MP44 photo question...

[bodes]

Forum members, This photo came up for discussion on the US Militaria section of the forum.....Can anybody identify the nationality of the men in the photo and also the time frame....Obviously it's post WW2.....Bodes

[pitfighter]

As important a question - how are those bayonets staying in place?

Work out which bayonet that is Greek, Czech or Bulgarian, East/West German and work backwards from there.
It looks like it has loop for the barrel, which would likely require swapping out or removing the MP44 thread protector, and welding a bayonet lug beneath the barrel.
The wartime MP44 had no bayonet lug - the mkb42(h) did, but those rifles are MP44/STg44 variants.

You could possibly do the same detective work with the Helmet style, but, that's not my thing.

Same with a three strap gaiter - brits and germans used two straps, a fun game for someone.

[Wilhelm]

My thought as well. Duct tape?

[STG44]

I can't see the picture.

[me6_130]

The bayos look like SVT40...

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...t=svt40&page=3

Carles

[bodes]

As important a question - how are those bayonets staying in place?

Work out which bayonet that is Greek, Czech or Bulgarian, East/West German and work backwards from there.
It looks like it has loop for the barrel, which would likely require swapping out or removing the MP44 thread protector, and welding a bayonet lug beneath the barrel.
The wartime MP44 had no bayonet lug - the mkb42(h) did, but those rifles are MP44/STg44 variants.

You could possibly do the same detective work with the Helmet style, but, that's not my thing.

Same with a three strap gaiter - brits and germans used two straps, a fun game for someone.

There's got to be some sort of "lug" attached to the barrel....You would think welding something to the barrel though would cause warpage....My thoughts are a central or south American country receiving weapons from a communist country like Russia(?).....Argentina came to mind but they used WW2 German style helmets for a while...Bodes

[Alan Smith]

I don't see any improvised bayonet lug or other mounting point being present on the Stg.'s. In fact, the bayonets appear to simply be "hung" from the Stg.'s for purposes of making a dramatic appearing photo. As noted by another poster, the muzzle nuts seem to have been removed to permit the bayonets to attach.

[leaftree]

Movie...

In fact, the bayonets appear to simply be "hung" from the Stg.'s for purposes of making a dramatic appearing photo.

I would agree with that assessment.

Was thinking that this could also be some picture from an old European movie or such, a bunch of extras posing for a photo.

Regards,

[pitfighter]

Definitely no Bayonet lug on the MP44 on the right - so they're just hanging, not for thrusting that's for sure, lol.

[HAF]

realy interesting ,looking on the faces they dont look pure europeans

[pitfighter]

realy interesting ,looking on the faces they dont look pure europeans

I don't know about that - but, definitely too well fed for a wartime photo.

[Geof]

What are the helmets? Czech Mod 32's?

[pitfighter]

What are the helmets? Czech Mod 32's?

Some of those old Czech uniforms are strange - with the high waste.
http://www.swisslink.com/products/ca...niform-19-132/

[Geof]

Yeah so my guess is Czech, sometime prior to 1950-51 when the Soviet M1940 helmet replaced the M32/34

[Wilhelm]

The faces look S. American/Latin to me.