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Hugo Schmeisser 1

Hugo Schmeisser

Hugo Schmeisser

Born Hugo Schmeisser

24 September 1884Jena, Saxe-Weimar

Died 12 September 1953

(aged 68)

Suhl, Germany

Occupation Inventor

Hugo Schmeisser (24 September 1884 € 12 September 1953) was a German developer of infantry weapons in the

20th century.

Schmeisser was born in Jena, Saxe-Weimar. His father, Louis Schmeisser (1848 € 1917), was one of the best-known

weapons designers in Europe. The life and work of Hugo Schmeisser mostly took place in the weaponsmanufacturing city of Suhl, Prussian Saxony.

Before and during World War I

The submachine guns of Theodor Bergmann are closely connected with its name recognition and weapons

production in the time leading up to the First World War. Schmeisser also received his fundamental training in

weapons technology at Bergmann, where 7.63 mm and 9 mm machine gun rounds were being researched. He

remained in Suhl during World War I because of the crucial importance of his expertise in machine gun technology.

After two years in World War I, trench warfare had solidified on the Western Front. Using only carbines, raids at up

to 100 m from the trenches seemed nearly impossible. Artillery fire and bayonet attacks led to heavy losses on both

sides of the front. Between 1917 and 1918, Schmeisser developed an automatic weapon with a practical range of 200

m. These MP 18s soon became the basic armament of combat teams, which broke through the front in March 1918

during Operation Michael. These troops, exclusively equipped with MPs, hand grenades, and pistols, broke through

the front and went on a full offensive against their enemies. These offensive infantry tactics became the forerunners

to tank warfare during World War II. Thirty-five thousand MP 18s were produced by Bergmann alone.

Before and during World War II

Manufacturing regulations in the Treaty of Versailles (28 June 1919) forbade Germany from developing automatic

weapons. This signaled the end of a 30 year cooperation between the Schmeissers and Bergmann as production was

licensed to foreign weapons manufacturers. Schmeisser decided to continue work in weapons development. Togetherwith his brother Hans Schmeisser, he created the "Industriewerk Auhammer Koch und Co" (Industrial Auhammer

Koch and Company) in Suhl. Being at the end of World War I, he saw little business, and encumbered by the Treaty

of Versailles, the future of the company was unclear. Schmeisser defied the treaty, working to continue development

of banned weapons. It was at this time that the company began cooperating with Haenel Co. in Suhl, beginning a 20

year partnership. For the safety of his patents, Schmeisser created a second company under the name of "Brothers

Schmeisser" in the summer of 1922. This shrewd tactic was to prevent the loss of his patents if Auhammer went

bankrupt. In order to prevent bankruptcy on both sides, Auhammer and Haenel merged, with Haenel taking full

responsibility and liability for Auhammer business affairs. Schmeisser's attorneys who settled the deal became active

shareholders in the company. Before long, it was obvious that development of automatic weapons was unaffected by

the Treaty of Versailles. In 1928 Schmeisser released the MP-28, which was used extensively by the German police.Bayard signed an agreement with Schmeisser to manufacture and sell weapons to South Africa, China, Spain, and

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Hugo Schmeisser 2

Japan. It is notable that these same weapons were used during the Spanish Civil War only 10 years later. Despite

Schmeisser's success, the company often came within inches of bankruptcy.

As the Nazis rose to power during 1933, ten weapons development enterprises in Suhl and Zella-Mehlis merged

under the name of "United Suhl-Zella Mehlis Armament Makers". This central administration was used to coordinate

production with the army's needs. This allowed Schmeisser to make a very important business acquaintance, which

later developed to a friendship, with the aviator Ernst Udet, a deputy of Hermann G•ring under Germany's Luftwaffe.Schmeisser had a direct role in military production decisions, often influencing the decisions of Adolf Hitler and

G•ring. After 1935 Haenel experienced an enormous upswing in weapon production. Against the desires of many

engineers and technical designers, the Schmeisser brothers continued to enforce patent royalties and manage

company funds.

Berthold Geipel of ErMa designed the MP 36 using Vollmer's EMP. The chief designer, Heinrich Vollmer, revised

the basic construction of ErMa MP-36 and developed from it the well-known German submachine guns of the

Second World War, the MP-38 and the MP-40. 1.2 million pieces were manufactured for these weapons, and were

among the first weapons to be manufactured with die cast parts, metal stamping, and a complete machine-assembly.

