Excellent video! Short, to the point and loaded with history & facts. The narrator was knowledgeable, had excellent dry humor, and spoke fluidly and intelligently. I hope you guys do many more videos on Small Arms.
It's an interesting historical footnote of WW II. I first saw one at a gun show back in the 80s and learned the general outline of the story behind it. It was more of a psyops thing than any practical tool of asymetric warfare. The scenario it envisioned of resistance partisans executing a German soldier to acquire his weapon were more than a little unrealistic. The Germans as an occupying force were usually not dumb enough to wander the dark alleys by themselves to afford such opportunities. Then there was the reality that killing a German and especially an officer was not worth it in most circumstance. If you took out one or two of their military, the Nazis had no compunction about rounding up several hundred random citizens and executing them in retaliation. The resistance wasn't exactly afraid to get their hands bloody, especially when it came to collaborators of the regime, but as a general matter they avoided open battles with the Nazis because they usually got slaughtered when they tried. They were much more useful to the allies as sources of intelligence, sabotage and helping downed Allied airmen escape. I doubt whether knowing or suspecting the Liberator was in circulation even terrified the Germans that much. Being an occupying soldier had its risks, but it was still pretty posh duty compared to the Eastern Front or the many bloody battles after D-Day.
I think the reason these didn't get issued is largely due to the fact that transportation logistics were strained to the max and they didn't want to take up crucial cargo or bomb bay space with what was, if not completely harebrained, was at least far-fetched. I've never seen the topic explored, but I have to wonder if they were not also driven by post-war considerations. I know if I had been a general or involved in any serious way with considering the post-war occupation of Europe, I sure would not be too keen on the idea of hundreds of thousands of pistols circulating among starved, desperate and resentful populations that I had to police once Berlin fell.
I read a claimed non-fiction first handed account from a German MP who claimed that on the night of d-day, with Allied planes overhead, likely a french maid killed a high ranking German officer with a one shot pistol. The MP found the pistol near the officers body with a shot to back of the head. He then found that the entire hotel staff had fled the german occupied hotel. That one shot pistol infuriated the German MP; they hated them.
A good video but you didn’t mention two bits of trivia about the thing. It does have sights but is a smoothbore, rifling was determined to take too long and too costly for the thing. Its range was about 10 feet at best so you could shoot an enemy soldier and take their much better gun. The other bit is that it’s the only firearm in history that actually took longer to load than it took to produce.
I think the point of these weapons was to give a gun, any gun, to a nation where the firearms were confiscated, they were also intended to be used to shot and capture the enemy's weapons. I suppose in a situation where you're being dropped a simple weapon that is a weapon anyone can use just by looking at the comics rather than an extensive manual it is also a plus. I guess it is a case of any gun is better than no gun in a war zone. I think the reason it failed was because it was just easier dropping fully functioning weapons like the Sten gun which definitely helped Resistance fighters around Europe.
A very interesting aspect of WWII and even the Cold War is how much the major powers were willing to take risks on even far-fetched innovations. They were willing to invest in any idea that might give them an edge so long as it was not an inordinate drain on critical resources. In defense industry terms it cost almost nothing to make in money or materials, and they probably figured even if it just cost a few German officers in occupied Europe some sleep and morale, it might be worth it. The top brass of the real fighting force knew full well it was not going to have any material affect on the war's progress or outcome. But throw different things at the wall and see what sticks. We did the same thing in the Cold War with military funding of experimental programs on remote viewing, clairvoyance, basically occult type paranormal stuff. I don't think they had high hopes for it working, but they figured if there was even a 1% chance there might be something to it, they didn't want to risk falling behind the Soviets in anything.
@@NathanDudani That's my only quibble with the presentation. It bears mentioning that one theoretical tactical use was to obtain the enemy's weapon(s) through threat, wounding, or killing.
Fascinating
Excellent video! Short, to the point and loaded with history & facts. The narrator was knowledgeable, had excellent dry humor, and spoke fluidly and intelligently. I hope you guys do many more videos on Small Arms.
The FP-45 was best described as "A gun you use to get a better gun" or words to that effect.
Yo I just visited you guys recently, and whole crap 10/10 loved it, would do again
It's an interesting historical footnote of WW II. I first saw one at a gun show back in the 80s and learned the general outline of the story behind it.
It was more of a psyops thing than any practical tool of asymetric warfare. The scenario it envisioned of resistance partisans executing a German soldier to acquire his weapon were more than a little unrealistic. The Germans as an occupying force were usually not dumb enough to wander the dark alleys by themselves to afford such opportunities.
