The history of the creation of the most popular Soviet submachine gun during the Great Patriotic War dates back to the dramatic events of the end of 1941. It was during this period, when German troops came close to Moscow, that the Red Army was sorely lacking automatic melee weapons. The answer to this challenge was a product developed by Georgy Shpagin, which forever changed the course of military operations and became a symbol of Victory. The question is in what year did they start producing PPSh?, is key to understanding the pace of mobilization of Soviet industry at that critical moment.
The official start date of production is December 1941, when the first samples rolled off the assembly lines of evacuated factories. This was a time when factories worked around the clock, and machines were often installed directly in unheated workshops or in the open air. However, Shpagin submachine gun had to go into series precisely then in order to provide the advancing troops with the necessary weapons. Delay in those days threatened with catastrophic consequences at the front.
By the beginning of 1942, the pace of production had reached unprecedented levels, which made it possible to fully equip the emerging rifle divisions and tank landing forces. The uniqueness of the situation was that not only specialized weapons factories, but also watch industry enterprises, household appliance factories and even artels were involved in production. Mass production required simplification of the design without loss of combat qualities, and Shpagin brilliantly coped with this task, creating a weapon that could be produced in millions of pieces.
Prerequisites for creation and the Winter War
The need to create a new type of automatic weapon became obvious to the Soviet command even before the start of the Great Patriotic War. The impetus was the Soviet-Finnish war of 1939–1940, where Finnish troops effectively used Suomi KP/-31 submachine guns. Soviet soldiers, armed primarily with Mosin rifles, often lost in close combat in wooded areas. Degtyarev submachine gun (PPD), which was in service, was too difficult to produce and expensive, which made it impossible to mass saturate troops.
⚠️ Attention: The PPD-40 had high accuracy, but its receiver was milled from a single piece, which required a huge amount of time and metal, unacceptable in wartime conditions.
In response to a request from the army, Georgy Shpagin proposed a revolutionary solution. He developed stamping technology, which made it possible to manufacture the main components of weapons from sheet metal. This radically reduced the labor intensity and cost of production. Unlike its predecessor, the new model did not require complex machining and a large amount of non-ferrous metals. The design was so well thought out that its assembly required a minimum number of operations.
The prototypes were tested in conditions of fierce competition. Shpagin competed with other designers, including Degtyarev himself, who also tried to simplify his design. However, it was Shpagin’s project that showed the best results in terms of reliability, barrel survivability and, most importantly, production speed. The final decision to adopt PPSh for service was made on December 21, 1941, which was a turning point in equipping the Red Army.
Start of production in 1941
The first experimental batches of PPSh were manufactured in Moscow at plant No. 58 (now the Degtyarev plant) and in Mytishchi near Moscow. However, the mass start occurred after the evacuation of industrial enterprises to the east. Factories that transported machine tools across the entire country under bombing began to work literally “on wheels.” In December 1941, production was established at several key sites, which became the flagships of the arms industry.
Played a special role Plant No. 58 in Vyatka (now Kirov), where the equipment was evacuated from Moscow. It was here, in the outback, that the main production took place. In parallel, factories in Izhevsk, Zlatoust and other cities of the Urals and Siberia joined the production. Technological process was so streamlined that the manufacturing time of one machine was reduced to 7.3 hours, while the assembly of the PPD took more than 15 hours.
It is important to note that at the very end of 1941, production was still of a transitional nature. Some parts were still manufactured according to old drawings or using transitional technologies. However, by January 1942, the conveyors were in full operation. Soldiers on the front line received new weapons, which immediately established themselves as a reliable and powerful weapon.
When studying the history of the PPSh, pay attention to the manufacturer's markings on the receiver - it allows you to accurately date the specimen and determine the place of its assembly.
Mass production technologies
The secret to the success of the PPSh lay not only in the design, but also in the revolutionary approach to manufacturing. Shpagin used the cold stamping method, which had previously been considered unsuitable for the manufacture of barrels and bolts of precision weapons. The receiver consisted of two stamped halves, which were connected by rivets. This made it possible to employ thousands of unskilled workers, including women and teenagers, working at the machines.
To support the front, resources from a variety of industries were used. Watch factories sharpened small parts, factories bent sheet steel, and textile workers sewed wooden holsters and boxes for cartridges. Unification of parts made it possible to produce components in different cities and assemble them on final assembly lines. This approach ensured unprecedented survivability of production: even if one plant was destroyed, production did not stop.
- 🔩 Using 2 mm thick sheet steel for the receiver instead of solid forged blanks.
- 🔫 The use of a wooden stock of a simple shape that does not require complex carpentry.
- 🛡️ Chrome plating of the barrel bore to increase service life and facilitate cleaning in the field.
- 📦 Standardization of packaging and transportation, allowing weapons to be quickly delivered to the front.
In addition, a quality control system was introduced, which, despite the rush, eliminated defective products. Each assembled machine gun was zeroed at the factory. Technological map production was divided into hundreds of small operations, which minimized the influence of the human factor. The worker performed one operation thousands of times a day, bringing the movements to automaticity.
