EMP-35

In 1925 ^[2] Volmer began to design his own small arms. His early models - VPG, VPGa, VPF and VMP1925, were pretty similar to the MP18 . However, there were differences - so, VMP1925 had a front handle and was fed from a drum magazine for 25 rounds . The VMP1925 was secretly tested by the Reichswehr , which, according to the Treaty of Versailles, was forbidden to have machine guns in service, along with the competing Schmeisser and Rheinmetall projects. Volmer was given secret funding to continue the development, which led to the creation of VMP1926, which was largely different from its predecessor by the removal of a cooling casing. The subsequent development of the VMP1925 was the VMP1928, which was equipped with a box magazine for 32 rounds, located on the left side. The final development of this series was the VMP1930. As with the previous model, power was supplied from the adjoining store on the left; in addition, the weapon used a patented circuit with a return spring enclosed in telescopic guide tubes. ^[2] However, his company Vollmer Werke produced only about 400 of these products, and most of them were sold to Bulgaria . In late 1930, the Reichswehr ceased Volmer's financial support. Finding himself in financial difficulty, he sold the rights to all of his developments to Erma Werke. ^[3]

The submachine gun, which Erma began selling in 1932 under the names EMP (Erma Maschinenpistole) or MPE (Maschinenpistole Erma), was the same VMP1930, but with a restored casing. Although there were several options with different barrel lengths and sights, made in accordance with the requirements of the customer, about three main options were made:

- with a barrel length of 30 cm, a tangent sight and mount for the bayonet , apparently, allegedly purchased by Bulgaria or Yugoslavia;

- the second model, sometimes called the MP34, or “standard model”, had a 25 cm barrel and did not have a bayonet mount; the sight on the assault rifles of this model is different - some were equipped with tangent sights, others had a simplified cross over L-shaped;

- The third option was basically structurally similar to the previous ones, but the front handle was replaced with a bed with finger grooves in the MP18 style.

Altogether, at least 10,000 submachine guns based on Volmer's designs were manufactured by Erma. They were adopted by the SS in 1936 , but were also sold to the countries of South America and to Spain , where they were subsequently produced under the designation M41 / 44. ^[3]

In the spring of 1939, after the defeat in the civil war, the remnants of the Republican forces retreated to France , where they were disarmed. About 3,250 seized EMP-35s ended up in a French warehouse in Clermont-Ferrand . EMP-35 in French documents was usually called "Erma-Volmer." The French tested the weapon and decided to take it into service. The preliminary guide was printed in French under the title “Provisoire sur le pistolet-mitrailleur Erma - Vollmer de 9mm”, released on December 26, 1939 and updated on January 6, 1940 . However, the French received only about 1,540 suitable stores for EMR-35, so only 700-800 machine guns were actually transferred to the French troops, mainly mobile gendarmerie. After the Germans conquered France , a certain amount of EMP was transferred to the Legion of French Volunteers against Bolshevism , which eventually became part of the Charlemagne SS division. This division was virtually destroyed in February 1945 in East Prussia . A large number of EMP-35 were found on the battlefield of the SS Charlemagne Division; most of these machine guns do not have any German military markings or stamps. ^[4] EMP-35, which fell into the hands of the Germans on the French route, received the designation (Fremdgerät) 740 (f). ^[five]

In Franco-Spain, the EMP-35 was produced under the 9mm Largo cartridge. They are unofficially referred to as "subfusil [modelo] Coruña." ^[one]

On the basis of EMP-35, Erma developed a pistol - an EMP 36 machine gun. This can be considered an intermediate model between the EMP-35 and MP38 . Although many details of the mechanism were changed compared to EMP-35, it retained the Volmer telescopic guide tube for the most part. Outwardly, the most obvious differences are that the store was now fastened almost vertically, as it was slightly tilted left and forward. The massive wooden bed was replaced by a wooden frame and a folding metal butt. It is not clear who developed the EMP 36, although they usually call the name Bertold Geipel. Apparently, the features of the new design were the result of another secret contract with the German army. ^[3]

•   Third Republic ^[6]
  • Vichy (a small amount was transferred to Milice française ) ^[7]
•   Third Reich
•   Mexico ^[8]
•   Second Spanish Republic
•   : Partisans and Chetniks ^[9]

• MP 18
• MP 38/40
• Mors