My parents were children of the Great Depression, and my father a combat veteran of WWII.

They made full use of everything they had.

Their economy still rings out in my mind any time I waste anything.

turret bunker H35 37mm Le Grande Vey

A tank turret bunker covering the entrance to the Carentan Canal at Le Grand Vey. Image: NARA

For theGerman troops defending the Atlantic Wall, any concepts of economy were in full effect.

Ammunition supply and spare parts proved to be the biggest challenges.

When using Russian-made equipment, training and maintenance guides were additional hurdles.

Soviet 122mm in German coastal position

This Russian 122mm M1931 gun was captured by Germany on the Eastern Front in the Soviet Union. It is located in a simple open position on the Normandy coast. A bunker is in the background. Image: NARA

These guns could fire a 34-pound shell out to about 7 miles.

Two variants of the Soviet-made 122mm Puska obr.

Most examples are seen placed on a turnstile in an open gun pit.

Czech 150mm artillery at Graville

This Czech vz.25 150mm howitzer was mounted on a turnstile in an open gun pit. Image: NARA

The Czech Skoda-built 15 cm hruba houfnice vz.

The vz.25 fired a 92-pound shell.

It fired a 43-pound shell up to 11 miles.

German troops with captured French 47mm APX AT gun B 429

The German troops examine a captured French 47mm APX anti-tank gun. Although a second-tier AT gun, it was used in large numbers on the Atlantic coast. Image: Author’s collection

The Anti-Aircraft Guns

German anti-aircraft defenses profited from their haul of captured French AA weapons.

One of the most important on the Atlantic Wall was the 2.5 cm Hotckiss 38 und 39.

RAF aircraft attacking the Atlantic Wall sometimes faced their own AA guns in the form of QF 3.7-inch guns.

French 47mm AT gun used by Germany

The Germans deployed many of the 47mm APX AT guns near the Normandy landing beaches. Author’s collection

As the Atlantic Wall grew, many leftover turrets from French light tanks were used as bunkers.

But, as we know, it was destined to fail.

However, these Frankenstein weapons at the beaches undoubtedly exacted a high price on the Allied forces landing there.

Germans use French Hotchkiss 39 20mm flak AA gun Atlantic Wall

German troops with a French Hotchkiss 39 25mm AA gun, covering a beach on the Atlantic coast in France. This photo was taken in May 1944. Image: Author’s collection

French tank turned into German turret bunker

Germans used obsolete French tank turrets to cover key areas. This APX R turret is from a R35 tank. A single soldier was responsible to load, sight and fire the 37mm gun. Image: Author’s collection

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