The Hungarian Danuvia 35M/43M Submachine Gun,One of the lesser known and unique submachine guns of t

The Hungarian Danuvia 35M/43M Submachine Gun,One of the lesser known and unique submachine guns of the World War II was the Danuvia series created by Hungary in the 1930’s.  At the beginning of World War II, Hungary was an Axis power allied with Germany and Italy. As a result, the original first model, the 35M, was designed after the Italian Beretta Model 38/42.  However the 35M differed in two main ways.  First, the 35M was exceptionally large for a submachine gun.  This was because unlike many German and Italian submachine guns of the time, the 35M was not chambered for the 9mm Luger (9X19mm) cartridge, but instead chambered for the large and powerful 9mm Mauser Export (9X25mm) cartridge.  Thus the 35M was closer in function to a carbine or light rifle than a submachine gun.  Utilizing a 40 round detachable magazine, the 35M could fire a heavy spray of powerful lead at a rate of 750 rounds per minute.  The 35M was equipped with a traditional solid wooden stock much like Beretta’s submachine guns.  In 1943, the design was updated with a metal folding stock and wooden pistol grip inspired by the German MP-40 design.  The new design was designated the Danuvia 43M.  Another model, with a folding wooden stock was also produced called the 35M/A.During World War II, the Danuvia design was very popular among Hungarian soldiers.  Perhaps its strongest attribute was its toughness, being able to fire despite being caked in mud and exposed to subzero temperatures.  This was fortunate since Hungarian forces would play a major role in the Eastern Front against the Soviet Union, often suffering heavy casualties.  One downside of the Danuvia design was its ammunition, which was rare and only produced by a few factories in Germany.By the final weeks of the war, Hungary was almost completely occupied by the Soviet Red Army.  After the war, the Kingdom of Hungary was reorganized into a communist state, and forced to become a Soviet satellite during the Cold War.  The Danuvia 35M and 43M continued to be used by the Hungarian Army up to the 1950’s, but was eventually phased and replaced with the Russian PPPSh-41.  Between 1935 and 1945, 8,000 - 10,000 Danuvia model submachine guns were produced. -- source link

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