Geckeler, Alexander Waffen-Anatomie. Das Mauser Sturmgewehr 45 (Gerät 06H)

The development of one of the most advanced German weapons of the Second World War. At a time of massive resource shortages, Mauser in Oberndorf developed a self-loading rifle that was radically different in design from previous models. The 06H dispensed with the complex gas pressure system of the Sturmgewehr 44 and instead used a roller-operated bolt action a simplified, robust solution with considerable advantages for series production. The weapon marked another turning point in German arms production: a reduction in components, the use of available steels, a simplified housing made of pressed sheet metal and a completely new breech system made the Gerät 06H a prime example of engineering innovation under wartime conditions. The book documents this development in eight chapters. It describes the role of the Mauser company in the German armaments system, the organisation of weapons procurement and the development of the Gerät 06H from early precursors to series production. One chapter is devoted in detail to the technical design and operating principle of the roller bolt. The extensive section of drawings, containing all the surviving design plans, forms the core of the analysis supplemented by dimensions, materials and tolerances. Other sections deal with manufacturing methods, technical evaluation and the history of its impact after 1945. The post-war careers of the designers involved, in particular their role at CETME and Heckler & Koch, demonstrate the lasting significance of the Gerät 06H for later weapon developments such as the G 3 of the German Armed Forces. Numerous illustrations, drawings and sources supplement the presentation. The work is aimed at specialist historians, weapons technicians, engineers and collectors with an interest in historical military technology. It is based on original Mauser documents and places particular emphasis on technical precision and historical classification.