By the time of World War II the armies of most nations were trying to standardize their weaponry but such were the innovations of the 1939-45 period that a huge variety of weapons were used. The Springfield, Lee Enfield, and Mauser were the rifles of choice for the US, British and German armies; with Colt, Smith & Wesson, and Luger among the many handguns available. As well as these, infantry carried submachine guns--the German Maschinenpistolen, the British Sten, the Russian PPS-42 and -43 and the US M3 Grease Gun and Thompson. In the StG44 the Germans also developed the first assault rifle. Infantry weapons from all the major combatants are covered including man-portable light machine guns and squad weapons such as the BAR and the German MG34 and 42.