Brontekst bekijken van Erma EMP

{{Short description|German submachine gun}}
{{about-distinguish-text|the Erma submachine gun|the Bergmann [[MP35]] or the Austrian [[MP 34]]}}
{{Infobox weapon
| name               = EMP
| image              = Mauser ERMA Muzeum Powstania Warszawskiego 2014-gradient.jpg
| image_size         = 300
| caption            = An EMP displayed in [[Warsaw Uprising Museum]]
| origin             = Germany
| type               = [[Submachine gun]]
<!-- Type selection -->
| is_ranged          = YES
<!-- Service history -->
| service            =1931–1958
| used_by            = See ''[[#Users|Users]]''
| wars               = {{ubl|[[Chaco War]]|[[Spanish Civil War]]|[[Second Sino-Japanese War]]|[[World War II]]|[[Ifni War]]}}
<!-- Production history -->
| designer           = 
| design_date        =1930
| manufacturer       = Erma Werke
| unit_cost          =
| production_date    =1931–1938
| number             =Approx.10,000
| variants           =
<!-- General specifications -->
| spec_label         =
| weight             = {{convert|4|kg|lboz|abbr=on}}
| length             = {{convert|95|cm|abbr=on}}
| part_length        = {{convert|32|cm|abbr=on}}
<!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->
| cartridge          = [[9×19mm Parabellum]], [[7.63×25mm Mauser]], [[9×23mm Largo]], [[7.65×21mm Parabellum]]{{sfn|Smith|1969|pp=153m³154}}
| cartridge_weight   =
| caliber            = 9 mm
| barrels            =
| action             = Blowback
| rate               = 550 rpm
| velocity           = {{convert|380| m/s|abbr=on}}
| range              = {{convert|150|m|abbr=on}}
| max_range          = {{convert|250|m|abbr=on}}
| feed               = 32-round magazine
| sights             = Iron
}}
The German submachine gun '''EMP''' (''Erma Maschinenpistole'') also known as '''MPE''' (''Maschinenpistole Erma'') was produced by the [[Erma Werke|Erma]] factory, and was based on designs acquired from [[Heinrich Vollmer]]. The gun was produced from 1931 to 1938 in roughly 10,000 exemplars (in three main variants) and exported to Spain, Mexico, China and [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]], but also used domestically by the SS. It was produced under license in Spain by the arsenal of [[A Coruña]] under the designation M41/44.

== History ==
In the early 1920s, Vollmer started to develop his own sub-machineguns. His early models, named VPG, VPGa, VPF and VMP1925 were fairly similar to the MP18. The VMP1925 had a wooden handgrip and was fed by a 25-round drum magazine. The VMP1925 was secretly tested by the [[Reichswehr]], along with competing designs from Schmeisser and Rheinmetall. (The Reichswehr was prohibited by the [[Versailles Treaty]] from having sub-machine guns in service, although the German police were allowed to carry a small number.) Secret funding was given to Vollmer to continue development, and this resulted in the VMP1926, which mostly differed from its predecessor by the removal of the [[cooling jacket]]. A subsequent development was the VMP1928, which introduced a 32-round box magazine sticking from the left side. The final development of this series was the VMP1930. (It can also be seen at the WTS.) This model introduced a substantive innovation—a telescoping main spring assembly, which made the gun more reliable and easier to assemble and disassemble in the field. Vollemer applied for a patent for his innovation in 1930 and it was granted in 1933 as DRP# 580620. His company, Vollmer Werke, produced however only about 400 of these, and most were sold to Bulgaria. In late 1930, the Reichswehr stopped supporting Vollmer financially; consequently he sold the rights to all his designs to the company known as [[Erma Werke]] (which is an abbreviation for [[Erfurt]]er Maschinenfabrik, Berthold Geipel GmbH).<ref name="VriesMartens">{{cite book|author=G. de Vries, B.J. Martens|title=The MP 38, 40, 40/1 and 41 Submachine gun|series=Propaganda Photos|volume=2|publisher=Special Interest Publicaties BV|location=Arnhem|year=2001|isbn=90-805583-2-X|pages=8–13}}</ref>

The submachine guns that Erma started to sell in 1932 under the names EMP (Erma Maschinenpistole) or MPE (Maschinenpistole Erma) was basically just the VMP1930 with the cooling jacket restored. Although there were several variants with varying barrel lengths and sights made to customers' specifications, roughly three main variants were produced: one with a 30&nbsp;cm barrel, tangent rear sight and [[bayonet lug]] was apparently sold to Bulgaria or Yugoslavia. The second model, sometimes called the MP34<!--not the same as the Austrian one-->, or the "standard model", had a 25&nbsp;cm barrel and no provision for a bayonet; the rear sight on these varies—some had a tangent sight, others a simplified flip-up "L" sight. A third variant was basically similar in the metallic parts, but replaced the [[foregrip]] with an MP18-style stock with finger-grooves. Overall, at least 10,000 of these Vollmer-based designs were made by Erma.<ref name="VriesMartens"/> They were adopted by the SS and the German Police, but also sold to Mexico, Yugoslavia and Spain.{{sfn|Smith|1969|p=428}} During the [[Spanish Civil War]], the EMP was used by both the [[Republican faction (Spanish Civil War)|Republicans]]{{sfn|Smith|1969|p=156}} and the [[Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War)|Nationalists]].{{sfn|Smith|1969|pp=153-154}}

