Possibly the best overall handgun in service during the Second World War, Walther’s P.38 was an advanced design, although it was never able to eclipse the older Luger P.08 in the popular imagination.

The British Sten Gun was an extremely simple stamped steel submachinegun developed as an inexpensive replacement for the existing Lanchesters in service in the early phases of the Second World War. The Mark II variant would go on to be the most produced and iconic variant of the weapon, and a replica example is shown here.

In the aftermath of the Second World War Germany found itself divided. As it raised its own army to fight alongside NATO, the new West Germany looked to update the old wartime sidearm of the Wehrmacht.

The excellent handgun adopted by Poland on the eve of the Second World War would go on to be one of the most common in German service during the conflict, seeing service on all fronts of the European Theater.