Sunday, July 20, 2008

Where in the War is the Gewehr


I was reading my copy of Brothers in Arms #2 last week when I noticed a panel that showed a German solider carrying a StG44 Sturmgewehr. (That over exposure to the history channel has finally paid off!) I was a little surprised to see this firearm depicted as part of the events of the Normandy Invasion, not that I know a lot about the history of firearms mind you, but it just seemed a little funny. I always believed the first assault rife was used mostly on the Eastern Front against the Russians and wasn’t a factor in the west until the Battle of the Bulge. So far, I've found nothing online to support its presence during D-Day, but it would be an interesting, little fact if it were true.


-Swinebread

9 comments:

Arkonbey said...

It could be the artist just wanted to draw a cool gun. It does look cooler than the venerable K98. Most artists get things wrong that history nerds latch onto, anyway (nerds like, say, me).

this site supports you in that it was mostly an Eastern front weapon.

this creepily comprehensive site has a lot on the history of its manufacture, but nothing on its deployment. It does have a photo of one designed to shoot around corners, though.

Arkonbey said...

Oh, concerning artists, I need to mention that Michael Golden worked on the best war comic ever.

Dean Wormer said...

I thought that weapon was also mostly found among SS and elite troops but, if my memory serves me right, you're correct about the eastern front.

Don Snabulus said...

I heard the D-Day Germans carried ME-262s. That is why the had chronic back pain.

(hee hee, that was an airplane, not a gun...don't taze me, bro!)

Swinebread said...

Arkonbey – Those are some interesting sites, very in-depth but alas, as you pointed out, nothing about the StG44 and the western front. On the history channel, they showed footage of a German solider carrying one during the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge but that’s it. It’s not impossible that there were a few at Normandy, but we will never know I bet…

Arkonbey – G.I. Joe?

Dean – You know dean, I’m not certain but I don’t think it was exclusive to elite troops but I could be wrong.

Snab – You can bet I’m gonna taze you bro… with my V-2…

Arkonbey said...

Swine: I hope you're joking. It was The 'Nam.

Snab: I like you. You make me laugh.

Pandabonium said...

Ausgezeichnet!

Dr. Zaius said...

Geeky Nazi Factoid! Interesting...

Swinebread said...

arky - I sure was heh heh

panda - Thanks

Doc - you just new those clever Germans invented the assault rife didn't you