MG42 in Afrika?

[uwezankl]

Hello Afrika fans...

A quick question...did the Fallschirmjäger that served in Afrika already have MG42s? I assume they could have in the end stages in Tunisia but I am not sure. I am pretty certain that the Ramcke brigade did not have any.

thanks a lot
Uwe

[Maus]

I would say yes because the first Mg42s were used in Afrika .

[John Hodgin]

Ramcke MG teams are seen with MG 34s. Do not remember a photo of them with 42s, but they could have used them. If MG42s were used in numbers in Africa, would agree with you that they were used mainly in Tunisia.
Regards,
John

[Edgar Alcidi]

It could be, but I have never seen a picture of a member of the brigade Ramcke with it. Only MG 34 so far.

[John Hodgin]

A photo which will appear in Volume 2 of my book, which is still in progress. Ramcke MG gunner, cleaning his 34.

[Edgar Alcidi]

a really nice one John, can´t wait to see your work!

here another one (showed in my book) with MG that you may appreciate (with few nice details...)

[John Hodgin]

Wonderful photo Edgar! The cap, the knee pads, the helmet cover, ALL

[Edgar Alcidi]

I always wondered why in the world he was with knee pads there.
All FJ know that a "jump" mission in Africa was not planned
Do you think that the pads are tan?

[Maus]

Look at the G I s in Irak .They also wear kneepads. Verry usefull for close combat in buildings to protect your knees.

[John Hodgin]

Do you think that the pads are tan?

Do not know, but it would be soooo neat if they are. Can you post a detail of them?

Edgar, do you know who the photographer was? The photos you have been sharing are sharp and well exposed, the average soldier did not usually take such quality photographs.

Looking forward to getting my hands on your book!

[Edgar Alcidi]

Look at the G I s in Irak .They also wear kneepads. Verry usefull for close combat in buildings to protect your knees.

Interesting theory Raoul, it could make sense.

[Edgar Alcidi]

Do not know, but it would be soooo neat if they are. Can you post a detail of them?

Edgar, do you know who the photographer was? The photos you have been sharing are sharp and well exposed, the average soldier did not usually take such quality photographs.

Looking forward to getting my hands on your book!

Thanks!
you are right, this is a PK picture, the quality is very good, not the average soldier quality. I cannot remember the Berichter right now, I´ll need to check my stuff, but I am moving to a new home and my office is a real chaos.
Anyway, here a list of know Berichter in Africa attached to FJ (not only Schnitzer and Rechemberg was there):
Rechenberg
Schnitzer
Jacobi
Seeger
Reisgen

Here a detail, this is the best I can do here, sorry.

[Stijn David]

Mg 42

Hello,


Here is a picture out of a glider album - this picture s taken in Tunesia when the soldier actually was serving with the Lw. feldregt. Barenthin.

As can be seen, also no MG 42 => instead a MG 34 with Mag.

Will browse my othe rpictrues to see iff a MG 42 can be found in this wartheathere from the Barenthin guys.


Cordial greetings,

[NZMark]

As an aside to the Fj connection, mg42's first saw use at El Elamein in 1942, so there is a possibility that they were used by LW ground forces at that time...
Regards,
Mark

[John Hodgin]

Hello,


Here is a picture out of a glider album - this picture s taken in Tunesia when the soldier actually was serving with the Lw. feldregt. Barenthin.

As can be seen, also no MG 42 => instead a MG 34 with Mag.

Will browse my othe rpictrues to see iff a MG 42 can be found in this wartheathere from the Barenthin guys.


Cordial greetings,

Really like this photo Stijn! Look at those low Luftwaffe boots!


Mark, believe the first MG 42s went to the Army, but you may be correct that Ramcke Brigade received some as well. A photo of an MG 42 in use at El Alamein would be a rare and historically significant!
John