In the spring of 1939, a large number of defeated Spanish Republicans [[Spanish Civil War#1939|fled to France]], where they were disarmed. Some 3,250 EMPs formerly in the possession of these fighters ended up in a French warehouse at [[Clermont-Ferrand]]. The EMPs were usually referred to as the "Erma–Vollmer" in French documents. The French tested the weapons and decided to adopt them for their own service. A provisional manual was printed in French as ''Provisoire sur le pistolet-mitrailleur Erma – Vollmer de 9mm'', issued on December 26, 1939 and updated on January 6, 1940. However, the French had obtained only some 1,540 suitable magazines for these guns, so only 700-800 EMPs were actually distributed to the French forces, mostly to the [[Mobile Gendarmerie]]. After the [[Battle of France|Germans conquered France]], some EMPs armed the [[Legion of French Volunteers Against Bolshevism]], which eventually became part of the [[33rd Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS Charlemagne (1st French)|SS Charlemagne division]]. This division was practically destroyed in February 1945 in Eastern Prussia, now part of Poland. Numerous EMPs have been found in the last-stand battlefields of the SS Charlemagne division; most of these guns lack any German military stamps or marks.<ref>[http://www.mp40.nl/index.php?page=emp The Erma EMP submachine guns] – Translation to English of text from Martin Helebrant's ''Samopal MP38 a MP40'', Nakladatelstvi Elka Press, {{ISBN|978-80-87057-02-5}} at mp40.nl</ref> The EMPs which arrived in German hands via the French route were given the (''Fremdgerät'') designation 740(f).<ref name="Heber">{{cite book|author=Thorsten Heber|title=Kennblätter fremden Geräts|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=35We_Y2pgg0C&pg=PA135|access-date=11 August 2013|publisher=BoD – Books on Demand|isbn=978-3-8370-4042-5|page=135|year=1942}}</ref> The Yugoslav purchased EMPs were used by both the [[Yugoslav Partisans|Partisans]] and the [[Chetniks]].<ref name="Yug">{{cite magazine|title=Yugoslav Part II: World War II small arms: an assortment of small arms from friends and foe alike|first=Paul|last=Scarlata|magazine=Firearms News|date=1 October 2017|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/YUGOSLAV+PART+II%3A+WORLD+WAR+II+SMALL+ARMS%3A+AN+ASSORTMENT+OF+SMALL...-a0510936519}}</ref>

In [[Francoist Spain]], the EMP, chambered in the [[9mm Largo]] cartridge, was locally produced until the mid-1950s. It was designated Model 1941/44{{sfn|Smith|1969|p=544}} or "subfusil Coruña" but commonly known as Naranjero.<ref name="sbhac.net">{{Cite web |title=República - Armas - Infantería - Subfusiles |url=http://www.sbhac.net/Republica/Fuerzas/Armas/Infanteria/Subfusiles/Subfusiles.htm |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=www.sbhac.net}}</ref><ref name="Meliá2000">{{cite book|author=Juan Tous Meliá|title=Guía histórica del Museo Militar Regional de Canarias|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UoZlW0ECUp0C&pg=PA93|year=2000|isbn=978-84-7823-752-4|page=93}}</ref> It performed poorly during the [[Ifni War]].<ref>{{cite book|chapter=El ejército español en la Guerra de Ifni-Sahara|first=Juan Pastrana|last=Piñero|title=La historia militar hoy: investigaciones y tendencias|trans-title=Military History Today : Research and Trends|editor-first1=Angel|editor-last1=Viñas Martín|editor-first2=Fernando|editor-last2=Puell de la Villa|year=2015|isbn=978-84-617-2104-7|pages=295–314|url=https://iugm.es/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/La-historia-militar-hoy-Investigaciones-y-tendencias.pdf|language=es|access-date=2019-03-30|archive-date=2022-04-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419133842/https://iugm.es/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/La-historia-militar-hoy-Investigaciones-y-tendencias.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Design ==
Its arming lever is on the right. The magazine housing, which is on the left, is slightly canted forwards to assist in feeding ammunition. The weapon could be fired either in semi-automatic or fully automatic modes.

== Influence ==
The final development at Erma is known as the EMP 36. This can be considered an intermediate model between the EMP and the [[MP38]]. Although many details of the mechanism were changed from the EMP, it retained Vollmer's telescoping main operating spring basically unchanged. On the exterior, the most obvious differences are that the magazine housing was now almost vertical, although still canted slightly to the left and forward. The solid wood stock was replaced with a wood frame and a folding metal butt. It is not entirely clear who designed the EMP 36, although Berthold Geipel himself is usually credited. Apparently, the features of the new design were the result of another secret contract with the German army.<ref name="VriesMartens"/> The EMP's telescopic cylinder return spring guide was retained for the [[MP 40|Maschinenpistole 38]].

