World War II: Sturmgewehr 44

Entering service in 1943, the Sturmgewehr 44 (right) was one of the first modern assault rifles to see large-scale deployment. The StG44 was developed in response to the Wehrmacht's need for an "assault" weapon to counter the increasing appearance of semi-automatic rifles and submachine guns appearing on the battlefield. Though the new weapon lacked the range of typical infantry rifles of the day, this was not considered important as the Wehrmacht had found that most engagements took place at ranges under 325 yards. First produced in 1943, the StG44 first appeared in large numbers on the Eastern Front where it was embraced by German troops. Though over 425,000 were built before the end of World War II, it appeared too late to significantly affect the outcome of the war.

Photograph Courtesy of the US Department of Defense