Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! As Germany’s war prospects dimmed in 1945, the Nazi party desperately sought simple weapons to arm the last-ditch Volkssturm militia. One unique design was the Volkssturmgewehr Gustloff carbine, commonly known as the VG1-5 though that nomenclature was incorrect. Manufactured primarily from crudely stamped and welded steel components, the VG1-5 utilized an unusual gas-delayed blowback system more typical of pistols. Four ports near the muzzle vented gas from the 8mm Kurz cartridge into a chamber, delaying rearward opening of the bolt and negating a conventional locked breech. While clever, the mechanism provided harsh recoil and the rifle’s rough construction made it unpleasant to shoot. Only around 10,000 were produced before Germany’s surrender, too late to significantly impact the war effort.
“Introduced late in the war, the Volksturmgewehr 1.5 was part of a wave of “Volks” weapons intended as last ditch weapons that could be made at high speed with limited resources. Designed to require a minimum of detailed machining, the 1.5 uses stamped and welded steel for many parts, with flat board forearm panels and stock, and configured to accept the same magazines as the MP44/Sturmgewehr. Operation is by retarded blowback principles, with a set of vents near the muzzle directing gas into the combination barrel sleeve and bolt carrier, allowing the use of rifle-strength ammunition without elaborate locking mechanisms at the breech. Blade front and fixed notch rear sights mounted on the barrel sleeve, with a sheet metal cover at the rear, two-piece forearm, one-piece stock with “Th8166″ stamped on the side, and a canvas sling. Properly, no Waffenamt proofs are present; chiefly intended for issue to civilian auxiliaries and hastily organized Volksturm units, the VG1.5 was never subjected to formal military inspection. Two extra magazines are included.”
Lot 311: Late World War II Gustloff VG1.5 Semi-Automatic Rifle – Rare Late World War II Gustloff VG1.5 Volksturmgewehr Semi-Automatic Rifle with Sling and Extra Magazines. (n.d.-f). Rock Island Auction Company. photograph. Retrieved May 7, 2024, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/88/311/late-world-war-ii-gustloff-vg15-semiautomatic-rifle.
