Sturmpistole

Service history
Used by	Nazi Germany, Free French forces, PLO, various third world countries

Sturmpistole.

The Sturmpistole (Assault-Pistol) was an attempt by Nazi Germany during World War II to create an anti-tank weapon which can be used by any infantryman. It consisted of a modified flare gun which would fire a variety of grenades, including a 0.25 ounce shaped charge warhead. The idea was not pursued wholeheartedly due to its total ineffectiveness against even the lightest tankettes of its era, and took second stage to the then current anti-tank rifles and later weapon developments, such as the Panzerschreck.

References

• Robert A. Slayton, Arms of Destruction: Ranking the World's Best Land Weapons of WWII, Citadel Press, New York: Kensington Publishing Corp., ISBN 0-8065-2582-7
• Attack and assault guns of the Second World War (in Russian)
• Kampfpistole/Sturmpistole in Variations on the theme of detachable buttstocks (in Russian)
• 2.7 cm Leuchtpistole 38, and Kampfpistole Sturmpistole