This is the bar issued to French service members who served in the Atlantic Theatre between September 3rd 1939 and May 8th 1945. It was intended to be placed on the Commemorative Medal of the 1939-45 War, like this example here.
Archive for WW2
Atlantique Bar for the Commemorative Medal of the 1939-45 War
Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags Battle of the Atlantic, France, WW2 on October 8, 2021 by The Dude
German Vehicle Ammunition Box for MG34/42
Posted in Magazines, Parts & Accessories with tags Ammunition, Germany (Third Reich), Heer, MG34, MG42, WW2 on October 6, 2021 by The Dude
Nice simple item here. This is the ammunition box that was carried inside vehicles mounted with an MG34 or MG42, like the SdKfz 250/251 Halftracks. This is a nice early one dated 1939 and manufactured by Franke & Co GMBH, Machinenwerke in Leipzig.
German B-1E Incendiary Bomb
Posted in Bombs with tags Bombs, Germany (Third Reich), Luftwaffe, WW2 on October 5, 2021 by The DudeThis is a nasty little piece of work and the third of my German Luftwaffe bombs. This is a 1kg Elektron-Brande-Bombe. It was originally filled with 680g of thermite and was dropped in conjunction with HE bombs. The HE bomb, like this one here, punched a hole in the roof of the building and this little shyte burned the building down. Obviously dewat but still a bit of fun.
Yugoslav M1924/30 Bayonet
Posted in Bayonets with tags Bayonets, Germany (Third Reich), WW2, Yugoslavia on October 5, 2021 by The Dude
This bayonet is the Yugoslav M1924/30 model, used by the Germans as the S109(j). It is intended to fit the M24 Mauser pattern rifle to be seen here. This one was manufactured by Vojno Technicki Zavod and has their triangular ricasso stamp with BT3 inside.
Anti-Japanese Postcard “Slap the Jap off the Map”
Posted in Paper, Propaganda Items with tags Anti-Axis, Empire of Japan, Propaganda, United States, WW2 on September 23, 2021 by The Dude
Immediately after the attack on Pearl Harbour, American capitalism and racist jingoism met and fell in love. Their offspring was a flood of dime-store tat that was fed to the public in an ultimately successful attempt to stir feeling enough that they were prepared to spend whatever it took to defeat the Empire of Japan. Here is an example from my collection of a postcard printed for that purpose.
Slap That Jap Propaganda Sheetmusic
Posted in Propaganda Items with tags Anti-Axis, Empire of Japan, Music, Propaganda, United States, WW2 on September 23, 2021 by The DudeHere’s a second variation on the sheet music for that classic agi-prop song, “We’re gonna have to slap the Dirty Little Jap”. The other one I have is here, and the record is here. The lengths the US Government had to go to get the US people fired up for war were pretty extreme at times and resorted to gross caricature and racism in most cases.
Luftwaffe SD-50 Aerial Bomb
Posted in Bombs with tags Aerial Bombs, Germany (Third Reich), Luftwaffe, WW2 on September 20, 2021 by The DudeHere’s something you don’t see every day. This is a German 50kg General Purpose bomb. I can understand why people don’t collect these things. It’s huge and its almost fallen over on my foot a couple of times. This is the third aerial bomb I have collected, after an SD-2 here and an incendiary BD that I haven’t posted yet. These things aren’t really my core focus but how many aerial bombs do you get offered?
A Rare Loader for the MP41 Machine-Pistol
Posted in Ammo & Magazine Pouches, Ammunition, Magazines, Parts & Accessories with tags Germany (Third Reich), Heer, MP41, WW2 on April 3, 2021 by The DudeA few years ago I picked up a Haenel manufactured MP41 Machine Pistol. These are pretty rare because they only made about 20,000 of them before Erma forced them to stop due to a copyright issue on the MP40 design. This is the magazine loader, also made by Haenel, for the MP41. Even more rare that the gun I would expect.
Commemorative Medal of the 1939-1945 War with Extreme Orient Bar
Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags Far East, France, Pacific Campaign, WW2 on April 3, 2021 by The DudeThis is a French medal awarded to all participants in recognised formations, fitted with a range of bars depending on the type and theatre of service. In this case the bar is “Extreme Orient” for operations (including in the Indian and Pacific oceans) between 7 December 1941 and 15 August 1945.
Commemorative Medal of the 1939-1945 War with Mer Du Nord Bar
Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags France, Maritime Medals, North Sea, WW2 on February 14, 2021 by The DudeThis is a French medal awarded to all participants in recognised formations, fitted with a range of bars depending on the type and theatre of service. In this case the bar is “Mer Du Nord” for Naval Operations in the North Sea between September 3rd 1939 and May 8th 1945.
