The German MG-34 machine gun became the progenitor of the famous "Hitler's Saw" - MG-42. Despite the appearance of a more advanced model, the 34 was used in the Wehrmacht until the very end of World War II. Moreover, for its time it was an extremely progressive weapon with many interesting solutions. For example, the "Maschinengewehr" had two triggers at once. And here at the very time to ask: why?
Germany was the first country in the first half of the 20th century, which managed to create a single machine gun for the needs of the army. A weapon that could be used both from a bipod as a hand weapon, and from a machine tool at a firing point or equipment - this is extremely convenient. The first such machine gun was the famous MG-34. The weapon was developed by the Rheinmetall-Borsig AG company. The project was led by designer Luis Stange. The date of official acceptance into service is 1934. Despite its considerable age and the fact that this model has not been produced for a long time, some MG-34s come across in hot spots around the world to this day.
In Germany, during the war years, a huge number of modifications of this weapon were released. Depending on it, the machine gun can have calibers from 6.5x55 mm to 7.62x51 and 7.92x57 mm (the latter is the most common). The rate of fire of the 34 varies depending on the model from 600 to 1200 rounds per minute. For comparison, most modern machine guns have a rate of fire of no more than 900 rounds per minute. Sighting range is from 400 to 2 thousand meters. Bullet muzzle velocity varies from 750 to 1000 meters per second.
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In the design of the German machine gun with a rotary bolt and barrel recoil with a short stroke, there were many interesting technical solutions. For example, the pre-war MG-34 models had a rate of fire switch. In addition, the machine gun had two triggers at once. They were used alone for firing in different modes and replaced the traditional switch between single and automatic fire.
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Why would a machine gun with a rate of fire of 1,200 rounds per minute single fire? For sighting on the ground. This is especially useful when the machine gunner takes some equipped position from which he will have to conduct defensive fire. Even before the start of the battle, the crew is targeted by tracer on the ground, after which they can conduct automatic fire much more efficiently.
If you want to know even more interesting things, then you should read about where did the millions of PPShs go in warehouses, after the AQI was adopted.
A source: https://novate.ru/blogs/070820/55595/