Louis Schmeisser
Encyclopedia
Louis Schmeisser was one of the best-known weapon technical designers of Europe
. He is associated with the development and production of the Bergmann machine guns used during the first World War
. Additionally, he designed the Dreyse 1907 Pistol
which saw use in both World Wars.
Schmeisser was born in Zöllnitz
, Thuringia
. He was the father of Hugo Schmeisser
(1884–1953), who was also a famous designer of infantry weapons, including several key componenets of the German
Wehrmacht
MP40
. His other son, Hans Schmeisser
, was also a well-known weapons designer.
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. He is associated with the development and production of the Bergmann machine guns used during the first World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Additionally, he designed the Dreyse 1907 Pistol
Dreyse M1907
The Dreyse Model 1907 is a semi-automatic pistol designed by Louis Schmeisser. The gun was named after Nikolaus von Dreyse, the designer of the Dreyse Needle Gun...
which saw use in both World Wars.
Schmeisser was born in Zöllnitz
Zöllnitz
Zöllnitz is a municipality in the district Saale-Holzland in Thuringia, Germany....
, Thuringia
Thuringia
The Free State of Thuringia is a state of Germany, located in the central part of the country.It has an area of and 2.29 million inhabitants, making it the sixth smallest by area and the fifth smallest by population of Germany's sixteen states....
. He was the father of Hugo Schmeisser
Hugo Schmeisser
Hugo Schmeisser was a German developer of infantry weapons in the 20th century.Schmeisser was born in Jena, Saxe-Weimar. His father, Louis Schmeisser , was one of the best-known weapons designers in Europe...
(1884–1953), who was also a famous designer of infantry weapons, including several key componenets of the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
MP40
MP40
The MP 38 and MP 40 , often called Schmeisser, were submachine guns developed in Nazi Germany and used extensively by paratroopers, tank crews, platoon and squad leaders, and other troops during World War II.-Development:The MP 40 descended from its predecessor, the MP 38, which was in turn based...
. His other son, Hans Schmeisser
Hans Schmeisser
Hans Schmeisser is a well-known weapons technical designer in Europe. The son of Louis Schmeisser, who was also a famous weapons technical designer, his notable achievement is his contribution to the construction of the German "weapon city" of Suhl....
, was also a well-known weapons designer.
- Norbert Moczarski, Zwischen Jena, Gaggenau, Suhl und Sömmerda - Leben und Wirken des Waffenkonstrukteurs Louis Schmeisser (1848-1917) In: Sömmerdaer Heimatheft. Beiträge zur Heimatkunde des Landkreises Sömmerda und der Unstrut-Finne-Region, Sömmerda 2000, S.82-93.