the Falkland's Still using the FN

[@dlmsarge8329]

Another banger Prof Felton!! Many thanks for all the excellent videos!!

[@214TwoOneFo]

1:41 I just imagine Mark gripping that knife with all the anger he has in his body

[@tos4057]

Should do a video on the use of the sten and bren gun after ww2.

[@SJReid82]

You can really see the design lineage from StG44 to the more modern H&K weapons like the HK33 and its related developments.

[@tomhenry897]

Same engineers

[@nikopoulos5241]

The stg45 made at the end of ww2 is actually the precursor to the G3

[@stephenloy3535]

another bang up (pardon the pun) job,Dr Felton.A friend of mine was a young leutenant in the French para's in Algeria.He said he encountered these,MP 40's,and even ancient French 'Gras' rifles.

[@ronaldkendoll1700]

been studies miss this mark felton vids ,,,,feels good ,

[@QuantumMechanic_88]

Another outstanding history lesson and the picture of the Somali woman with her finger on the trigger of an StG is priceless. Thanks again Dr. Felton and all the best.

[@HubertofLiege]

I noticed she’s married, “yes, dear, whatever you want, dear”

[@QuantumMechanic_88]

@@HubertofLiege Just another stone age moron with weapons and explosives. Just like the Ugandan soldiers who jump up and down on landmines to pack down the dirt and who fire mortars from under trees because they want to be in the shade.

[@para1324]

I thought the same, how much “friendly fire” happened with those idiots.

[@Pavia1525]

@@para1324 Not enough.

[@roscoewhite3793]

I took a screen shot of that and zoomed in. I think she's actually got her finger behind the trigger, not on it. So she may have listened when gun safety was taught!

[@finallydone8640]

Quite ironic those French Foreign Legion troops capturing these guns .Some probably needed no training on their use and felt quite at home with them

[@manuelroca5289]

Mark you've done it again! Very informative and educational. I always wondered where the WW2 weapons went. I'm glad you presented one of them. I hope you make other videos about the rest. Kudos!

[@williamespinosa9094]

Wonderful surprise for me today! Thank you for making the most incredibly interesting videos! You are the GOAT

[@guyavery513]

I used to hate that these were being used in modern combat since they should be in museums, but I think it's quite fitting they are still being used for their intended purpose rather than sitting on a shelf.

[@thedoctor755]

Many several are out there in the collector & reenactor world though, still running!

[@tavish4699]

@@Oberkommando hah you think there isnt a way for serbians to get their ammo to places? my firend have you seen lord of war? there is allways a way to smuggle arms

[@Oberkommando]

@@tavish4699 of course there is. A few years back newly made Serbian Zastava M70’s started turning up in Iraq. As investigative journalists found out, Zastava Arms of Serbia was funnelling their Rifles through a Bulgarian Warlord who was then sending them to Saudi Arabian government, who then sent them to the Rebels. The question you have forgot to ask yourself here is “is it profitable though?” There is no profit to be made from a grand smuggling scheme of 8mm Mauser Kurz Ammuntion from Serbia to Syria, Lybia etc. The rifles are scattered all over the country and mostly lay forgotten stashed in random basements. There is no central market where this smuggled ammunition could be sold and find many buyers. There is no profit, therefore these rifles will never be fired again.

[@Nelis1992]

@@Oberkommando sad isnt the right word honestly. The history is interesting but its still just a gun made to kill people. Whats there to cry for if its lost?

[@Nelis1992]

@@Oberkommando Fair enough. My point is that generally, history enthousiasts appreciate killing machines too much, almost to the point of worshipping. I respect the machines too, but from a engineering point of view. If some would get lost, thats okay, theyre just objects. We cant save all historic objects in musuems. The world would one day be one big museum

[@adoskorkados3012]

Damn that was a scary Knife promo. Always good content Mr Felton, awesome work.

[@Qadir-24]

Am a bit delayed but it's good to see that you have Recovered Mr Felton, keep up the great content.

[@dillan6134]

Good to hear your voice again, Doc! Great video per usual 👍

[@alexbowman7582]

Mark you should do a video on German general Hans-Valentin Hube who lost an arm at Verdun in 1916. Tank officer Hube fought at Stalingrad and was ordered by Hitler to fly out which Hube refused, he said I took my men in to Stalingrad and ordered them to fight till the last bullet and intend to show them how to do it. Hitler ordered 4 of his SS bodyguards to fly in, Hube was told to report to 6th army headquarters where the SS surprised him and forced Hube out on a plane at gunpoint.

[@richardcowling7381]

Is he the same Gen. Hube who had a Russian AT crew fire at him, the round clipped his empty sleeve, and the Russians were then rather surprised when this German officer stood straight up after having his arm "blown off" with no apparent effect?

[@alexbowman7582]

@@richardcowling7381 possibly

[@roywhiteo5]

Its amazing that these are still in use considering they were designed to be disposable. A soldier could field strip them but it wasn't designed to be rebuilt after getting worn out (according to Ian)

[@bad74maverick1]

Had a heart attack @5:53!! So much great hardware there. The 44, the M-14, the Colt 604 way in the back, Hakim...

[@tombullen5676]

excellent updated video!

[@Danekim_]

Dr Felton hope you are well thank you!!

[@Material_Monkey]

A few of them where also used in the Battle of Hoth by Rebel Forces, when they tried to defend their base against the Galactic Empire.

[@Sporkmaker5150]

Broom handle Mausers always shoot first.

[@justanothergunnerd8128]

A truly revolutionary rifle - and fantastically controllable in fully automatic. Good video, mate!

[@aldreenbautista2375]

The weapon looks modern and ahead of its time during WW2. I really like using it in Call of Duty World at War but the problem is only a few NPC's carry it. Who knows, maybe one of the guns currently in use was used in WW2 too. That's quite a service lifespan.

