[holymoly]

I've always thought that Gewehr translated to rifle.

Both Bablefish and freetranslation.com translate "gewehr" as "rifle", and vice versa.

Here is a bit of interesting info, regarding the Sturmgewehr:

(Note U.S. Army .MIL URL)
http://history.amedd.army.mil/booksdocs/wwii/woundblstcs/chapter1.htm

Enemy Ordnance Materiel

Maj. James C. Beyer, MC, Maj. James K. Arima, MSC,
and Doris W. Johnson

Quote:

"The designation of the MP 44 was later changed to Sturmgewehr 44 (assault rifle 44)."

Close quote. (Emphasis added.)

[AnAmericanMother]

My point is, it's not a literal translation.

A lot is lost in translation.