A couple days ago, just because I was curious, I asked Uncle Internet WHO COINED THE TERM ‘ASSAULT RIFLE’, and the top result was Wikipedia and this info:
The term assault rifle is generally credited to Adolph Hitler, who, for propaganda purposes, used the German word Sturmgewehr (which translates to assault rifle) as the new name for the MP43, later known as the StG 44.
I was curious and checked for myself after hearing mention of that origin elsewhere (don’t recall who or where). I’m not certain the current use of the term for the purpose of propaganda is coincidental, although Hitler probably intended to inspire confidence while today’s use may be to inspire fear. Either way, propaganda is propaganda…