One of the most iconic American firearms is the Thompson submachine gun. A staple of the Hollywood gangster movies in the 1930s, it is instantly recognizable to many people who otherwise know little about firearms. Nonetheless, the notoriety it garnered in the “Roaring Twenties” is only a small part of the Thompson story. The gun’s enduring legacy was earned in World War II, during which it proved to be a vital part of America’s small arms arsenal.

The first practical submachine gun, the German MP 18.1, was fielded during World War I. An American Army officer, Col. John T. Thompson (later a general), had foreseen the value of an arm with somewhat similar attributes—even before the MP 18.1 arrived on the scene. Thompson formed a commercial entity to develop and market such a gun, but the war ended before a prototype could be completed.

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