The Gewehr 88 and The “Jewish Musket” — A racist conspiracy in German arms making.
The Gewehr 88 and The “Jewish Musket” — A racist conspiracy in German arms making.In 1886 the French adopted the Lebel rifle, which was a bolt action repeating rifle which fired a high velocity smokeless powder cartridge. The Germans, France’s great rival during the later half of the 19th century, decided they needed to catch up in arms technology. In response the German Army’s Rifle Testing Commission developed the Gewehr Model 1888 Commission Rifle, a bolt action repeater which also used a high velocity smokeless powder cartridge.In the rush to develop and issue the new rifles to the German Army, some of the first production Commission Rifles had some flaws, particularly in its ammunition. The German press, who were quick to blame all of Germany’s problems on the Jews, reported that the problems were the result of a conspiracy between Jewish owned munitions factories. In particular was the Ludwig Loewe company, which produced the rifles, and the manufacturer of the smokeless powder. The press derisively called the Gew 88 the “Judenflinte” or Jewish musket. This myth continued despite the fact that ¾ of all Gew 88’s were produced by non-Jewish owned factories. Eventually the problems of the Gewehr 88 would be worked out, making it a reliable and accurate service arm. It served the Germany Army until 1915. -- source link
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