Heckler & Koch G3

Description

Like many other NATO countries, with the recent Soviet development of the AK47, the West German government was seeking an updated weapon to arm its Army (Bundeswehr) in the immediate post war years.

Understandably, given that Germany had initiated two global wars within the last 40 years, many nations were reluctant to had over weapons technology, particularly Belgium. As although the Bundeswehr had shown great interest in their new FN FAL, the Belgium’s declined to share design details with their recent invader/occupier.

Having been effectively given the cold shoulder by its new allies, the Bundeswehr looked to Spain. After the war, many of WW2 Germany’s top weapons designers had found themselves in hot demand. The unfortunate ones were snared by the Soviet Union, however some fortunately made to the West. One of these was weapons engineer Ludwig Vorgrimler, who post war worked in France on a new assault rifle that was based on the prototype German StG 45(M). The design was ultimately dropped by the French armed forces due to budget constraints, so in 1950 Ludwig moved to Spain, where he continued to modify his design.

After further development and subsequent trials, the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge firing G3 was created and entered general service with the Bundeswehr in 1959. Eventually, in 1969 full production rites would be grated to Heckler & Koch, who would go on to develop their own updated variants of the G3 as the years progressed.