Volkssturmgewehr 1-5

[UnknownSoldier]

Q: did this thing have a combat history or was it just a experimental semi auto gun?

[Dnarag1M]

You could really try to use google for such stupidly simple questions...

First lines on wikipedia...

`The VG 1-5 was designed by Karl Barnitzke of the Gustloff-Werke for the Primitiv-Waffen-Programm ("primitive weapons program") in 1944 and was intended to be used by the Volkssturm. Production of the VG 1-5 occurred from January 1945 till the end of the war; roughly 10,000 were made.`

So. 10K units made..well..lets see...nah, dont think they would need so many guns. Better to produce them and then leave them in some warehouse to rot! yeah! sounds like a typically 1945 german thing to do!

[Ts4EVER]

There are some pics of Volkssturm units using them, but they were very rare.

[THeTA0123]

10 000 of these where built. They would surely fit into A battle of berlin map or any other map where the volksturm particpated

This is not a cheap STG44 though. It was semi-auto only. It would perform like the M1 Carbine but with more recoil

[VonMudra]

I've seen one photo set of a volksturm guy with them.  Beyond that, none.  It would be nice, but as already said, only in a volksturm style map.

[Dnarag1M]

The pictures being rare isn´t strange. The German propaganda effort was completely crumbled and reduced to mostly radio and newspaper. Trying to make photos in besieged cities at the point you would need volkssturm weapons is generally not a good idea.

Not to mention that even if you could MAKE photos, it does not mean you could develop them. Photographer gets killed or woonded. Camera gets damaged. Darkroom not available, development chemicals not available. Negatives destroyed, negatives damaged, negatives lost. Making prints gives you similar trouble with need for dark room and chemicals.

So all in all, its pretty complex to make and preserve photos in a city under siege towards the economical, social and military colaps of Germany.

There was simply very little incentive for the German authorities to document their loss of land and manpower. In general you can see a shift of filmfootage and photos from German-made to allied-made. The latter obviously not seeing much active volkssturmguns in action. Not to mention its an uninteresting weapon for allied intelligence and soldiers..no new technology, nothing cutting edge. Just the simplest of guns, made to be cheap.

[Ts4EVER]

Many German soldiers had small cameras.

[Dnarag1M]

Volkssturm was not used by German soldiers, probably. And I don´t see much footage where civilians are fighting alongside the German army either...

Well. Whatever theories we throw at each other ...10,000 guns produced will get used by some Germans, somewhere in 1945 Germany without a shred of doubt. They did not like producing arms that were sitting there doing nothing

[THeTA0123]

Most of the volksturm weapons where Foreign rifles and old G98 rifles. The MP3008 could be used as an assault kit,or maybe an other foreign or older SMG.

VG 1-5 could be issued to NCO's and squadleaders.

[VonMudra]

Its same as the Panzerfaust 150.  Was it used?  Yes.  Was it common?  No.

[Ts4EVER]

[VonMudra]

Awesome find!  They're quite well equipped for volksturm...even have the rank insignia.  I figure, since it was for a propaganda newsreel, they probably found the best equipped guys they could. 

[Dnarag1M]

they seem like an important bunch indeed, by the fact they are trained with Goliath devices too - not meant for the average volkssturm member, I guess..

[Fuchs]

What book is that TS? Looks interesting!

[Dukat]

The goliaths prooved to be useless, at the end of war a few thousands were still in stock. Volkssturm got all the spare parts in the first place.

Another thought: The Volkssturm was to be formed by the "Gauleiter". These were "district controllers" of the nazi party. Sometimes these 'district controllers' were also governors of their district, but in the first place they were heads of the nazi party in their district. So, this is like the Republican party of Oregon would have their own private army. Nominally these Volksturm units were subdued to the army, but the bonds with the local district controllers were much stronger.

Because these district controllers had their own power base in their district, interpersonal bonds. If a district controller was eager, he would contact local weapon manufactuerers and order to withhold weapons produced for army and SS. Then he could use these to equip his "Volksturm". This happened quite a lot in the last month of the 3rd Reich. While the central government got more and more powerless, these district controllers accumulated powers. Which, of course, toook its share in the rapid downfall.

This explains the different levels of equipment the Volksturm had, depending on the strength of their local district controllers and the economically situation in these districts.