Why were PPSh made of wood and metal?
Wood (birch or beech) was used for the butt and handle, as it was affordable, did not get cold on the hands in winter, and absorbed recoil. Metal was used only for critical components.
Evolution of design during the war years
During the production process, the design of the PPSh was constantly improved. If the first samples of 1941–1942 had a sector sight and a complex front sight, then by 1942 they were replaced with simpler and more reliable fixed rear sights. This simplification made it possible to further speed up production and reduce the number of defects during assembly. The shape of the receiver has also changed, becoming more technologically advanced.
One of the most notable changes was the switch from a 71-round disc magazine to a 35-round box magazine. Disc magazines (“drums”) were heavy, often jammed and required individual grinding into a specific machine. Box stores, which appeared in 1942, were lighter, more reliable and easier to manufacture. Although the PPSh was originally designed for a disc, the army demanded versatility, and the designers quickly implemented changes.
| Characteristics | PPSh model 1941 | PPSh model 1942 | PPSh-42 (simplified) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sights | Sector sight | Fixed rear sight | Fixed rear sight |
| Store plank | Only for disk | Combined | Only for the box |
| Receiver | Complex shape | Simplified stamping | As simple as possible |
| Shoulder rest | Missing | Appeared at the end of the year | Standard |
Changes also affected the muzzle brake-compensator. On early models it was more complex, later its shape was simplified for stamping. All these changes were dictated by dire necessity: it was necessary to produce weapons faster, cheaper and in greater quantities, while maintaining the ability to penetrate German helmets and body armor at a distance of up to 200 meters.
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Production statistics and geography of factories
The scale of PPSh production is amazing even after decades. During the war years, more than 6 million units of these weapons were produced. The leader in production was the Vyatka Machine-Building Plant (now Vyatmash), which supplied the front with about 2 million machine guns. Geography of production covered vast territories: from Moscow, which had to be evacuated, to the depths of Siberia and Central Asia.
In 1942, factories in Izhevsk joined production, where they produced the famous “Izhmashevsky” PPSh, distinguished by their high build quality. They were also produced in Zlatoust, where they established the production of simplified versions. Labor resources included not only men, but also women, who made up up to 70% of the jobs at the machines, and teenagers who worked equally with adults.
⚠️ Attention: Production figures may vary in different sources, since accounting was carried out in conditions of chaos, and some of the weapons were assembled in semi-handicraft workshops directly in the front-line zone.
Peak figures were reached in 1942–1943, when factories produced thousands of units of product every month. This made it possible not only to replace losses, but also to form entire divisions equipped with 100% machine guns. No other army in the world had such a level of saturation with automatic weapons, which became one of the key factors for victory in street battles and assault operations.
Comparison with foreign analogues
When asked what year PPSh began to be produced, parallels are often drawn with the German MP-40. However, a comparison of the two systems reveals a fundamental difference in approach. The German machine gun, while technologically advanced for peacetime, turned out to be too complex in conditions of total war. The PPSh was created precisely as a wartime weapon - crude, but effective and simple.
The American Thompson (Thompson M1928/M1) was heavier, more expensive and more difficult to manufacture. The British Sten, although simple, was inferior to the PPSh in reliability and ergonomics. Soviet machine gun won due to the powerful 7.62x25 mm cartridge, which had better penetration than the German 9x19 mm Parabellum. The high rate of fire of the PPSh (about 1000 rounds per minute) made it deadly in close combat.
The Germans, having assessed the effectiveness of the PPSh, even launched its production under their own cartridge, designating it as MP-717(r). They highly valued the reliability of Soviet weapons, especially in the Russian winter, when German equipment and weapons often failed. Simplicity of design The PPSh allowed it to operate even in heavy pollution and low temperatures, which was critically important on the Eastern Front.
The PPSh has become the standard weapon for total war, where quantity and reliability are more important than individual accuracy and complexity of execution.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
In what month of 1941 was the PPSh put into service?
The official decree on adoption was issued on December 21, 1941, but the first batches began to enter the troops already in January 1942 after the installation of conveyors.
Is it true that PPSh were made from water pipes?
This is a myth. The barrel was made from high-quality weapon steel by hot forging and subsequent processing, and the receiver was stamped from rolled sheet metal. Using water pipes would make the weapon burst when fired.
How long did it take to produce one machine during the peak period?
In 1942–1943, thanks to stamping and the production line, production time was reduced to 5.6–7.3 hours, which was a record for that time.
Why did they stop using 71-round disc magazines?
They were heavy, uncomfortable to wear, often jammed and required charging with a special key. The 35-round box magazine was lighter, more reliable, and easier to manufacture.
Where can you see the original PPSh from 1941?
Original samples are kept in the Central Museum of the Great Patriotic War in Moscow, the Artillery Museum in St. Petersburg, as well as in private collections and museums around the world.