Soviet Submachine Guns of World War II

PPD-40, PPSh-41 and PPS

Author: Chris McNab
Illustrators: Steve Noon Alan Gilliland

This 80 page paperback book is number 33 in the Weapons Series of books available from Osprey Publishing.

The submachine gun (SMG) came to be the embodiment of the Soviet fighting spirit during World War II. From 1943 the Red Army’s preference for close-quarters combat resulted in entire infantry units being equipped with nothing but SMGs. By deploying multiple SMG-armed companies and battalions, the Red Army was able to develop ferocious firepower in urban warfare and position assaults. By following this doctrine, the soldiers kept within the SMG’s effective range of about 150m to nullify the German skills in armored and maneuver warfare, artillery support and aerial bombardment.

This book features expert analysis and an array of specially commissioned full-color artwork. This engaging study explains the history, use and development of Soviet wartime SMGs in detail. It gives particular focus to the tactical applications of these weapons in combat, and how they compared to firearms wielded by their German opponents.

The Contents of this book are;

• Introduction
• Development: Guns for the masses
• Use: Firepower on the Eastern Front
• Impact: The SMGs and the new world order
• Conclusion
• Glossary
• Bibliography
• Index

With numerous first-hand combat accounts, and detailed technical explanations, this book is ideal for the wargamer, modeler, and the firearms enthusiast.