StG

StG is an abbreviation of Sturmgewehr, a German term meaning assault rifle. In military usage, it designates a class of infantry rifles that combine features of rifles and submachine guns, notably the use of an intermediate cartridge and select-fire capability. The name is most closely associated with the Sturmgewehr 44, the first widely produced firearm of this type.

Development occurred in Nazi Germany during World War II. The weapon began as the MP 43 and MP 44 project designs and was officially designated StG 44 by the Wehrmacht in 1944. Its production, field use, and design philosophy influenced postwar small-arm development and the broader concept of the assault rifle.

Technical characteristics commonly cited include the 7.92×33mm Kurz intermediate cartridge and a detachable box magazine, typically 30 rounds, with options for semi-automatic or fully automatic fire. Its ergonomics, compact size, and controllability were intended to improve performance in typical infantry engagements compared with conventional rifles.

After World War II, the assault rifle concept permeated global arms development. The StG name extended to related German prototypes such as the StG 45(M), and the term StG is often used by historians to refer to the wider family of weapons that evolved from the StG 44 concept.