Then there was the reality that killing a German and especially an officer was not worth it in most circumstance. If you took out one or two of their military, the Nazis had no compunction about rounding up several hundred random citizens and executing them in retaliation. The resistance wasn't exactly afraid to get their hands bloody, especially when it came to collaborators of the regime, but as a general matter they avoided open battles with the Nazis because they usually got slaughtered when they tried. They were much more useful to the allies as sources of intelligence, sabotage and helping downed Allied airmen escape.
I doubt whether knowing or suspecting the Liberator was in circulation even terrified the Germans that much. Being an occupying soldier had its risks, but it was still pretty posh duty compared to the Eastern Front or the many bloody battles after D-Day.
1000000 pistols and only one casualty.
This means that statistically it's the safest pistol design ;)
If you design a weapon most people are afraid to fire, you get a large safety margin!
I felt like I was watching Ian from forgotten weapons…. Great info and sorry telling
Will this become a series, as with the vehicles at the museum? If so, I look forward to whatever comes next!
Thank you! Yes, there will be more firearm videos.
The second piece at the end seems very similar to the modern ALTOR that is on the market
I think the reason these didn't get issued is largely due to the fact that transportation logistics were strained to the max and they didn't want to take up crucial cargo or bomb bay space with what was, if not completely harebrained, was at least far-fetched.
I've never seen the topic explored, but I have to wonder if they were not also driven by post-war considerations. I know if I had been a general or involved in any serious way with considering the post-war occupation of Europe, I sure would not be too keen on the idea of hundreds of thousands of pistols circulating among starved, desperate and resentful populations that I had to police once Berlin fell.
I read a claimed non-fiction first handed account from a German MP who claimed that on the night of d-day, with Allied planes overhead, likely a french maid killed a high ranking German officer with a one shot pistol.
The MP found the pistol near the officers body with a shot to back of the head.
He then found that the entire hotel staff had fled the german occupied hotel.
That one shot pistol infuriated the German MP; they hated them.
A good video but you didn’t mention two bits of trivia about the thing. It does have sights but is a smoothbore, rifling was determined to take too long and too costly for the thing. Its range was about 10 feet at best so you could shoot an enemy soldier and take their much better gun. The other bit is that it’s the only firearm in history that actually took longer to load than it took to produce.
This thing was great, but horrible.
And it's fun to use in games.
I believe it's in H3VR, I'll check tomorrow.
☕🐝🇺🇸
excellent!
Glad you think so!
Hotter than a $2.10 pistol.
I think the point of these weapons was to give a gun, any gun, to a nation where the firearms were confiscated, they were also intended to be used to shot and capture the enemy's weapons. I suppose in a situation where you're being dropped a simple weapon that is a weapon anyone can use just by looking at the comics rather than an extensive manual it is also a plus. I guess it is a case of any gun is better than no gun in a war zone. I think the reason it failed was because it was just easier dropping fully functioning weapons like the Sten gun which definitely helped Resistance fighters around Europe.
A very interesting aspect of WWII and even the Cold War is how much the major powers were willing to take risks on even far-fetched innovations. They were willing to invest in any idea that might give them an edge so long as it was not an inordinate drain on critical resources. In defense industry terms it cost almost nothing to make in money or materials, and they probably figured even if it just cost a few German officers in occupied Europe some sleep and morale, it might be worth it. The top brass of the real fighting force knew full well it was not going to have any material affect on the war's progress or outcome. But throw different things at the wall and see what sticks.
We did the same thing in the Cold War with military funding of experimental programs on remote viewing, clairvoyance, basically occult type paranormal stuff. I don't think they had high hopes for it working, but they figured if there was even a 1% chance there might be something to it, they didn't want to risk falling behind the Soviets in anything.
@@kenofken9458 Now that is a good point.
There is one of these in one of the museums on Guadalcanal.
Jess1344
I saw one for sale in Finland for 250€ ... from some dead collector's collection
To use this thing you would have to be massively brave and desperate add to that you would be nuts to try and reload it any where near an armed enemy.
*Switching weapons is always faster than reloading*
@@NathanDudani That's my only quibble with the presentation. It bears mentioning that one theoretical tactical use was to obtain the enemy's weapon(s) through threat, wounding, or killing.
Thought 9 mm . Was glue gun . Payed 2 dollars . .
You'd have got more use out of the glue gun!
I believe an working reproduction of this was made recently.