Hugo Schmeisser was a German firearms designer, best known for his work on automatic weapons during the early to mid-20th century. He played a significant role in the development of the MP 18, one of the first submachine guns used in combat, which influenced future firearm designs. Schmeisser also contributed to the design of the StG 44, the world's first assault rifle, which combined the features of both rifles and submachine guns. His innovations in firearm technology have had a lasting impact on military weaponry and are still studied by designers today.