- Walther
- Gustloff
- Mauser
- Mauser HSc
- All 4
- No
The shortage of handguns had unforeseen consequences for the German Volkssturm (people’s storm), when the first units should get equipped in late 1944. Although the Gauleiter were authorized to receive weapons from armament factories in their districts, these weapons had to come from over-production or had to be made after an official Army contract had ran out. But this claim was only written on paper. The manufacturers had their hands full even to take care of all official orders. At the end of the day there was nothing left for the Volkssturm.
German pistol production lagged in 1944-45, several companies explored cheaper alternatives to the P38, including Walther’s “Volkspistole” (People’s Pistol) prototype. Walther’s design used a unique rotating barrel locking system, highly unusual for handguns at the time. It aimed to simplify manufacturing with stamped steel frames instead of milled, while still utilizing the existing P38 magazine for commonality. In parallel, Mauser experimented with both gas-delayed blowback and simple blowback actions, while Gustloff-Werke submitted a 9mm variant of an earlier failed design. However, none of the Volkspistole prototypes from Walther, Mauser, or Gustloff progressed beyond a handful of examples before Germany’s surrender. Though unconventional designs, the Volkspistole represented Germany’s last-ditch efforts to field a cost-effective service pistol as WWII resources dwindled. The prototypes remain obscure cultivation designs from the waning years of the conflict.
Gustloff
Gustloff-Werke design, they simply submitted a 9×19mm redesign of a previous (also failed) [simple blowback] prototype of Gustloff-Werke’s for the [7.65×21mm Parabellum]cartridge designed for the original [Luger pistol]. While it is rumored that five Gustloff-Werke examples were made, there is no primary source, and no currently remaining designs exist. Gustloff-Werke never designed a successful firearm (their only other major designs being the [Volkssturmgewehr]and the first pistol), and their only contribution to firearms mainly focused on concentration camp slave labor producing [Karabiner 98k].
Mauser
The “Volepistol Mauser” refers to the Mauser Volkspistole , a German WWII “People’s Pistol” prototype designed for cheap, mass production as a last-ditch weapon for home guards when resources were scarce. This experimental pistol, also made by Walther, used simple stamped metal parts, a basic blowback action (sometimes with a gas delay), and accepted P38 magazines to save costs, but never saw mass issue due to the war’s end.
Mauser HSc
| Cartridge | 9×19mm Parabellum |
|---|---|
| Barrels | Rifled (Mauser) |
| Smoothbore (Gustloff) | |
| Rotating barrel (Walther) | |
| Action | Blowback |
| Rate of fire | 116 rpm (Walther) (estimated) |
| 119 rpm (Mauser) (estimated) | |
| 109 rpm (Gustloff) (estimated) | |
| Muzzle velocity | 381 m/s (1,250 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 50 m (160 ft) |
| Maximum firing range | 75 m (246 ft) |
| Feed system | 8 round detachable box magazine |
| Sights | Iron sights |
The Volke pistol would serve alongside the Volksstrum weapons already in the game. Weapons made at the end of the war when time an resources were at there limits. weapons like the 3008 smg and vk2 and vk1-5 inferior versions or evolutions of existing weapons. often using parts like magazines from existing production weapons. Countries like Japan also cut corners near the end of the war to cover mounting losses in men material and production.
Gustloff-Werke’s for the [7.65×21mm Parabellum]cartridge designed for the original [Luger pistol]
These would make great weapons for events or premium squads alongside event and premium primaries. sidearms while not a critical weapon served many function for secondary and support soldiers. not every country could arm them with m1 carbine or even smgs. Pistols unlike primaries with knives and bayonets were often taken as trophies and used by officers as symbols of status. decorated pistols were awarded to officers and politician’s making them a crucial part of military culture.