== Users ==
* {{flag|Bolivia}}: Vollmer VPK supplied as German aid during the [[Chaco War]]<ref name ='Chaco'>{{cite book|author=Alejandro de Quesada|title=The Chaco War 1932-35: South America's greatest modern conflict|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dTm3CwAAQBAJ|date=20 November 2011|publisher=Osprey Publishing|isbn=978-1-84908-901-2|pages=24}}</ref>
* {{flag|Bulgaria}}<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=EMP Submachine Gun |url=https://m.ww2db.com/weapon.php?q=279 |access-date=2022-11-25 |website=WW2DB}}</ref>
* {{flagcountry|France}}: Over 3,000 Spanish copies obtained from demobilized Republican refugees after the [[Spanish Civil War]]; pressed into service during the [[Battle of France]]<ref name="Paul">{{cite journal|journal=Firearms News|first1=Paul|last1=Scarlata|title=French World War II Small Arms: Part II|page=34|date=June 2017|issue=15}}</ref>
**[[Vichy France]]: Continued issue to the [[Armistice Army]]<ref>{{cite book|page=41|title=World War II Vichy French Security Troops|year=2018|isbn=978-1472827753|publisher=Osprey Publishing}}</ref>
* {{flagcountry|Nazi Germany}}: Predominantly to the [[SS]], [[Einsatzgruppen]], and auxiliary security forces
* {{flagcountry|ROC}}:<ref name="VriesMartens"/> Purchased and copied in small numbers during the [[Second Sino-Japanese War|Second-Sino Japanese War]]<ref name=":0" />
* {{flagcountry|Mexico}}
* {{flagcountry|Norway}}: The Norwegian Police Service Assault Group (Statspolitiet) purchased 8 VMP submachine guns in 1932<ref>{{cite book|title=Politiets Våpen|author=Magnar Skaret|isbn=978-82-998108-4-5|publisher=Norsk Politihistorisk Selskap|year=2017|pages=109–110}}</ref>
* {{flagcountry|Paraguay}}: Captured Bolivian guns<ref>{{Cite web |title=La Guerra del Chaco: fighting in El Infierno Verde: Part II: tanks, airplanes, submachine guns|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/La+Guerra+del+Chaco%3A+fighting+in+El+Infierno+Verde%3A+Part+II%3A+tanks%2C...-a0371469811}}</ref>
* {{flagcountry|Poland}}: Erma EMP obtained for trial purposes, possibly issued to police forces and the presidential guard<ref>{{Cite web |last=Scarlata |first=Paul |title=Polish WWII Weapons Part 1 |url=https://www.firearmsnews.com/editorial/polish-wwii-weapons-part-1/364279 |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Firearms News |language=en}}</ref> 
* {{flagcountry|Spanish Republic}}: Several thousand unlicensed copies manufactured by the Republicans during the Spanish Civil War<ref name="sbhac.net"/>
* {{flagcountry|Francoist Spain}}: Unlicensed production continued under the Francoist regime at [[A Coruña|Coruña Arsenal]], under the designations '''Modelo 41''' and '''Modelo 41/44'''<ref name="sbhac.net"/>
* {{flagcountry|Yugoslavia}}: in [[9×19mm Parabellum]]{{sfn|Smith|1969|p=723}}

==See also==
*[[MP 40]]
*[[Mors submachine gun|PM wz. 39M]]
*[[EMP 44]]
*[[List of submachine guns]]
*[[List of World War II firearms of Germany]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* K.R. Pawlas (1994) "Die Maschinenpistole Erma (MPE)", ''Waffen Revue'' Nr. 95, pp.&nbsp;47–56
* L. Guillou (1994) "Le pistolet mitrailleur Erma-Vollmer de 1931 cal.9 mm Para." ''[[Gazette des armes]]'' numéro 254
* Les P.M. Allemands (1918-1945) - ''Gazette des armes hors-serie'' n° 19
* {{cite book|last=Smith|first=Joseph E.|title=Small Arms of the World|edition =11|location=Harrisburg, Pennsylvania|publisher= The Stackpole Company|year=1969}}

==External links==
*[http://ww2.rediscov.com/spring/VFPCGI.exe?IDCFile=/spring/DETAILS.IDC,SPECIFIC=10357,DATABASE=objects, Springfield Armory Museum item# 1712]
*http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30029386
*http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30029289
* http://www.armeetpassion.com/ermavollmer.html
* https://archive.today/20130811141900/http://www.coebaleares.com/index.php/es/armamentocoe/subfusil-mod-c
* [http://www.tircollection.com/t9709-pistolet-mitrailleur-erma-vollmer More photos]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100901210704/http://world.guns.ru/smg/smg80-e.htm Modern Firearms]

{{WWIIGermanInfWeapons}}
{{WWIIFrenchInfWeapons}}

[[Category:World War II submachine guns]]
[[Category:World War II infantry weapons of Germany]]
[[Category:World War II infantry weapons of France]]
[[Category:Submachine guns of Germany]]
[[Category:Erma Werke firearms]]
[[Category:9mm Parabellum submachine guns]]
[[Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1930s]]