Gran Sasso pouches

[Óscar G]

Hi everyone:
I´ve been always intrigued with these pouches worn by the SS men engaged in the Gran Sasso operation. I have never seen them before. Which is its "official" denomination? Any other photo showing them in use will be welcome.
Since I´m rather a "ignorant" in the equipment issues, your help will be very useful . Many thanks in advance and best regards.
Óscar

[Laurence Strong]

Could be for the SG44?????

[Frank Schneider]

I think they are pouches for the MP28. They are all leather, so for me, that rules out the MP44 pouches. Looks like it's one, big pouch, without dividing compartments for the separate magazines (so not like the MP38/40).

Frank.

[Michael Kuligowski]

maybe this are some italian pouches for italian submachine guns ?!?!? Manny !! where are You - You know a bit of italian stuff

ciao !!

[derspiess63]

maybe this are some italian pouches for italian submachine guns ?!?!? Manny !! where are You - You know a bit of italian stuff

ciao !!

[Michael Kuligowski]

hmm.. Is that means.. You dont know about italian stuff ???

[derspiess63]

hmm.. Is that means.. You dont know about italian stuff ???

Well...let's put it like this;I don't know what those pouches were intended for , but the world's full of much more informed collectors and moderators !
(Nice picture amigo...muchissimas gracias!)
Take care
Manny

[Carl Ellingstad]

Cause of the poor detail photo of the pouches its difficult, but only "magazine pouch" who have that size and configuration is the MP28 magazine pouch. Mostly used by Polizei and SS troops. If there exist other photos from this photo who shows their weapon, you would have the answer I guess

Regards

Carl

[kmh]

Hi

Like you guy's I have been wonder what that could be? It look like the front "flap" have a triangel kind of shape?? So no map case! Otherwise full leather I can't see if the pouches only are wearing in the belt or they also is attaced to the y-strap hooks??
Anyway unfortunately I also have give to give up! But I guess it must be as suggested Italian or early Austrian gear or?

Regards
Kim

[Jos L C]

Hello Óscar ,

Maybe you can also ask in the " Fire arms forum "..
Some guys there know about holsters and mag. pouches etc..


Jos.<!-- / message --><!-- attachments -->

[Óscar G]

Thanks for your inputs! I couldn´t think it was so difficult... I´ll follow your advice, Jos. Anyway, I´ve tried to resize the pic, so that it shows better the "misterious" pouche/bag. As far as I can see, they are attached to the hooks...
Regards. Óscar

[Bergflak]

Case closed!

Thanks for your inputs! I couldn´t think it was so difficult... I´ll follow your advice, Jos. Anyway, I´ve tried to resize the pic, so that it shows better the "misterious" pouche/bag. As far as I can see, they are attached to the hooks...
Regards. Óscar

Undoubtably for the MP28/II. Pictured at page 314 in "Uniforms and traditions vol III" (if the book is correct). Stated as "saw service with garrison and second-line troops" (!). So now we know where he recruited the troopers that took part in the Gran Sasso operation

[Bergflak]

Eeeehrrr....

On the other hand, I am not so sure anymore! One of the guys wearing the pouches is obviously working at the hotel, since he is performing his picollo duties. That has got to be "second-line troops" if anything is .

[Óscar G]

Thanks, Bergflak. OK, so we can state that they are for the MP28/II. I was lucky enough and found this other photographic reference. It shows SS General Stroop in the Warsaw Ghetto during the fighting. Among the troops around him, at the left, is a police officer in a leather coat holding a supposed MP41 with... similar pouches than "our man" in the Gran Sasso.
By the way, this "bellboy" is SS-Obersturmführer Karl Radl, Otto Skorzeny´s adjutant at that time. Skorzeny, Radl and 15 SS men from the "Sonderverband zbV Friedenthal" took part in the operation. Skorzeny had been invited as an "observer" without command in the operation, but - as we can see - they "rushed to protect and take care of" Mussolini... We all know the end of the story and the version made by the austrian "master in self-promotion".
The civilian between Radl and the "Duce" was one of the responsibles in the custody of Mussolini in the Gran Sasso: the inspector Giuseppe Gueli. Behind him appears the Carabinieri General Soleti. Another of Skorzeny´s man, the SS-Untersturmführer Schwerdt, is behind Mussolini.
This operation is one of the first documented uses of the FG42, the gun designed specifically for the Fallschirmjäger. It´s curious that we can see this "advanced gun" and the MP28, a "second line" one, together.
Regards. Óscar