French Captured Arms/Beutewaffen

It is quite common to see old photos of German soldiers with SVT-40 or PPSh 41, but less so with French military-issued firearms.

In this regard, I've found an interesting picture from the Bundesarchiv (the pic belongs to them) of a German soldier handling a Thompson M1921.



In september 1939, France finally understood they won't get enough PM MAS 1938 produced and ordered 3000 Thompson M1921. Apparently, it is one of them on the picture. I wondered where these are nowadays

For those interested, a nice compilation from a French firearm channel with pics of German soldiers with Lebel, Berthier, MAS 36, PM MAS 1938, Chauchat, FM 24/29 and so on:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5mQ0BarCow

in this book

https://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Y...JNRWCQ98F5R&psc=1&refRID=3SKSFT3R3JNRWCQ98F5R

the author talks about being on the Russian front (early war) and his unit having a French machinegun in the trenches. No pictures of it, and no details on what model it might have been. I cant imagine how or if they kept it supplied with ammo though.

Nice video, thanks for sharing it! I'd only seen one of those photos of the R35 in German use before.

A post-war analysis of German use of captured weapons listed French weapons as comprising a full 40% of those put to use.

Pat

Cool pic. I’ve seen pics of static German troops in France armed with MAS.36.

Intruder196 said:

in this book

https://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Y...JNRWCQ98F5R&psc=1&refRID=3SKSFT3R3JNRWCQ98F5R

the author talks about being on the Russian front (early war) and his unit having a French machinegun in the trenches. No pictures of it, and no details on what model it might have been. I cant imagine how or if they kept it supplied with ammo though.

Click to expand...

The French machine gun mentioned might have been acquired from Poland, who from what I have read, rebarreled their Hotchkiss MGs to fire 8mm mauser. That would solve the ammunition problem.

kampfy said:

The French machine gun mentioned might have been acquired from Poland, who from what I have read, rebarreled their Hotchkiss MGs to fire 8mm mauser. That would solve the ammunition problem.

Click to expand...

Hi kampfy,
Yes, chances are that the MG was this one:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ckm_wz._25_Hotchkiss
Generally speaking, the Wehrmacht may have been so delighted to get their hands on Polish and Czechoslovak arsenals with guns chambered in 7.92x57mm. Those guns may have gone to attack troops, contrary to those in odd calibers going to static or reserve troops.

I don't know if the Heereswaffenamt got involved at any point in who gets what, but it looks like the allocation of captured guns was improvisation across the board.