luger pic
 

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another pic
 

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cool....Falschirmjager trooper?

In the first photo, the Luger tucked in the guy's belt appears to have a circle on/in the upper grip... any ideas on this circle?

Pic one; In the context of the photo, the mark on the gun's grip is probably dried mud, which would be light as the area appears to be a clay soil area. I hypothesize this based on the similar mud smeared camouflage on the German helmets and the fact that the gun has been captured.
Pic 2; A very early Falshirmjager photo based on several factors;
- Early issue M1936, step-in green jump smock
- Bright, not subdued, belt buckle
- Helmet still retains eagle, has no cammo or covering, which was common mid-late war
- Falshirmjager troops were universally issued the P38. Very unusual, though not unheard of, to see a Luger issued to early troops.
He is holding his long jump gauntlets in his other hand and what appeares to be a barracks is visible in the background. A Training photo just prior to Eben-Emael??

The first photo looks to be a couple of Russians posing. The tunics do not look German and the belt on the one holding the Tok doesn't look German. Probably just my tired old eyes.
Best to all.

If the first photo is a couple of Russians posing, could the circle on the grip be a Finn property disk?

Looks like a SVT40 rifle....I was thinking the same thing about the disc looking object on the Luger grip.

Haaa. I'll bet they are Finns. That is why the disk is missing from the belted pistol and explains the Tok and tunics.

a proper disk?...

http://www.collectorssource.com/cata...32/image/8508/

and do not have the winged eagle over the pocket...

My first thought was that the right hand soldier looks like the 'servant' in "The Manchurian Candidate" (the first one). Then I thought that the left soldier looks African-American...Maybe a movie pic??? :confused:

The pic is labeled The Continuation War...

The two soldiers in the photo are clearly either Finnish or Russian. Those are not German uniforms. That's why I postulated that the Lugers were captured, but if they are indeed Finns, then they are their issued guns.

Great pics!
So,the consensus on the first pic is 2 Finns with a captured SVT40?
That would make sense, as the Finns fought the Russians in WW2 and where armed by the Germans. I have also read the Russian SVT40 was a prized battlefield pick up.
Bob

Tom, Both of the 2 men appear to have pistol lanyards attached! Do you own this photo?
Jerry Burney

Eric,
Yes, that is a "proper" disk. Thanks for the link, it is a good example of a Finnish Luger with the Finn installed replacement barrel made by Tikkakoski ("T" in a triangle in a circle trademark).
Ron

Hmmm...More Finnish battlefield pickups... :D

This may sound stupid, were the Finns our enemy in WW11 ?

Harry

Oh ya,!!!

Harry
Short answer,no.
The Finns where never our enemy. They where trying not to be invaded by the Soviets and went to the Germans for help. They fought the Soviets to a stalemate and as a result did not end up like the rest of Eastern Europe,a Soviet satellite state run by communists(AKA socialists).:_otopic:

For further info, read the Wikipedia article mentioned above.:burnout:

"There are no stupid questions,only stupid answers":thumbup:


Bob

Hello.

The first pic shows two finnish soldiers with a captured russian rifle...

jussi

The first pic shows two finnish soldiers with a captured russian rifle...

Jussi, I would have to look it up but are you sure? Looks German to me.

The rifle is without a doubt a Russian SVT 40 semi automatic rifle.

Cool..Shows you what I know! Looks like a serious battle rifle.

the story..............
 

Finnish soldiers during the Continuation War (1941-1944)
One is armed with German Luger P08 pistol and other one with a luger and a captured Soviet SVT-40 semi-automatic rifle.

Finns captured 4,000 SVT-40's during the Winter War and around 15,000 during the Continuation War.

Hi,

I'm curious if there is a source for this information? I would like to learn more about the distribution of the P.08 vs. the P.38 in the German forces during the war. Was this info gathered from Fallschirmjäger specific material? Is it known when the P.38 completely replaced the P.08 in Fallschirmjäger use?

Best regards,
DJ

Mostly gleaned through hundreds of photographs in FJ related books. I think the FJ transitioned from the P08 to the P38 in the same manner and time period as the Heer and other services , but perhaps, as an elite unit, receive the more modern firearm more quickly and completely. It is rare to see an FJ with a P08 after North Africa, which would be 1942.

Finland and the Western Allies

The Continuation War represents the only case of a genuinely democratic state participating in World War II on the side of the Axis powers, albeit without being a signatory of the Tripartite Pact. The United Kingdom declared war on Finland on 6 December 1941 (Finnish Independence Day), with Canada and New Zealand declaring war on Finland on 7 December and Australia and South Africa declaring war the

Cool, good info, I'll have to make note of it.

Thanks,
DJ