petersen43
Well-known member
Wanted to repost this story here, I finally found the right forum for it.
About 12 years ago I purchased an all stamped matching (except magazine) Russian SVT40 through Gunbroker. The rifle had been moderately sporterized which included Lyman front and rear sights, removal of the upper portion of the original rear sight, and a finish applied to the unsanded stock.
As most of us know, finding an original stamped matching SVT40 is very uncommon; but what I found in the buttstock was what made it so unusual. There's a hole bored in the stock beneath the buttplate in all SVT40s presumably to lighten the rifle, and in this hole I found a sheet of paper rolled up containing a handwritten note written in German.
By good fortune my neighbor across the street is German, and his wife who's American speaks fluent German.
I left the note with them, and after some time with it they returned the note along with a printed translation.
According to my neighbor, the note is in fact written as a poem. There is a word that precedes Belarus which they couldn't make out; presumably a town in Belarus. I bought the rifle personally from a gunshop and its extremely unlikely the seller knew it was in there. My neighbors researched the name in the poem and they had told me there is a memorial (they said museum) in Germany dedicated in this mans honor, however I have not yet contacted them.
The translation reads
"The Russians meant for your bullets to take the lives of many Germans, but we took you with us so that you don't fall apart.
You should serve a better purpose, and none of us will throw you in the dirt.
One should use you to shoot rabbits, does, stags, and geese, foxes, martens, polecats, and the quick weasel.
You won't be aimed against us anymore, because Germany is on guard.
Captured during the Russian campaign in July 1941 in __, Belarus by first lieutenant Horst Von Meien.
Taken care of by private Alfred Muttermann. Packed on February 26, 1942 to be sent to Germany."
My neighbor believes the poem was written by Private Muttermann as it ends with the initials 'A.M.'
I still have the SVT, an Izhevsk 1940.
The original note is shown here, written in pencil along with the printed translation. If anyone can help determine the word preceding Belarus, I would very much appreciate it.
Ps-the front sight is still unmounted due to the fact the base dovetail was overcut for the Lyman sight. While I can swap the muzzle extension, I prefer to retain the original and have the dovetail restored. If anyone knows of someone qualified, please let me know. Thank you
About 12 years ago I purchased an all stamped matching (except magazine) Russian SVT40 through Gunbroker. The rifle had been moderately sporterized which included Lyman front and rear sights, removal of the upper portion of the original rear sight, and a finish applied to the unsanded stock.
As most of us know, finding an original stamped matching SVT40 is very uncommon; but what I found in the buttstock was what made it so unusual. There's a hole bored in the stock beneath the buttplate in all SVT40s presumably to lighten the rifle, and in this hole I found a sheet of paper rolled up containing a handwritten note written in German.
By good fortune my neighbor across the street is German, and his wife who's American speaks fluent German.
I left the note with them, and after some time with it they returned the note along with a printed translation.
According to my neighbor, the note is in fact written as a poem. There is a word that precedes Belarus which they couldn't make out; presumably a town in Belarus. I bought the rifle personally from a gunshop and its extremely unlikely the seller knew it was in there. My neighbors researched the name in the poem and they had told me there is a memorial (they said museum) in Germany dedicated in this mans honor, however I have not yet contacted them.
The translation reads
"The Russians meant for your bullets to take the lives of many Germans, but we took you with us so that you don't fall apart.
You should serve a better purpose, and none of us will throw you in the dirt.
One should use you to shoot rabbits, does, stags, and geese, foxes, martens, polecats, and the quick weasel.
You won't be aimed against us anymore, because Germany is on guard.
Captured during the Russian campaign in July 1941 in __, Belarus by first lieutenant Horst Von Meien.
Taken care of by private Alfred Muttermann. Packed on February 26, 1942 to be sent to Germany."
My neighbor believes the poem was written by Private Muttermann as it ends with the initials 'A.M.'
I still have the SVT, an Izhevsk 1940.
The original note is shown here, written in pencil along with the printed translation. If anyone can help determine the word preceding Belarus, I would very much appreciate it.
Ps-the front sight is still unmounted due to the fact the base dovetail was overcut for the Lyman sight. While I can swap the muzzle extension, I prefer to retain the original and have the dovetail restored. If anyone knows of someone qualified, please let me know. Thank you
