For many decades this question haunts those, who got into the firearms research. At the first glance, these weapons do have visible similarities. And on top of that, it is a proven fact, that the designer of STG-44, Hugo Schmeisser, was indeed working in the Soviet Union. To really understand the question, we need to dive deep in the post-war 1940s. This article is a part of a big list, which contains all Soviet weapons of the Cold War.
How did Hugo Shmeisser end up in the Soviet Union?
Following World War II, German weapons designer Hugo Schmeisser found himself in the Soviet Union as part of a massive initiative by the Soviet leadership to exploit German technology and know-how, particularly in the area of weapons. This was a component of a larger strategy used by the Soviet Union and the Allies to try and acquire German engineers' and scientists' expertise after Germany was defeated.
Schmeisser and other highly skilled German gun designers were among the superior technology and military know-how that the Soviet Union was eager to acquire.Known for his contributions to the MP-18 and the world's first assault rifle (the StG-44, or Sturmgewehr 44), Schmeisser was one of Germany's most significant weapon designers. The StG-44 was a breakthrough weapon whose innovative intermediate cartridge would subsequently influence the creation of the AK-47 piqued the interest of the Soviets.
The Soviet Union launched "Operation Osoaviakhim" in October 1946, a massive attempt to forcefully relocate more than 2,000 German technicians, engineers, and scientists to the Soviet Union. It included Schmeisser among those taken. Schmeisser was not a senior Nazi officer, but his knowledge of small guns design made him an invaluable resource. After being moved, Schmeisser worked on Soviet weapons projects in Izhevsk, a well-known arms industrial center in the Soviet Union. It is thought that Schmeisser's work influenced the development of the AK-47. He and other German engineers contributed their understanding of small arms design. The extent to which Schmeisser's work on the StG-44 influenced the design of the AK-47 is still up for question, even though Mikhail Kalashnikov is recognized as the weapon's principal designer.
When was the first AK-47 produced?
As part of the Soviet Union's plan to create a new automatic rifle for its armed forces that would be standard issue, the first prototype of the AK-46 rifle was built in 1946. After World War II, this was a crucial time for the Soviet Union as they attempted to update their armaments. Motivated by his experiences during the war, teenage tank technician Mikhail Kalashnikov began honing his abilities and creating weaponry in the early 1940s. His proposals, which included the AK-46, were entered into a government competition to develop an automatic rifle that was durable, dependable, and simple to assemble.
While undergoing testing, the AK-46 had potential, it also had certain drawbacks. It was put through extensive testing with rival concepts created by other Soviet engineers. These tests identified areas that required improvement, especially with regard to manufacturing ease and reliability. Taking this criticism to heart, Kalashnikov started adjusting his design, which resulted in the creation of the AK-47. It all started with the AK-46's initial manufacture and trials in 1946, and the AK-47's final modifications would lead to one of the most well-known and often used rifles in history.
Did Hugo Schmeisser help Kalashnikov?
There has been much discussion over the years regarding whether or not Hugo Schmeisser, the German weapon designer responsible for the MP-43/44 (Sturmgewehr 44), assisted Mikhail Kalashnikov in creating the AK-47. Taking part in the Soviet Union's attempt to use German expertise in a number of areas, including weapons technology, Schmeisser was a well-known figure in German military design during World War II. From 1946 until his return to Germany in the middle of the 1950s, Schmeisser was detained in Izhevsk with other German engineers and weapons specialists.
Although Schmeisser was undoubtedly in the Soviet Union when Kalashnikov was creating the AK-47, there is no hard proof that Schmeisser was involved in the project directly or contributed in any way. Throughout, Kalashnikov insisted that he never received assistance from Schmeisser or any other German engineers. While he might have been aware of foreign designs, like as the German Sturmgewehr 44, he insisted that the AK-47 was based entirely on his own designs and experience, and that its mechanics and design philosophy were fundamentally different.
As a specialist in automatic weapons, Schmeisser may have had some wider impact on Soviet gun development, although the Sturmgewehr 44's tilting bolt system was different from the AK-47's gas-operated rotating bolt system and other features. While in the Soviet Union, Schmeisser's main focus was on technical problems and the design of other weapons; he is not officially recognized as having helped Kalashnikov.
Therefore, even though Schmeisser was present in the Soviet Union when the AK-47 was being developed, there isn't enough proof to say that he assisted Kalashnikov directly. The two are still unidentified, and Kalashnikov is still acknowledged as the only person who invented the AK-47.
Summary
It is very unlikely that Hugo Schmeisser had any significant impact on the design of the AK-47 rifle. He was even stationed in a completely different facility - Izhmash plant, rather than Kovrov, where Kalashnikov was working at the time.
Having said all that, it is a stated fact, that Kalashnikov did have access to big variety of small arms, including STG-44, so he could, if wanted, use some of the ideas. But this can not be called copying in any way.
Regarding Hugo Schmeisser, it is possible that he participated in further improvement of the AK rifle and especially its mas production. It is also often stated that he has helped a lot in making stamping process possible, which is unlikely, since it was the very first AK type which was stamped, and then for the whole decade only milled once were produced.
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