Correct the MP40 was not a Schmeisser. I dislike articles that make assumptions. I believe the allies “feared” the 9mm MP40 slightly less that the axis “feared” the variants of the .45 cal. Thompson. In battle any projectile is to be feared.
One item that did engender respect was the German MP42 MG with its high rate of fire. The allies soon developed tactics to contend with it. Another respected weapon was ghe M37/38 88mm artillery piece originally developed ss thean anti-aircraft cannon. The German infantry really disliked the M16 halftrack with its quad 50s. They disliked the Browning .50 MG and it proliferation within the American ground forces.
The Germans rated Ma Deuce as THE most effective weapon in the American arsenal.
I got to fire one of those in 1954 on a Ft. Hood firing range. It was considered AAA back then even after it was demonstrated to be a perfect anti-personell weapon.
Wear hearing aids today. {:-)
A TRUE Schmeisser would be the STG 44. The Sturmgewehr44 (or originally the MP 43) was designed by Hugo Schmeisser. It was named Sturmgewehr by Hitler himself. It means Assault Rifle and it was the first of its kind. Kalashnikov based much of his assault weapon on the stg44.
It’s caliber being 7.92×33mm Kurz, (aka. 8mm Kurz or Pistolenpatrone 43)
A shortened 8mm Mauser round way more powerful than the 9mm of MP 38/40 fame.
That must have been the one my brother told me about.
He said it sounded like a zipper being pulled open..