Foreign Weapons at the Nazi’s “Atlantic Wall” By Tom Laemlein

World War II was the greatest clash of men and machines in human history. And yet despite the innovative engineering and all the human heroism on the battlefield, the engine of victory came down to industrial output, economics and logistics. In that light, it is somewhat amazing that the German military lasted as long as it did.

German soldiers man a Hotchkiss machine gun in a Tobruk pit on the Normandy coast prior to Operation Overlord. Image: Author’s collection

By 1944, Germany was critically short on manpower as well as the industrial capacity to supply their armies in the field. The Russian front consumed an outrageous amount of the Reich’s resources (estimates range up to almost 70% of all German casualties happening on the Eastern Front). Equipping the Atlantic Wall presented a huge challenge — and the Germans chose to spend their resources in the East, while economizing their defenses on the Western European coastlines.

German MG08/15 machine gun in a camouflaged beachside bunker. Image: Author’s collection

To make it work, the planners in Berlin needed to find the men to serve their cause, and weapons for them to use. The question of manpower was an exercise in careful allocation. The question of firepower was answered by Germany’s plentiful stocks of captured firearms from across Europe.

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

One strategy for acquiring manpower for coastal defense brought captured Red Army conscripts from East to West. About 6% of the troops defending Normandy in 1944 were from the Caucuses and Central Asia and were Germany’s “Eastern Battalions.”

G.I.s were surprised to find German troops with Asian faces soon after the D-Day landings, and it was soon learned that the “Osttruppen” soldiers were former conscripts of the Soviet army that volunteered to fight alongside the Germans, or were otherwise coerced to serve the Germans to avoid the horrors of Nazi POW camps.

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 Germany’s bid to free up as much manpower as possible, these eastern troops were brought to the Atlantic coast to provide manual labor in building fortifications, and if needed, coastal defense duty. As it turns out, they had little motivation to fight against American or British troops — their hatred was reserved for Stalin and the Soviet commissars that had conscripted them years before. 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. Ordnance men the chance to review certain firearms they never expected to encounter.

A U.S. Ordnance collection of German-employed weapons captured in Normandy, including a crossbow. Image: NARA

Here’s a look at the key captured small arms used by the Germans during their defense of Normandy.

French Guns

The MAS-36 rifle: The MAS-36 rifle was still new to the French Army in 1940, with many unissued at the time of the German invasion. Chambered in 7.5x54mm French, the MAS-36 was a good rifle and was a welcome addition to the Wehrmacht’s arsenal for garrison troops based in France. In German service, the MAS-36 was called the 7.5mm Gewehr 242(f).

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

The M1914 Hotchkiss MG: The Hotchkiss Mle 1914 was one of the primary MGs of World War I and was still serving in the French Army during the spring of 1940. The Hotchkiss was heavy (the gun and tripod weighed about 105 pounds), but steady and reliable. The Germans classified it as the 8mm Maschinengewehr 257(f), and many were in use throughout German coastal defense positions in France.

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

The FM 24/29 Light Machien Gun: France developed the FM 1924/29 just after World War I and found themselves an efficient light machine gun. The LMG 24/29 weighed 20 pounds and was fed by a top-mounted 25-round box magazine. Captured in large numbers in 1940, the Germans issued the LMG 24/29 to many of their coastal defense, garrison, and anti-partisan units in France. In German service, it was known as the 7.5mm Maschinengewehr 116(f).

German troops train with the French FM 24/29 light machine gun on a shooting range. Image: Author’s collection

The Reibel MG: The 7.5mm Reibel mle 1931 was the standard French tank machine gun in 1940. A lesser-known weapon, the Germans used the Reibel as an AA machine gun, and equipped some with a simple bipod and shoulder stock for use by garrison troops. The Reibel uses a side-mounted, 150-round drum magazine. The cyclic rate is about 750 rounds per minute. The German designation was 7.5mm Kampwagen-Maschinengewehr 311(f).

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

Czech Guns

Kulomet vz. 37: Also known as the ZB-53, this excellent Czech heavy MG design was widely used by German forces throughout the war in various roles — SS field units used them through 1942. Cyclic rate reached up to 800 rpm and the gun was fed by 225-round metal link belts. The Germans adapted a special fortress mount for the weapon, which they dubbed 7.92mm Maschinengewehr MG 37(t).

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

Kulomet vz. 26: One of the outstanding light machine guns of all time (and the predecessor of the British Bren Gun) the vz. 26 was gladly taken into German service after the annexation of Czechoslovakia. Chambered in 7.92x57mm, the vz. 26 was widely used by German troops throughout WWII as the 7.92mm Maschinengewehr 26(t).

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

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. The German designation was 8mm Maschinengewehr 07/12.

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

British Guns

The Vickers Gun: The Vickers machine gun served as Britain’s standard heavy machine gun throughout WWI and WWII. 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).

Poking out of this German bunker is a captured Vickers Gun in a coastal position near Cherbourg, France. Image: NARA

The Bren LMG: The Bren Gun is one of the greatest light machine guns of all time, and the Germans were happy to use them whenever possible. Some were acquired in the weapons left behind at Dunkirk, others were captured in the Balkans, and a few more from those air-dropped into France for the Resistance. 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).

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

The Lewis Gun: Some Lewis Guns left behind in France after the Dunkirk evacuation were used for training as well as the defense of the Atlantic Wall. Access to .303 ammunition and spare ammunition drums made widespread use unfeasible. The German designation for the Lewis Gun was 7.7mm Maschinengewehr 137(e).

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

Polish Guns

CKM wz. 30: A Polish copy of the Colt commercial variant of the Browning M1917 machine gun. Chambered in 7.92x57mm Mauser, the wz. 30 was an excellent weapon for use within a bunker. At least one wz. 30 has been confirmed in use on Omaha Beach during the morning of June 6^th.

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

Browning wz.1928: Poland adopted a license-built version of the Browning M1918 BAR during 1930. Chambered in 7.92 x 57mm, these automatic rifles were readily taken on by the Wehrmacht after Poland fell in September 1939. A few of the wz 1928s were found by Allied troops in Normandy. In German service the wz. 1928 was called the 7.9mm Maschinengewehr 154/1(p).

Russian Guns

While Soviet small arms were used in large numbers by German troops on the Russian front, it was quite rare to find Red Army small arms on the Western Front. The lack of Russian ammunition (7.62x54mmR for rifles and machine guns, and 7.62x25mm Tokarev for pistols and SMGs) was a significant hurdle in their use in France.

This Soviet DP-27 (7.62x54mmR) light machine gun was seized from German troops in Normandy. Image: Author’s collection

Even so, it seems that some of the “Ostruppen” units brought some of their firearms with them. 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.

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

At this point, it is a minor footnote to the Normandy invasion, and a slice of WWII firearms trivia that raises several “what if” questions in the minds of collectors. The following are the Soviet small arms photographed after capture by U.S. troops in France during 1944:

TT-33 pistol, German: 7.62 Pistole 615(r)
DP-27 LMG, German: 7.62mm Maschinengewehr 120(r)
PPSh-41 SMG, German: 7.62mm Maschinenpistole 716(r)
SVT-40 semi-auto rifle, German: 7.62mm Selbstladegewehr 259(r)

Conclusion

While ultimately there was no practical way the Germans could withstand the Allies’ assaults on both fronts, these efforts in the Western Front showed how desperate the Germans were at this point.

Additionally, the use of these foreign weapons makes for a fascinating historical footnote for one of the most important points in the history of World War II — the breaching of the “Atlantic Wall” by the Allies, leading to the eventual downfall of the third Reich.