War Department Film  - Enemy Weapons      

German Infantry Small Arms – WWII

This film was shot by the Signal Corps as a training film to help American soldiers in the field learn how to use captured enemy weapons. Included are the:

– German Mouser Short Rifle Model 98K 7.92 mm caliber

– German Schmeisser Submachine Gun, MP40, 9 mm caliber

– German Machine Gun Model MG 34, 7.92 mm caliber, and

– German Machine Gun Model MG 42, 7.92 mm caliber

For those unfamiliar with German WWII weapons, the MP letters associated with the Schmeisser stand for Maschinenpistole. These kinds of weapons were submachine (note the emphasis on the prefix sub...) guns developed and used extensively by Fallschirmjäger (paratroopers), platoon and squad leaders, and of course the Waffen SS.  

The MG 34 on the other hand was a dual purpose full machine gun, able to serve as both a light and heavy weapon. In its various forms it could be mounted on a light bipod, an adjustable height antiaircraft triangle-pod, a heavy-weapon tripod where the shooter would sit on the ground behind the weapon and cradle it between his legs, and even bolted onto carriers like tanks mounts, aircraft and the like. To match its firepower to its capabilities, the weapon was able to be fed from any number of high capacity housings, including a standard 250 round belt fed from a box, and the smaller and more often seen 50 round "basket" type container, among others.

The movie shows you how to field strip and handle each of these four weapons. Don't be surprised if after you watch it you find yourself digging your own weapon out of the closet and heading out to the backyard to fire a few rounds. It's that kind of film, it makes you want to cradle a weapon, clean it, and then listen to it talk to you.

 

 

 -- Length 00:12:23 --