Use of captured weapons by ID 302?

[landsknechte]

I've read references that state that Infanterie Division 302 was issued a lot of captured weapons when they were posted in France during the initial invasion of Russia. Does anyone know if this trend continued later on, once they hit the eastern front themselves (maybe circa 1944 or so)?

[DennyB]

I have never heard this mentioned. I would have thought that a German Infantry division would have been issued old stocks of Gew98s before they would have been issued captured weapons but that is pure speculation on my part. Toward the end of the war the Volkssturm units were issued a variety of weapons from foreign nations such as Italian Carcanos or Austro-Hungarian Steyr M-95s who were their allies. As far as being actually issued Russian, American or British weapons, I have never heard of this.
Of course there are the odd photos of German troops utilizing Russian PPsH 41s (some of these were converted to fire German 9mm), Tokarev rifles, and American M-1 carbines but I doubt that these were issued enmasse.
Denny

[landsknechte]

This is the one reference I can find right off the top of my head:

http://www.feldgrau.com/InfDiv.php?ID=206

[Tim G]

I've read references that state that Infanterie Division 302 was issued a lot of captured weapons when they were posted in France during the initial invasion of Russia. Does anyone know if this trend continued later on, once they hit the eastern front themselves (maybe circa 1944 or so)?

Ican't quote directly about ID 302. However i do know that areas of coastal troops ie normandy etc not only utilised volumes of captured weapons but were also heavy on non german troops and lower grade ie stomach and ear battalions.

I would be surprised if the weapons issued would extend to thier actuall small arms however. I was under the impression that it was mainly the support type of weapon that was issued and that they would have a fairly large volume of them, ie types that had been mass captured. France was considerd a bit of a backwater when the initial move against russia was made.

I also would have expected that on posting to a very active front ie france to russia the regt would have been equipped with standard german issue kit . They had enough problems with thier normal supplies never mind coping with
strange ammo requirements. Look what happend when they started to field the MP44 with the new short cartridge .....never could get enough of it.

Volk Myrvangs book on the MG34/42 actually states that rear eschelon and police units were also issued with reserve or captured weapons to free up the most modern bits of kit for the front troops. I have also read that the volksturm were lucky if they got a weapon and double lucky if the ammunition
actually fitted.

Regards
Tim