MP 44 Sub-machine Pistol Factory Manual.

The MP 44 was developed in the Second World War by Germany to replace both the rifle
and the machine pistol, (sub-machine gun); a new short cartridge of standard rifle calibre
was developed for the gun.

The theory was that the maximum engagement range for infantry in the European and Western
Russian theatres was only 800 metres, the standard rifle cartridge with a maximum range of
2400 metres was considered too powerful and would be restricted to machine guns.

At first Hitler opposed the introduction of this new weapon, development had to be carried
on in secret with the designation "Machine pistol". The trial batches performed so well in
Russia that Hitler changed his mind and even demanded a designation change to the Wagnerian
"Sturmgewehr", literally "assault rifle". The name has passed into history as the designation
for all similar kinds of rifle.

Interesting Diagrams and Illustrations with 48 pages (German Text).