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World War II Wiki

This page lists every infantry weapon used by each nation that fought in World War II

United States

During the war, the United States had greatly increased its military inventory of infantry weapons since the times of World War I to avoid repeating the same mistakes of relying on outsources weapons. Below is a list of all infantry weapons that were created and used by the United States. This does not include captured weaponry.

Knives and Bayonets Knives and Bayonets

Pistols Pistols (Allies)

Bolt-Action Rifles Bolt-Action Rifles (Allies)

Semi-Automatic Rifles Semi-Automatic Rifles (Allies)

ShotgunsShotguns

Submachine Guns Submachine Guns (Allies)

Light Machine Guns Light Machine Guns (Allies)

Heavy Machine Guns Heavy Machine Guns (Allies)

Anti-Tank Weapons Anti-Tank Weapons (Allies)

Grenades and Rifle Grenades Grenades (Allies)

Mortars Mortars

Flamethrowers Flamethrowers

Mines Mines

  • M1 AT Mine
  • M2 Mine
  • M7 AT Mine
  • M4 AT Mine

Miscellaneous Miscellaneous

  • OSS/SOE Crossbow

Germany

During World War II, Germany had developed a long line of various weapons to issue to their infantry units. The most prominent being the standard rifle and the machine gun which made up the majority of the weapons available to German infantry with submachine guns and anti-tank weapons supplementing them.

Knives and Bayonets Knives and Bayonets

  • S84/98 III bayonet
  • Mauser Ersatz bayonet
  • Mauser Export bayonet
  • VZ Knife bayonet
  • M36 flight and utility knife
  • HJ Fahrtenmesser Hiking Knife (Hitler Youth Knife)
  • SA Service Dagger
  • SS Officer's Dagger
  • RAD Hewer
  • Luftwaffe Flying Officer's Dagger
  • Luftwaffe Dagger 1937 version
  • Heer Officer's Dagger
  • Kreigsmarine Officer's Dirk

Pistols Pistols (Axis)

Bolt-Action Rifles Bolt-Action Rifles (Axis)

Semi-Automatic Rifles Semi-Automatic Rifles (Axis)

Submachine Guns Submachine Guns (Axis)

Light Machine Guns Light Machine Guns (Axis)

Heavy Machine Guns Heavy Machine Guns (Axis)

Anti-Tank Weapons Anti-Tank Weapons (Axis)

Grenades Grenades (Axis)

Mortars Mortars

Flamethrowers Flamethrowers

Mines Mines

Miscellaneous Miscellaneous

Soviet Union

The common trend among Soviet infantry weapons used during World War II is that they were reliable and uncomplicated to maintain in the field. While perhaps not as advanced as contemporary nations' weapons, they proved popular among troops of both sides.

Knives and Bayonets Knives and Bayonets

Pistols Pistols (Allies)

Bolt-Action Rifles Bolt-Action Rifles (Allies)

Semi-Automatic Rifles Semi-Automatic Rifles (Allies)

ShotgunsShotguns

Submachine Guns Submachine Guns (Allies)

Light Machine Guns Light Machine Guns (Allies)

Heavy Machine Guns Heavy Machine Guns (Allies)

Anti-Tank Weapons Anti-Tank Weapons (Allies)

Grenades Grenades (Allies)

Mortars Mortars

Flamethrowers Flamethrowers

Mines Mines

Great Britain

At the outbreak of war, Great Britain was largely under equipped in terms of the types of infantry weapons it equipped its armies with. Many weapons used by the British could be regarded as having World War I-fame, such as the Vickers Heavy Machine Gun or Lee Enfield Rifle. Others meanwhile were more modern such as the PIAT Anti-Tank Weapon or the Bren Light Machine Gun. All of which were used in unison to build the British arsenal.

Knives and Bayonets Knives and Bayonets

  • BC-41 Knife
  • Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife

Pistols Pistols (Allies)

Bolt-Action Rifles Bolt-Action Rifles (Allies)

Submachine Guns Submachine Guns (Allies)

Light Machine Guns Light Machine Guns (Allies)

Heavy Machine Guns Heavy Machine Guns (Allies)

Anti-Tank Weapons Anti-Tank Weapons (Allies)

Grenades Grenades (Allies)

Mortars Mortars

Flamethrowers Flamethrowers

Mines Mines

  • AT Mine G.S. Mk II
  • AT Mine E.P. Mk II
  • AP Shrapnel Mine Mk I
  • AP Mine No. 3
  • Flame Fougasse

Italy

Generally remembered by history as a poor fighting force, Italian infantry were in fact regarded by their German allies as excellent soldiers, however with poor officers and outdated equipment. Regardless, when under the command of established German officers, Italian formations managed to make their equipment work for them and even be effective in combat.

