The Karabiner 98k (Kar98k) was the standard service rifle of the German Wehrmacht during World War II. It was a shortened and lightened version of the Karabiner 98b, which had been introduced in 1909. The Kar98k was chambered for the 7.92×57mm Mauser cartridge and had a 5-round internal magazine. It was widely considered to be one of the best bolt-action rifles of the war.
* Sturmgewehr 44
The Sturmgewehr 44 (StG44) was the first successful assault rifle, combining the firepower of a submachine gun with the accuracy and range of a rifle. It was developed by German arms designer Hugo Schmeisser during the closing months of World War II and was rushed into service in late 1944. The StG44 fired a 7.92×33mm Kurz cartridge and had a 30-round magazine. It was highly effective in combat, but was too late to have a significant impact on the war.
* Maschinenkarabiner 42
The Maschinenkarabiner 42 (MKb42) was the first weapon to be designated as an assault rifle. It was developed by Hugo Schmeisser in collaboration with the German military in the early 1940s. The MKb42 fired a 7.92×33mm Kurz cartridge and had a 30-round magazine. It was never officially adopted by the Wehrmacht, but it served as the basis for the StG44.
* Volkssturmgewehr
The Volkssturmgewehr (VG 1-5) was a single-shot rifle that was produced in large numbers by the German home guard (Volkssturm) in the final months of World War II. It was based on the Mauser 98 action and fired a 7.92×57mm Mauser cartridge. The VG 1-5 was crudely made and inaccurate, but it was all that was available to many Volkssturm units.
