Battlefield Pickup Tokarev SVT 1940 OPERATION NORDWIND

[Ed Hicks]

Battlefield Pickup Tokarev SVT 1940...acquired by a US officer in the 70th Infantry Division 274th Infantry (Task Force Herren) after the battle of
Wingen-sur-Moder against the 6th SS Mountain Division and the 361st Volks Grenadier Division (OPERATION NORDWIND) in January 1945.

This is one of several weapons picked up immediately following the fighting...More details on the others later. Ed

[Ed Hicks]

2

[muddinman04]

That is really interesting! If only it could talk!

[Airforce1]

Even Finnish marked as well.

[besslein]

Even Finnish marked as well.

lol i see the marking SA,

[brus]

That is really interesting! If only it could talk!

Agreed!

[FestungSpanien]

I always thought finnish SA markings were postwar applied...nice gun btw

[Marcel Banziger]

A beauty!

[jurggie]

I love svt's, and one with so much history is certainly amazing to have.

[Ed Hicks]

SS Division Nord History link

SS Division Nord History link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6th_SS_..._Division_Nord

SVT 1940 history link:

http://ww2db.com/weapon.php?q=59

[NickG]

SA marked indeed! Amazing!

So it was captured by the Finns from Russia earlier in the war. It than ended up in German hands
(a trade? forcefully taken? battle field pick up?)
In 1944 the 6th SS Mountain Division pulled out if Finland (due to the armistice)
and redeployed on the West Front and that's how the rifle ended up on the battle field of Operation Nordwind!

[Ed Hicks]

SS Div. Nord captured weapons

This is the short list of weapons taken and shipped home from this battle: MG34, MG42, MP40, STG44, Czech ZB vz. 26 , Erma and Beretta SMGs, SVT-38, SVT-40, G-43, 98k...Not including the lot of pistols. Ed

[Ed Hicks]

I always thought finnish SA markings were postwar applied...nice gun btw

SVT-40 Ishevsk with a German test/capture proof overstamped to indicate use by the Wermacht. Interesting note: this gun is also Finnish capture marked (SA). Link at:
http://www.mosinnagant.net/ussr/Svt-Photos1.asp

[FestungSpanien]

Two new things learnt today
That WaA-med SVT is just amazing
Thanks for posting

SVT-40 Ishevsk with a German test/capture proof overstamped to indicate use by the Wermacht. Interesting note: this gun is also Finnish capture marked (SA). Link at:
http://www.mosinnagant.net/ussr/Svt-Photos1.asp

[Engelfeuer]

It looks like a fun one to fire!
I wonder if it was broken on purpose to prevent (re)capture and use?
Like so many others have said already, It'd be nice if this could tell it's story.