[@aapje]

Then play the Vanguard campaign. There even the Japanese have them.

[@thedoctor755]

They're heavy though... got to carry them with full ammo on a couple occasions.

[@PanzerBuyer]

I wonder how much one would cost? Greatly depends on the location I'm sure.

[@thomasb1889]

@@thedoctor755 Surprisingly heavy although it is a handier package than the BAR which came so close to what an assault rifle is.

[@thomasb1889]

The British Brown Bess was in service for 120 years. The Browning M2 .50 MG shows no sign of leaving the battlefield, Mosin-Nagant rifles keep popping up.

[@1982asd]

It is currently $35,000 in the USA for an original STG44, but as far as I know, it requires a separate license even outside the USA, as it is an automatic assault rifel at the same time It is somewhat unusable for today's war, it is not suitable in many respects, but it has a very high price on the weapons market, even among collectors A copy of the STG44 is still produced in Germany today in a semi-automatic version, a 0.22 sport, but it can only be purchased in a semi-automatic version, but the external design fully matches the original STG44

[@robertmcbeth5864]

Way more than 35,000

[@markjames6669]

Great video! If only these guys knew how much this weapon was worth on the European market for collectors!

[@mach1mike351]

Another top vid Mark on one of my favourite subjects 👍

[@chrisdonahue524]

"Well that else do you need?" "More of these new rifles Mein Fuhrer!" "Eh?? What new rifles?"

[@biggietito2633]

In Yugoslavia the STG was used with Paratroopers until its swift replacement with the M70AB2 (AK) in the early 70s, they had pretty much been replaced by the m70 by the mid 70s Also the photos you used of the "Barracked Peoples Police (KVP)" are actually of the Volkspolizei-Bereitschaften (VPB), The KVP did not use the STG as they used soviet weaponry, however the Volkspolzei and VPB did

[@donlarocque5157]

When a WWII veteran passed away his daughter found one he brought home and had. Instead of destroying it,the police put it in a museum.

[@jackwalker9492]

There was a restaurant in Kabul that adorned the wall with various old firearms. They had one of these and I thought it was a modern rifle until the owner gave me the background. Gandamack. Very cool owner and place.

[@AzrockOmegaMan]

Mark, Great civerage on the Stg 44... I was wondering if you'd like to illustrate how the Heckler & Koch MP40 morphed over the years into the MP5? I'd love to see that one done.

[@kiwimedic319]

I am not surprised that the use of the STG44 still continues, it was/is a great weapon and really was ahead of its time. What surprises me is the current and post-WW2 users are able to get ammo for them.

[@tomw.6511]

Tremendous! I have done quite a bit of research on this topic myself. There are reports of some being used in the Balkans in the 1990s (Serbian ammunition manufacturer Prvi Partizan still makes 7.92x33mm ammo for it). Another conflict zone where StG44s turned up is Iraq.

[@TheEvilmooseofdoom]

Well that answers a question I had about sourcing ammo.

[@tomw.6511]

@@TheEvilmooseofdoom I have ordered a bunch of it myself. My friend has one and I have been lucky enough to shoot it. It still runs like a train.

[@localenterprisebroadcastin5971]

What great way to wake up. Thanks for another great vid 👍

[@americanmilitiaman88]

We had one in our gun shop. Chambered in .22 Long rifle. It was very comfortable to handle. And the sights were good. We can get reproduction rifles in semi auto chambered in 7.92x33 kurz. Hornady makes ammo and i believe Sellior and Bellot makes it also.

[@crowsbridge]

Who makes the reproduction in 7.92x33?

[@jonathanenglish9146]

While in Iraq (04'-05'), Stg44s started making an appearance with insurgents. Many neighboring countries looking to confound the Coalition Forces (ie.Americans), supplied outdated or mostly worn out weapons to insurgent groups in Iraq. Iranian manufactured G3, Syrian Stg44s, and a whole host of WWII weapons from Islamic African nations or rebel groups. Enfield and Mauser rifles were not uncommon, Stens and PPshs or similar were around and we even found a box of Thompson SMG mags, but not the subgun itself.

[@Gr8thxAlot]

I hope you got to bring back the Thompson mags!

[@samwill7259]

Not QUITE to the AK's level of "you can find these down the back of the couch in most parts of the world" But it's got a longer lifespan than any of us ever will.

[@samwill7259]

@@gratefulguy4130 I mean doesn't matter how throw away ti is if it keeps getting "thrown away" into the hands of the next group down the line

[@seonewport363]

incredibly brilliant presentation. how Dr Felton does this detained research is astounding. Viva Dear Mother Country UK

[@richardcharay7788]

Thank you for another excellent vignette.

[@blacklisted4885]

I love the stamped sheet metal aesthetic. Shteamphunky

[@MQuaritch]

Considering it was initially designed to not last more than a couple of months, the StGw 44 so far does pretty well in exceeding this demand...

[@thomasprochaska5083]

as usual a fantastic video with very special detailed informations!! Thank you!

[@AcademyMike]

Blimey, your research is above and beyond.

[@JFDA5458]

Quality never goes out of style.

[@jm9371]

I like how this rifle is described as having a modest production run of only half a million.

[@richardcowling7381]

Check the total manufactured of most other WW2 small arms. Half a million in comparison is a pitifully small amount.

[@e30325ikiller]

what about fg42 @@richardcowling7381

[@Lynchfan88]

I believe Brad Pitt wields one at various points in Fury. Very nice weapon.

[@nodarkthings]

Absolutely fascinating, Dr Felton. Thank you.

[@bashirmuhammad8181]

Glad to have back Doc! You won the battle. Great.