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Strike Witches
Set in an alternate timeline World War II, Strike Witches focuses on Witches, elite pilots with innate magical ability, who fly Striker Units and fight against the alien Neuroi who have attacked Earth and devastated most of Europe. The existence of magic makes the world inherently different, however most events and history are largely the same until the Great War. During the World War I, powerful aliens attacked humanity, interrupting the war; although they were defeated, interruption of the war had lasting effects. Nazi-ism never formed in the Empire of Karlsland (based on Germany), the Bolshevik Revolution never occurred in Orussia (based on Russia), Ostmark (based on Austria-Hungary) still exists in full; also of note is that the Italian unification never occurred, leaving the Duchy of Romagna and Duchy of Venezia both on the Apennine Peninsula. Earth's geography differs slights as well, notably the coastline of North America, but as a whole the world can be defined as "alternate timeline Earth".
In 1937, the Neuroi attacked the Empire of Fuso (based on Japan), but thanks largely to the newly developed Striker Units and the Witches flying them, the Neuroi were repulsed. In 1939, several Neuroi hives formed over Europe, obliterating cities, killing thousands, and forcing humanity to retreat. Much like the real world Fall of Europe in 1939/40, humanity's last free bastion in Europe became the Commonwealth of Britannia (based on Britain), a safe haven only because Neuroi are averse to crossing bodies of water. Given this context, humanity's countries are not at war with each other, but united to defend against the Neuroi, and as such Witches and other military members from all nations work and fight alongside one another.
The story of Strike Witches picks up in early 1944, when Yoshika Miyafuji, due to her extremely strong magical ability, is recruited to by Squadron Leader Mio Sakamoto of the Fuso Navy to become a Witch. The story of the first season introduces the world and setting of the series, and follows Yoshika's struggles to become a Witch in the 501st Joint Fighter Wing, known as the Strike Witches. All the Witches in the series are based on real world WWII fighter aces; those details will be noted for each character as they come up.
Warning: Some descriptions and images are potential spoilers for the series, read at your own risk.
The following weapons were used in the anime series Strike Witches:
Pistols
Walther PPK/S
A Walther PPK is issued to Miyafuji when she first arrives in Britannia. She refuses it, however, stating a dislike for firearms. Minna-Dietlinde Wilcke carries one on her person, and is notably seen using it to threaten Sakamoto. It can be assumed that most, if not all, of the witches were issued a PPK upon their arrival at the base.
Beretta M1934
A Beretta M1934 is used in the movie by Heinrike Prinzessin zu Sayn-Wittgenstein. The pistol features the insignia of her unit, the 506th Joint Fighter Wing, inlaid into the grip in place of the Beretta logo.
Nambu Type 14
A Nambu Type 14 Pistol is used in Season 2 Episode 2 by Mio's assistant, Hijikata, to help her test the abilities of her shield.
Submachine Guns
Sten
Sten Mk. II submachine guns are used by Britannian troops who replace the Strike Witches with the Warlock unit. They use shoulder straps pulled tight rather than the stock, presumably to allow better accuracy when hip-fired.
MP40
An MP40 is used in the movie by Erica Hartmann and Karlsland Army soldiers.
Rifles
Boys Anti-Tank Rifle
Lynette Bishop uses a Boys Antitank Rifle MKI* with the bipod removed in her role as the squad's designated marksman.
Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR)
A Browning Automatic Rifle is carried by Charlotte Yeager. Charlotte actually dislikes the gun for the most part, citing the relatively small ammo capacity, even with the custom 40 round magazines she uses. She also dislikes the fixed barrel, which she can't replace if the gun overheats (though she admits somewhat sarcastically that this is unlikely due to the ammo capacity.) The one aspect Charlotte does like about the BAR is its durability, stating it can be used even if one doesn't take much care of it.
Machine Guns
MG42
The MG42 is carried by most members of the 501st JFW. Due to her strength ability, Gertrud Barkhorn prefers using two MG-42s at once, often with devastating effect. Eila Ilmatar Juutilainen prefers the MG-42 to her heavier Suomi KP/-31 SMG, and Minna likes the "balance of power and stability." Erica prefers it to her MP40 sidearm because "it shoots fast and rarely stops working." All Strike Witches MG-42s are modified to use 75 round MG-34 type double-drum magazines.
BREN
A Bren gun is carried by Perrine Clostermann. She states that she would prefer to use a Chatellerault M1924/29, but is unable to obtain one. Instead, she uses the BREN, which is similar to the Chatellerault in many aspects but is presumably easier to obtain in Britannia.
Browning M1919A6 Machine Gun
A Browning M1919A6 machine gun is carried by Francesca Lucchini. It was given to her by Shirley after she misplaced the Romagnan weapons she brought to Britannia with her. Francesca states that she likes the gun because of the high rate of fire, durability, and high ammo capacity.
Type 99-1 Cannon
The Japanese Type 99-1 cannon in flexible mount configuration appears to be the standard armament for Fuso Empire Witches, with its use by Mio Sakamoto, Yoshika Miyafuji and Shizuka Hattori, among others. It has been modified to utilize a conventional pistol grip more suitable for dismounted use. The use of this weapon in aerial combat is something of a historical irony, since the Type 99 cannon was part of the main armament of A6M "Zero" fighters in World War II.
Browning M1919A4
A Browning M1919A4 is used in the movie by Liberion Army soldeirs.
MG34
An MG34 is used by Hanna Justina Marseille as her primary weapon.
Browning AN/M2
The Britannian Hurricanes seen attacking the Neuroi in the Season 1 prologue are fitted with Browning .303 Mk II machine guns.
MG151/20
Heidemarie W. Schnaufer carries an MG 151/20 cannon as her weapon during the movie.
Launchers
"Fliegerhammer"
Carried by Sanya V. Litvyak. It is loosely based on the M202 FLASH, though it is named after the Fliegerfaust / Luftfaust, a WW2 prototype anti-aircraft rocket launcher designed by Nazi Germany. Sanya is able to channel her magic into the weapon, thereby making the rockets more powerful. The Fliegerhammer is also capable of something resembling automatic fire, in that the operator can fire one rocket after another simply by holding down the trigger.
Panzerfaust 30
Gertrud Barkhorn is seen carrying a pair of Panzerfaust 30s in the movie.