Discussion Question: Did the M-1 Carbine Inspire the German Assault Rifles?
I have always considered the M-1 Carbine to be the inspiration for the German Assault Rifles like the STG-44.
Here is my reasoning:
Before World War II German Espionage in the U.S. was very active. One thing we have learned since the war is that very early on (like before the war) the Germans had learned all of the secrets of the then "Top Secret" Norden Bomb Sight, even though for security the three different parts of it were manufactured in three different plants under "Top Secret" restrictions.
That being said, there was nothing "Top Secret" about the M-1 Carbine program as the Ordnance Department publicly advertised for manufacturers to submit samples of their own carbine designs for testing at Aberdeen.
After the Winchester designed M-1 Carbine was adopted, the Ordnance Department contracted with different manufacturers to produce the little carbine.This had to raise additional interest of the Germans because the emphasis the Ordnance Department was putting on getting the carbine mass produced by a variety of manufacturers.
After we invaded North Africa, I am sure the Germans captured enough M-1 Carbines and ammo to send samples back to Germany for a full series of tests.
My theory is that the Krauts looked at the M-1 Carbine and then improved on it with their Assault Rifles, i.e., the Germans developed a more powerful cartridge, the 7.92 Kurtz and "upped" the firepower by making their Assault Rifles "Selective Fire" rather than just semi-automatic like the M-1 Carbine.
The M-1 Carbine shares several characteristics with ALL military Assault Rifles ever developed but the most striking one is the use of an "Intermediate Power Cartridge" the M-1 Carbine was the FIRST to do that.
My understanding is that there are tons of captured World War II German documents in the National Archives. Hopefully, one day, a researcher will find the reports of the German Ordnance tests of the M-1 Carbine and and the role it played in inspiring the development of the German Assault Rifles.
So what do you think? Did the M-1 Carbine "Inspire" the development and manufacture of German Assault Rifles?