"captured weapons" Topic

Are there many instances of the Wehrmacht using captured Soviet equipment in any theatres of operations other than the Eastern Front?

Thanks,
Steve

There are some photos that have surfaced of T-34s captured in France from a depot. No actual evidence they were used, that I am aware of, but the intent might have been there…

Spares probably were an issue, so that might explain why they were not used…

Damon.

Go to google type in German Sherman tank and you get a bunch of pictures.

They used lots of captured stuff in North Africa.

Apart from the T34s mentioned above, I don't think so.
Not sure what the Ostbattalions in France were equipped with. Did they use captured Russian kit or German? Can't imagine them being too far up the priority list for the good stuff.

A lot of Soviet F-22 divisional guns (76mm) were taken by the Germans on converted to fire PAK40 ammo. In this form it was designated FK35(r). Many of these made it to North Africa, for example on the Diana SP mount:

Also, when Skorzeny was putting togther Panzer Brigade 150 for the Ardennes offensive, he was offered all sorts of captured Russian equipment, despite the fact that he need US stuff.

Soviet 122mm 'Gaubitsa' guns were issued to some units in France 1944. Gaz trucks were also used there. T60 or 70 light tanks may have been used without turrets as tractors.

Many of the units which fought in France had artillery regiments partly or entirely equipped with Soviet artillery. Some even had 45mm AT guns (admittedly Ost battalions).

Zetterling lists the interesting equipment combos in 'Normandy 1944'.

Absolutely! Das reich had ~25 t34s at kursk. The ppsh was used. Artillery and trucks. french tanks. To name a few. But yes lack of spares and ammo is a problem.

Forgot all about the guns. I was thinking of tanks and small arms. Soviet artillery was everywhere.

Lot's of Czech tanks in 1940 and 41. British tanks in N. Africa. A few US vehicles during the Bulge. They used lots of Italian trucks after their surrender, but I haven't seen any references to guns or tanks.

The OP specifically referred to Soviet equipment being used outside of Russia.

Weren't several KV2's earmarked for the invasion of Malta…..did they ever get to Italy…..?
I recall reading of T34's being used by the Italians too but only in Russia….they would have stirred things up in North Africa if they had spares etc to support them and they dodged the RN crossing the Med…
Did the Germans deploy anything to the Balkans maybe armoured cars more than tanks-they used some French armour there…

"Weren't several KV2's earmarked for the invasion of Malta"

There were indeed, I'd forgotten about them. Modified with German cupolas. No idea what happened to all of them though although I rcollect from 'Stalins Heavy Tanks' that at least one of them ended up fighting somewhere bizarre – for some reason I'm thinking Alsace or the Rhineland, but I'm not sure.

Outside artillery most captured stuff stayed in theatre at least after '41. Availability of spares being the main reason. Barbarossa was the main occasion when western equipment went east. Lots of captured French and British being used. Tanks mostly in reserve units though, although Flamm Panzer Char B's and some A13's made it into proper combat units. IIRC there was also a plan to land KV1's on Malta, but as we know the invasion was cancelled.

They used lots of Italian trucks after their surrender, but I haven't seen any references to guns or tanks.

Italian P26/40 "heavy" tanks were used by the Germans at Anzio, among other places, under the designation Panzerkampfwagen P40 737(i).

Only a hundred or so made, but take what you can get.

I believe the Kv-2's ended up in the Balkans.

Fatman

The KV-2s ended up on the Eastern Front, which is a damned shame for us panzer trivialists…

One of my favourites is the Flakpanzer t-34

link

As most of the above guys are mainly looking at tanks or vehicles, I thought I would mention some guns. Quite a few rebored 76.2mm Russian Field Guns were shipped out to Africa.

Having done plenty research on the Panzer Lehr they used the heavier Russian 152mm field guns instead of some German 150s in Normandy .:)

Lots of captured Russian artillery was used in the west. Not just Normandy, but in Italy too. The Germans produced ammo for all the main Russian calibres. No real hardship, of course, they were excellent weapons.

What about small arms? Was it primarily the PPSH?

I believe some of the early-model Marder IIIs that used captured Russian guns were sent to North Africa.

"What about small arms? Was it primarily the PPSH?"

Not sure how common the PPsH was (outside of 'Cross of Iron!) although it was given a German designation.

Many hundreds of thousands of captured SVT-40s were issued though.

I can't say I've seen photogrpahic evidence of either being used in the West though.