Was the German STG 44 assault rifle common in the Normandy campaign?

Answer 1

No It was not,the STG 44 or MP 44 was mainly issued to high quality frontline Waffen-SS Panzer grenadier Divisons,who in June 1944 were mainly baes in Russia and Italy. My father was killed in the battle(s) crossing the Rhine with Canadian forces. In one of his letters, he mentions the German Schmeisser. He said it fired so rapidly, it sounded like someone was ripping cardboard. I don't know what model of the rifle this was but it seems they were not only in Italy and Russian fronts There are 2 "Machine Pistole" (sub-machineguns) that where called "Schmeisser". The MP-38 and the MP-40. The MP-38 (designed in 1938)was mainly used during the first part of the war, later the MP-40(designed in 1940) was introduced and was the most common sub-machinegun in the German army for the remainder of it. Not named after a well known German weapon designer Hugo Schmeisser, but as far as I understand German, the word "Schmeissen" means "to throw or hurl" so it would translate (if it's used in this way) into "Hurler" or "Thrower". One thought though, the only German machinegun that sounds like "ripping carton" or "ripping paper" is the MG series like the MG-34 and the MG-42. These machineguns are "the big ones, with the belt-fed ammo" and can fire with sustained fire. They still produce them in a "modern and updated" version and is in use by a lot of countries. Mr Schmeisser is one of the designers of the MP-44 or StG44, but that one sound like champagne bottles opening, more like a popping sound. This is a good question. Another made a comment about the STG 44 being issued to "elite units" on the eastern front. I agree but I would also state the Liebstandarte SS and the Hitlerjugend (SS) were also "elite units" and they were on the western front at the time of the Normandy invasion. But I have never seen photos of soldiers in these two units at the time of this action toting the STG 44 either. No the MP44 as it was known then was not common was was avalaible to elite SS und Heer units and yes there are pictures of men in 17th SS and other units on western font using MP44 between June - Aug 1944 yes hiterjugend, das reich, gotz von berlichigan und liebstandarte all had sturmgruppe equipped mi der MP44 between June - Aug 44..And also Heer sturmgruppe 2. panzer etc had some MP44's at this time.. there were some entire zugs(squads) equipped with them but only assualt units(sturmzug. Other zug might have one in one squad... No, The first reference to the MP-44 I can remember from all the WWII books I have read is from the Battle of the Bulge in the Dec 1944. So I doubt the MP-44 was used by the Germans in the Normandy campaign.