Old MG34 pics.

[pitfighter]

My daughter bought me an old German photo album - the majority of the pics are Maxim machineguns, but there was a pic of an MG34 in AA mode, as well as two pics of MG34's at the shooting range - on what looks like a cold day, the sheepskin coats look serious.
The photo-album was dated 1939 - but the photos themselves were dated 1941 on the reverse.
I know these should probably be in the photos forum, but they are of a specific and interesting enough nature i thought I would post here.

I was looking for a reference for my MG34 set-up, the pic is pretty good.

At Range:




In AA config:



Pit.
PS. Some MG shots, for the water cooled amongst you.

[MG42 cra]

Great pics Pit!!!

[lebus12]

I like them!

[Bill T]

Very nice Pitfighter, I enjoy these early MG photos as well. If you look on the shoulderstrap on that nice Camo helmet pic, there seems to be a "13 or 18"......possible unit ID?

[pitfighter]

Hi Bill,

Yes, it looks like a 12 or 13.

Here is the inscription on the inside of the cover:




There were lot's of parade and marching out pics in the photo's my daughter and I found one of the hotel Denner, that we then found pics of on the internet, very little had changed - we thought about sending the pic of the soldiers posing out front, then decided against it.

Then:


Now:
Aussenansicht des Hotels - Bild Denner Hotel Heidelberg

I love studying these old pics -

I have decided to add one of those big sheepskin set-ups to my uniform collection, lol!

Pit.

[Bill T]

Awesome Before and After comparisons! I know, some people miss important things in the background in pics...which can really tell you a lot. And yeah, tough call on sending the photo....some people might not accept it as a scene of history, as we would sadly.
Those big coats were popular in Poland, as I have some pics of them in wear there. Would make a cool display with an M35 helmet and winter boots. They had white and brown/black colors too! lol

[pitfighter]

These pics are very small in person.
I didn't really notice until looking over these enlargements.
But, it looks like the fusee cover and water cooling end cap are polished brass on the MG08/15.
What are the thoughts on this?
Strange practice if they are, especially considering the effort made with the camouflage.
*It looks like the same three soldiers in both pics, so perhaps they're just taking training photos.

Thoughts?

Pit.

[Bill T]

Yes, certainly training photos Pit. They are always very nice images too IMO.

Here is the unit info from Lexicon:
Gliederung MG-Bataillone
Seems that in Jan 1941, they were one of the first battalions sent to Libya! Later companies 1-4 were integrated into the Schutzen regiment for 15 panzer division. Very cool

[LizardKing]

Cool photos! First post, first photo : A visor hat wearing officer shooting an MG34!!!! COOL
second from the end photo : Nice camouflage job... I love seeing camouflaged soldiers in period pictures!

[severin]

Cracking pictures, I zoomed up the picture of the Mg34 AA set up (3rd pic) it's an early one, 4 hole barrel jacket with a machined top cover.
What I spotted and haven't got a clue what it is nor seen anything like it before, is there's something attached to the lower half of the pistol grip, and something else, like a silver disk above it on the receiver. Great, great pictures Pit. Jonathan.