Georgy Shpagin

Georgy Semyonovich Shpagin
Shpagin in February 1945
Native name
Георгий Семёнович Шпагин
Born(1897-04-17)17 April 1897
Klyushnikovo, Russian Empire
Died6 February 1952(1952-02-06) (aged 54)
Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Buried
Novodevichy Cemetery, Moscow, Russia
Allegiance Russian Empire (1916–1917)
 Soviet Union (1917–1952)
Service / branch
Known forDesigning the PPSh-41
Battles / wars
AwardsHero of Socialist Labour (1945)

Georgy Semyonovich Shpagin (Russian: Георгий Семёнович Шпагин; 17 April 1897 – 6 February 1952) was a Soviet weapons designer. He is best-known as the creator of the PPSh-41, a submachine gun that saw widespread use by the Red Army on the Eastern Front. He also worked with fellow Soviet weapons designer Vasily Degtyaryov on the DShK, a heavy machine gun, shortly before the start of World War II.