Knives and Bayonets Knives and Bayonets

  • M91/38 folding bayonet
  • M91/38 bayonet

Pistols Pistols (Axis)

  • Beretta M1915
  • Beretta M1923
  • Beretta M1931
  • Beretta M1935
  • Beretta M1934
  • Glisenti M1910
  • Rast & Gasser M1898

Bolt-Action Rifles Bolt-Action Rifles (Axis)

Semi-Automatic Rifles Semi-Automatic Rifles (Axis)

  • Fucile Armaguerra M39

Submachine Guns Submachine Guns (Axis)

  • Beretta M38
  • FNAB-43
  • TZ-45
  • OVP
  • MAB 38

Light Machine Guns Light Machine Guns (Axis)

Heavy Machine Guns Heavy Machine Guns (Axis)

Anti-Tank Weapons Anti-Tank Weapons (Axis)

  • Solothurn S-18/100 (Not from Italy)
  • Fucile Controcarro 35(P)
  • Panzerfaust ('From Germany)

Grenades Grenades (Axis)

Mortars Mortars

  • Brixia M35
  • Mortaio da 81/14 M35

Flamethrowers Flamethrowers

  • Lanciafiamme Model 35
  • Lanciafiamme Model 41
  • Lanciafiamme Model 41 d'assalto

France

French weapons in the opening stages of World War II were decently modern in design, though naturally did not get a chance to develop in change with time due to France's early capture by Germany. Many of weapons used by the Free French thus came from British and American stocks.

Pistols Pistols (Allies)

  • MAB D
  • Star Model 14
  • MAC M1935S
  • Model 1874

Bolt-Action Rifles Bolt-Action Rifles (Allies)

  • MAS-36
  • Fusil M1916
  • M1886/R93
  • Lebel M1886
  • Fusil M1917

Submachine Guns Submachine Guns (Allies)

Light Machine Guns Light Machine Guns (Allies)

  • FM 24/29
  • Darne M1933
  • Bren LMG (From Great Britain)

Heavy Machine Guns Heavy Machine Guns (Allies)

  • Reibel MAC1935
  • MAC 1934
  • Hotchkiss M1914
  • St. Étienne Mle 1907
  • Hotchkiss M1929

Grenades Grenades (Allies)

  • F1 Grenade

Mortars Mortars

  • Brandt Mle 1935
  • Brandt Mle 27/31

Mines Mines

  • Mle 1939

Japan

Contrary to popular perception, most Japanese infantry weapons used during World War II were of good quality and fairly reliable. It was only in the last years of the war that the American strategic bombing campaign had damaged Japanese industry enough to lower quality. While the Japanese generally lacked submachine guns and more modern designs, their infantry units were no less equipped than any other nation's fighting forces.

Knives and Bayonets Knives and Bayonets

Pistols Pistols (Axis)

Bolt-Action Rifles Bolt-Action Rifles (Axis)

Submachine Guns Submachine Guns (Axis)

Light Machine Guns Light Machine Guns (Axis)

Heavy Machine Guns Heavy Machine Guns (Axis)

Anti-Tank Weapons Anti-Tank Weapons (Axis)

Grenades Grenades (Axis)

Mortars Mortars

Flamethrowers Flamethrowers

Mines Mines

Poland

Like France, Poland fielded numerous examples of modern weaponry in its stores, only to be put into German service following invasion. However, it is also notable that Polish engineers continued to work on new designs for underground use, alongside weapons created by other countries.

Knives and Bayonets Knives and Bayonets

  • Bayonet Bagnet 28

Pistols Pistols (Allies)

Bolt-Action Rifles Bolt-Action Rifles (Allies)

Semi-Automatic Rifles Semi-Automatic Rifles (Allies)

  • Karabin wz.38M

Submachine Guns Submachine Guns (Allies)

  • Błyskawica
  • KIS
  • wz. 39 Mors
  • Bechowiec-1
  • Nagant wz. 30
  • Sten Mk. II (From Great Britain)
  • PPD-40 (From Soviet Union)

Light Machine Guns Light Machine Guns (Allies)

  • Browning wz. 1928

Heavy Machine Guns Heavy Machine Guns (Allies)

  • Ckm wz. 30

Anti-Tank Weapons Anti-Tank Weapons (Allies)

Grenades Grenades (Axis)

  • Granatnik wz. 36
  • Filipinka ET wz.40
  • Sidolówka R wz.42
  • ET-38 ATG
  • Granat zaczepny wz.24
  • R wz. 42 Sidolówka

Flamethrowers Flamethrowers

  • K Pattern flamethrower

Hungary

Hungarian infantry operated with a variety of native weaponry supplemented by several German designs. Generally, Hungarian-made weapons were reliable in the harsh conditions of the Eastern Front and were well liked by their operators.

Pistols Pistols (Axis)

  • FÉG 37M
  • FÉG 29M
  • 20M flare pistol
  • 42M flare pistol
  • 43M flare pistol

Bolt-Action Rifles Bolt-Action Rifles (Axis)

  • FÉG 35M
  • Mannlicher 31M
  • Mannlicher M1895

Submachine Guns Submachine Guns (Axis)

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