The MP40, an icon of World War II, is often recognized by its distinctive rounded magazine well and simple wooden furniture. While its legacy as a symbol of the German war machine is well-documented, the specific timeline of its creation and evolution is less understood. The question of when was the MP40 made requires a look at a development process that began in the late 1930s and refined a revolutionary concept for mass production. This submachine gun was not the result of a single moment of invention but rather a calculated response to the tactical needs of a new kind of warfare, leading to a weapon that became synonymous with the Blitzkrieg.
From the EMP to the MP38: Setting the Stage
To understand when the MP40 was made, one must first look at the weapons that preceded it. The German military's interest in submachine guns dates back to World War I, but the interwar period saw significant experimentation. The first major step was the adoption of the MP18 in 1918, a weapon born from the brutal stalemate of trench warfare. Between the wars, the Reichswehr continued to develop these ideas, leading to the creation of the MP35. This weapon caught the attention of the German Army, prompting a request for a simpler and cheaper version. The result was the MP38, which entered service in 1938 and was the first of the new generation of stamped and folded metal submachine guns, designed by Heinrich Vollmer.
The Refinement: Introducing the MP40
While the MP38 was a leap forward, it still contained machined metal components that increased production time and cost. As the Wehrmacht prepared for the invasions of Poland and France, the demand for these weapons skyrocketed. This pressure led to the development of the MP40, which was designed to be a more efficient version of its predecessor. The simplification involved replacing complex machined parts with stamped and folded steel, and using synthetic materials like Bakelite for the handguard and buttplate. The weapon entered full-scale production in 1940, which is the specific year that answers the question of when was the MP40 made. The manufacturing process was so effective that by 1941, production of the MP40 had completely overtaken that of the MP38.
Key Production Timeline
The evolution from the MP38 to the MP40 was not an overnight switch but a gradual transition that defines the manufacturing period of the weapon.
1938: The MP38 enters production, proving the concept of a stamped submachine gun.
1939-1940: Engineers work on simplifying the MP38 design to reduce costs and production time.
1940: The MP40 is officially adopted and begins mass production, marking the core period when the weapon was made for wartime deployment.
1941-1945: Production continues and ramps up to meet the massive demands of the German war effort, with various minor variants appearing.
Design Philosophy and Tactical Use
The timing of the MP40's creation was directly linked to German military doctrine. The weapon was designed for close-quarters combat, providing mobile infantry and paratroopers with a high volume of fire. Its nickname "Schmeisser" is often used, although this is technically incorrect; Hugo Schmeisser was involved in the design of the MP18, not the MP40. The MP40's open-bolt firing mechanism and relatively slow rate of fire made it controllable in automatic fire, a crucial feature for the ambush tactics favored by German units. Because it was made starting in 1940, it became a ubiquitous symbol of the early war period, carried by elite forces during the invasions of the Low Countries and the Soviet Union.
