MP40 Schmeisser!

True as to the nomenclature, but that is because everybody already knew that the Karabiner 98k was a "Mauser". John Sukey refers to them as "Mousers" (a correct translation) although I keep that term for the little Kar '71.

The '42 was referred to as a "Spandau" or somtimes as a "burp gun". The former is based upon erroneous information, the latter is onomatopoeiac. "Hitler's Buzz-saw" seems to have come in later, after prisoners had been taken. "Hitler-saw" was used by SS troops at least, on the Eastern Front.

'42s are fun!
.
 
My father fought in WW2 and referred to MP38/40s just as machine guns or machine pistols. Any MG 34 or MG 42 was a Spandau (and most feared). Rifles were just that. Stens were Stens (or junk!) and his beloved Thompson was a Tommy gun.
 
Back
Top Bottom