Rifle Mauser - the argument of German foreign policy

The Mauser magazine rifle of the model of 1888 was a graphic illustration of the well-known axiom that war is a direct continuation of politics, only by a few other means. The development of the newest types of weapons by one country instantly causes the search for an adequate response by its potential adversaries. France's adoption of the eight-millimeter Lebel rifle in 1886 forced Germany to rearm its army with the latest model of small arms created by Paul Mauser. The new development was superior to its French counterpart in combat and service-performance characteristics.

"Mauser" - a rifle, which became the most massive and effective small arms of the German infantrymen of the First World War and almost a half century occupied a worthy place in the structure of German armament. The model of 1888 served as the basis for many subsequent models (and not only in Germany). This Mauser rifle was equipped with a shutter, the design of which remains unchanged until now. However, initially it was combined with an obsolete eight-millimeter cartridge.

In view of the new, higher technical and tactical requirements, after a series of field tests, the German army adopted a new 7.92 mm cartridge, which had a more perfect powder charge and a bullet. The Mauser rifle, slightly modified for a new type of ammunition, was called "Gewehr 1898". This model has become one of the most successful, effective and common types of small arms in its class.

Even in later models, many design solutions were borrowed from this classic that became a rifle. Although it was somewhat long, but well balanced and mostly of excellent quality.

Closer to the middle of the war, the front line began to receive copies of a fairly crude version. However, the Mauser rifle manufactured under normal conditions and according to the relevant technological standards was a very reliable and even elegant weapon. It had a beautifully made wooden bed and a neck of the stock, made in the shape of a handle, which greatly facilitated its retention and aiming at the shooting.

The Mauser rifle was equipped with a completely complex sighting device of an entirely sliding type, which required good combat training for the shooter, especially when firing at long distances. However, later models had a somewhat simplified aim, which required much lower production costs and allowed for a significant reduction in the training time of the fighter. Such small arms were ideally suited for firing at medium ranges, which was required in conditions of a positional "trench" war.

The design of the closure device during the entire war was practically unchanged. Only in front of it, an additional warhead was added, which provided more reliable locking when using a new high-power cartridge. The longitudinal-sliding type of the shutter did not add a smoothness weapon, but it did not create unnecessary problems with the ejection of the cartridge case. As for the store, in this model it was integral, five-charged.

Although the rifle of the 1898 sample was produced mainly for the needs of the Wehrmacht, it was the starting point for the creation of such weapons in other countries. For example, Spain was one of the first to use the system invented by Mauser, and the small arms that were produced in the Pyrenees, differed only in detail from their German prototype. The scale of production of this rifle in Germany and Spain was so impressive that soon it spread all over the world. It was adopted by such states as Brazil, Costa Rica, Argentina, Bolivia, Iran, China, Colombia, Mexico, Chile and Sweden.

For more than a century, the Mauser system demonstrates excellent accuracy, strength and reliability. Until now, the debate has not ceased in the circles of experts on whether it is appropriate to refer to the Mauser rifle of 1898 as the best small arms of the time. But despite the many doubts, it is extremely clear only one thing: during the First World War, it proved its combat superiority daily with non-repudiation, unpretentiousness and reliability.

Some modifications of this small arms were produced with special optical sighting devices, which German snipers enjoyed with pleasure. Moreover, the Mauser rifle can claim to be the first anti-tank weapon. German soldiers quite by chance discovered that it sometimes pierced the feeble reservation of the then British tanks.