This method revolutionized weapon production, allowing manufacture at an unprecedented speed. They became

internationally known as "Schmeisser MP"s, mainly due to the use of the straight magazine he had patented.

Schmeisser's most important work had been underway since 1938. This new automatic weapon, with a short

cartridge 7.92 mm, allowed for smart usage of resources and high production. At first named the Mkb 42, it later

received the designation of MP-43, and it became one of the first assault rifles. By 1943, 10,000 pieces had already

been manufactured for the front. For a short time, Hitler stopped production, as he was mysteriously opposed to the

new weapon. In 1944, after troop testing verified the new weapon's legitimacy, Hitler authorized mass production of 

the MP-43 as well as further research into a new MP-44. In April 1944 the new weapon received the designation of 

"Sturmgewehr 44" ("Assault Rifle 44", literally "Storm Rifle 44"). The Stg44 was arguably Schmeisser's most

important weapon development.

After World War II

On 3 April 1945 American troops began to occupy the city of Suhl. Weapons manufacturing was completely

prohibited during this time. Hugo Schmeisser and his brother Hans were interrogated for weeks by weapon expert

teams of the American and British secret services. At the end of June 1945, American troops evacuated Suhl and all

of Thuringia. One month later, the Red Army assumed control over the area, starting a civilian works project to

manufacture weapons for the Soviet Union. By August 1945, the Red Army had created 50 StG44s from existing

assembly parts, and had begun inspecting their design. 10,785 sheets of technical designs were confiscated by the

Soviets as part of their research. In October 1945, Schmeisser was forced to work for the Red Army and instructed to

continue development of new weapons.

Schmeisser's brilliance continued to impress the Red Army, and he, along with other weapons designers and theirfamilies, was relocated to the USSR. On 24 October 1946 the German specialists rode a train to Izhevsk in the

southern Ural Mountains, where a center of Russian firearms development was located. Schmeisser worked while in

the Red Army in Izhevsk until 1952 when he and other German specialists returned home to Germany. With short

notice, his stay in the Soviet Union was extended beyond that of the other weapon specialists by a half year. He

finally returned home on 9 June 1952. Schmeisser died on 12 September 1953, and was buried in Suhl.

While the name of Hugo Schmeisser is known internationally, it is unknown to most Germans. The 50th anniversary

of his death was honored by a ceremony held in Suhl, as he is recognized as one of the most important technical

designers of infantry weapons of the 20th century.

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Bibliography

‚ Moczarski, Norbert: Die ƒra der Gebr„der Schmeisser in der Waffenfabrik Fa. C.G. Haenel Suhl 1921-1948. Ein

weitgehend unbekanntes Kapitel Suhler Industriegeschichte. In: Hildburghausen: Jahrbuch des

Hennebergisch-Fr…nkischen Geschichtsvereins, S. 237 € 268. 1999.

‚ Gotz, Hans Dieter, German Military Rifles and Machine Pistols, 1871€ 1945, Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. West

Chester, Pennsylvania, 1990. OCLC 24416255 [1]

‚‚ G. de Vries, B.J. Martens: The MP 38, 40, 40/1 and 41 Submachine gun, Propaganda Photos Series, Volume 2,

Special Interest Publicaties BV, Arnhem, The Netherlands. First Edition 2001.

‚ Smith, W.H.B, Small arms of the world : the basic manual of military small arms, Harrisburg, Pa.: Stackpole

Books, 1955. OCLC 3773343 [2]

‚ G„nter Wollert, Reiner Lidschun, Wilfried Kopenhagen, Illustrierte Enzyklop€die der Sch•tzenwaffen aus aller 

Welt: Sch•tzenwaffen heute (1945-1985), Berlin: Milit…rverlag der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik, 1988.

OCLC 19630248 [3]

‚ Clinton Ezell, Edward, Small Arms of the World , Eleventh Edition, Arms & Armour Press, London, 1977.

‚‚ Deutsches Waffen Journal

‚‚ Visier‚‚ Schweizer Waffen Magazin

‚‚ Internationales Waffen Magazin

‚‚ Cibles

‚‚ AMI

‚‚ Gazette des Armes

‚‚ Action Guns

‚ Guns & Ammo

‚‚ American Handgunner

‚‚ SWAT Magazine

‚‚ Diana Armi

‚ Armi & Tiro

References

[1] http:/    /  www. worldcat.  org/  oclc/  24416255

[2] http:/    /  www. worldcat.  org/  oclc/  3773343

[3] http:/    /  www. worldcat.  org/  oclc/  19630248

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Article Sources and Contributors 4

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