- I think you're aware that these weapons didn't exist 1939, not even 1940 and that the number (42 or 44) refers to the year in which they were first introduced (I think). Mind you, I am certainly not an expert!

The MG 42 was, and still is, a remarkable light infantry machine-gun with the standard German calibre of 7,92 mm (which certainly was changed in other countries after WW II). All other usual light machine-guns (French, British, etc.) had a rate of fire of 1,200 rounds per minute (20 per second) which probably was determined by some physical or technical factor, for otherwise various countries would have had various rates of fire. The Soviet ShKAS (7,62 mm), though, designed for aircraft, had a rof of 1,800. The MG 42's rof was 1,500 (25 per second), which was a sensation for infantry weapons at the time and made it very effective. It had been specially designed for simple production, replacing all machining of parts (cutting, drilling...), if possible, with stamped steel-sheet parts. Their production is much more simple and cheap. Of course not the barrel and the mechanical parts (breech etc.). After WW II the MG 42 was copied virtually all over the world. Even today we can often see the typical muzzle and barrel radiator of the MG 42 on TV pictures from Iraq, Afghanistan etc. Ex-Wehrmacht MG 42s were still being used for a very long time after WW II in all countries where Wehrmacht units were stationed.

I understand the Sturmgewehr 44 was the result of complaints by German soldiers having to perform the actual, very hard fighting against the Red Army, that the "Rotarmisten", the red soldiers, were equipped with assault rifles whereas they had to contend with their old carbines etc. I think it was a good weapon but came somewhat too late. The Soviet Kalashnikov was almost ready for WW II but not quite.

It has to be noted that most Soviet weapons, if not (almost) all of them, were better than their German counterparts, probably with the exception of the universal 88. The Soviet infantry sub-machine-gun was far better and much more reliable than the German one, which didn't take kindly to mud etc., and German soldiers always tried to lay their hands on one. The standard Soviet Army gun, the 76,2 mm field gun, was far better than anything the German army had got. Its shell had supersonic velocity, so that the German "Landser" (soldiers) at the receiving end heard its explosion first, then the firing noise and called this gun "Ratschbumm" (pronounce "Ratshboom"), a nickname emulating both noises which followed one another. The German 37 mm antitank-gun was useless against French and Soviet tanks (not against infantry, trucks, buildings etc.), so that the angry German gunners called it "Heeresanklopfgerät", "Army Device for Knocking at Doors" - so harmless it was against armour. The "Heer" (Army) was compelled to have a better antitank-gun designed and produced (47 or 50 mm I think) for the very heavy and very expensive 88 couldn't be everywhere. When the Red Army engaged T-34 tanks already 1941 - and they were almost perfect - German soldiers were horrified, sometimes in despair. Nothing seemed to be able to stop these monsters except the 88 and gallant individual attacks by isolated infantrymen with explosives, mines etc. Only very poor Soviet strategy and tactics saved the Germans already 1941 (not unlike what happened in France 1940, the French having superior weapons, in particular tanks, and the Germans (generals) being much more clever).

Hitler and Göring made a mistake when considering the Russians "illiterates".

All right, I am leaving the field of airpower - sorry! But as you know "even" the USSR had got quite a few good combat AC types. Too bad they served mainly Stalin and the other blood-thirsty lunatics.