In that light, it is somewhat amazing that the German military lasted as long as it did.
The question of manpower was an exercise in careful allocation.
The question of firepower was answered by Germanys plentiful stocks of captured firearms from across Europe.
German soldiers man a Hotchkiss machine gun in a Tobruk pit on the Normandy coast prior to Operation Overlord. Image: Author’s collection
One strategy for acquiring manpower for coastal defense brought captured Red Army conscripts from East to West.
Consequently, their situation in Normandy was particularly confused, and their combat performance in Normandy was not impressive.
Even so, the Osttruppen brought several interesting small arms with them to France giving U.S.
A German MG08/15 machine gun in a camouflaged beachside bunker. Image: Author’s collection
Ordnance men the chance to review certain firearms they never expected to encounter.
The complexities of supplying foreign weapons put the Wehrmacht in a difficult position from a logistical perspective.
Heres a look at the key captured small arms used by the Germans during their defense of Normandy.
The Czech-made MG 30(t) started out as an aircraft machine gun. After Germany annexed Czechoslovakia, many of these guns were adapted for anti-aircraft work. Image: Author’s collection
In German service, the MAS-36 was called the 7.5mm Gewehr 242(f).
The Hotchkiss was heavy (the gun and tripod weighed about 105 pounds), but steady and reliable.
The LMG 24/29 weighed 20 pounds and was fed by a top-mounted 25-round box magazine.
American soldiers test a German-modified Renault UE Chenillette armored carrier vehicle captured in France. A MG15 has been added to provide firepower for the airfield security vehicle. Image: NARA
In German service, it was known as the 7.5mm Maschinengewehr 116(f).
The Reibel MG:The 7.5mm Reibel mle 1931 was the standard French tank machine gun in 1940.
The Reibel uses a side-mounted, 150-round drum magazine.
A U.S. Ordnance collection of German-employed weapons captured in Normandy, including a crossbow. Image: NARA
The cyclic rate is about 750 rounds per minute.
The German designation was 7.5mm Kampwagen-Maschinengewehr 311(f).
Czech Guns
Kulomet vz.
Many of the German garrison units in France were issued captured French MAS-36 rifles chambered in 7.5x54mm French. The MAS-36 was a reliable bolt-action rifle. Image: Author’s collection
Cyclic rate reached up to 800 rpm and the gun was fed by 225-round metal link belts.
26 was gladly taken into German service after the annexation of Czechoslovakia.
Chambered in 7.92x57mm, the vz.
These German troops man a Hotchkiss M1914 machine gun in France. This one used an articulated metal ammunition belt instead of the normal 30-round feed strips. Image: Author’s collection
26 was widely used by German troops throughout WWII as the 7.92mm Maschinengewehr 26(t).
Schwarzlose Machine Gun:The WWI-era Schwarzlose was another of the water-cooled MGs well suited for coastal defense.
Many of the Schwarzlose guns acquired from Czech and Austrian stocks were conveniently chambered in 7.92x57mm Mauser.
German troops train with the French FM 24/29 light machine gun on a shooting range. Image: Author’s collection
The German designation was 8mm Maschinengewehr 07/12.
German troops put captured Vickers MGs to good use in training, garrison, and in coastal defense duties.
In German service, the Vickers was designated the 7.7mm Maschinengewehr 230(e).
A French Reibel machine gun converted by the German Army for infantry use. It was captured in Normandy by soldiers with the U.S. Army. Image: Author’s collection
The supply of .303 ammunition and spare magazines was a significant hurdle for German logistics.
The German designation for the Bren was 7.7mm Maschinengewehr 138(e).
Access to .303 ammunition and spare ammunition drums made widespread use unfeasible.
The Czech-designed Vz. 37 heavy machine gun was chambered for the 7.92x57mm Mauser cartridge. Shown here is a specialized fortress MG variant. Other versions were made for tanks and infantry. Image: NARA
The German designation for the Lewis Gun was 7.7mm Maschinengewehr 137(e).
Polish Guns
CKM wz.
30: A Polish copy of the Colt commercial variant of the Browning M1917 machine gun.
A German soldier mans a Czech-made ZB vz. 26 machine gun in a seacoast bunker. An observer scans the ocean for the enemy. Image: Author’s collection
Chambered in 7.92x57mm Mauser, the wz.
30 was an excellent weapon for use within a bunker.
At least one wz.
U.S. soldiers examine captured German weapons. In the front is a Schwarzlose machine gun. On the table are a Soviet PPSh-41 and Hotchkiss M191. All were seized in Normandy. Image: NARA
30 has been confirmed in use on Omaha Beach during the morning of June 6th.
Browning wz.1928: Poland adopted a license-built version of theBrowning M1918 BARduring 1930.
A few of the wz 1928s were found by Allied troops in Normandy.
Poking out of this German bunker is a captured Vickers Gun in a coastal position near Cherbourg, France. Image: NARA
In German service the wz.
1928 was called the 7.9mm Maschinengewehr 154/1(p).
Even so, it seems that some of the Ostruppen units brought some of their firearms with them.
Private Putterill of the Royal Sussex Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, armed with a Bren gun during a patrol in November 1944. Image: Lt. W. Auston/British Army
Photos show U.S. ordnance troops reviewing them in the field, or G.I.s displaying them as trophies.
So far, German documentation regarding Russian small arms in France has not been found.
This Lewis gun was pressed into service with the German Army. It was installed in a Tobruk pit with a light armored shield. Image: Author’s collection
Shown in a bunker near Normandy is a Polish Ckm wz. 30, which was an unlicensed variant of the Colt Model 24. The Model 24 was a variant of the Browning M1917 machine gun. Image: Author’s collection
This Soviet DP-27 (7.62x54mmR) light machine gun was seized from German troops in Normandy. Image: Author’s collection
A German soldier keeps a watchful eye on the beaches along the Atlantic Wall. His weapon is a captured Soviet SVT-40 semi-automatic rifle. Author’s collection
