peashooter85:The Mystery of the Potsdam Gerat Sten Gun,The Sten submachine gun was one of the most p
peashooter85:The Mystery of the Potsdam Gerat Sten Gun,The Sten submachine gun was one of the most popular and prolific submachine guns in Western Europe during World War II. Popularly used by the British and Commonwealth Nations during the war, the design was simple and easy to produce. In fact it was so simple that resistance groups all over Europe produced their own from scrap metal in hidden workshops, garages, and attics. The Sten was so popular that even the Germans created their own model, called the MP 3008.During the last days of World War II, Allied forces were surprised to find thousands of un-issued Sten Mark II submachine guns with British markings in storage at various German arms depots. Upon inspection, the weapons appeared to be British made Sten submachine guns. However, with careful scrutiny, it was apparent that the weapons were German made, not British. Produced by Mauser Works, these Sten Mark II submachine guns were an exact copy of British manufactured Sten’s, with identical parts and even British proof markings and serial numbers. Called the “Potsdam Gerat”, the fake Sten guns are given away by minor details such as the use of a different kind of finishing method, different types of welds, their barrels had rifling twist patterns used on German MP-40 submachine guns but not on Stens, repeat serial numbers, and construction from a different grade of carbon steel than that which was used to produce real Stens. Altogether, around 28,000 Potsdam Gerat Sten copies were produced by Germany, however there is very little paperwork beyond a contract with Mauser to produce the weapons. As a result, the exact purpose of these “faux” Sten submachine guns remains unknown. -- source link
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