Commemorative Medal of the 1939-1945 War with Mediterranee Bar
Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags France, Maritime Medals, Mediterranean Campaign, WW2 on February 14, 2021 by The DudeThis is a French medal awarded to all participants in recognised formations, fitted with a range of bars depending on the type and theatre of service. In this case the bar is “Mediterranee” for Naval Operations in the Mediterranean between September 3rd 1939 and May 8th 1945.
Commemorative Medal of the 1939-1945 War with Manche Bar
Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags English Channel, France, Maritime Medals, WW2 on February 14, 2021 by The DudeThis is a French medal awarded to all participants in recognised formations, fitted with a range of bars depending on the type and theatre of service. In this case the bar is “Mache” for naval Operations in the English Channel between September 3rd 1939 and May 8th 1945.
Occupation Made Czech VZ24
Posted in Firearms with tags Brno, Czechoslovakia, Germany (Third Reich), Heer, Mauser, Rifles, WW2 on February 14, 2021 by The DudeThis rifle, a VZ24 manufactured by Brno in 1940, is a great example of a German issue G24(t). It’s fully matching down to the stock. Still has all of its dirty birds intact. The only downer is that fact that Bubba has sanded the stock lightly at some point. Shame, but since these are terrifically hard to get in Canada in any state, I am prepared to ignore this. This brings me one step closer to having a full collection of German long guns. The ones I have missing at a G29/40 Radom and a G41(m).
Spanish M1941 Bolo Bayonet
Posted in Bayonets with tags Bayonets, Spain (Nationalist), WW2 on January 28, 2021 by The Dude
After picking up the M43 Mauser below I went looking for the correct bayonet for it. Interestingly the M43 has two bayonet lugs on it, one that will fit the standard M36 and M43 Spanish bayonet and the other to fit the M41 Bolo bayonet. I found a nice M41 matching to the sheath and bayonet and marked for the Fábrica de armas de Toledo factory.
Spanish M43 La Coruña Mauser
Posted in Firearms with tags Mauser, Rifles, Spain (Nationalist), WW2 on January 21, 2021 by The DudeIn 1941 the decision was made by Franco’s regime to replace the 1898 M98 Mauser in 7×57 with a variant of the German K98k in 7.92×57. This resulted in the M43 Mauser which remained in service until the late 1950’s. These got imported in bulk into Canada about ten years ago and I felt the urge to own one grow as the supply of Axis weapons started to dry up. Here’s where I have ended up, an Army marked M43, all matching and in generally excellent condition.
Yugoslav M24 Mauser Infantry Rifle
Posted in Firearms with tags Rifles, WW2, Yugoslavia on January 18, 2021 by The DudeThis M24 Mauser came to me untouched from it’s journey post-1945 and complete including matching serials, King Peter II cartouche and original sling mounts.
With the First World War over, the newly formed country of Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (later known as Yugoslavia) decided they wanted a standardized rifle for their front line troops. After a brief trials, they came up with an almost exact copy of Germany’s K98k rifle – the biggest difference being that the action was 1/8 inch shorter than Germany’s standard infantry rifle. The first 100,000 rifles came from FN, and the remaining examples (which were produced through WWII) were built at the Yugoslavian national armory. There were three main configurations of this rifle: two carbines and one rifle.
This example is marked BOJHOTEX.ЗАВОД – Крагујевцу (Military Technical Institute 1932-1941) on the sidewall indicating a Yugoslav arsenal origin.
German Contract G98/40 Infantry Rifle
Posted in Firearms with tags Germany (Third Reich), Heer, Hungary, Rifles, WW2 on January 17, 2021 by The Dude
Here’s an uncommon rifle I just picked up. These German contract guns were made by Fémáru Fegyver és Gépgyár, Budapest, which company possibly subcontracted some or all of the work to Danuvia Gépgyár, Budapest 1941-44. In 1940 the Mannlicher Model 35 was redesigned for the German contract. Based on German request the caliber was changed to 7.92x57mm Mauser, the bolt handle was turned down, a staggered row Mauser-type box magazine flush with the bottom of the stock was fitted and German M98-type bands and bayonet lug were used on this rifle. All steel parts, including the bolt were blued.
I haven’t been able to work out why the reference to Gewehr 98 in it’s name as it shares no dna with that rifle. Note the 2 part lower stock in the same style as the Enfield SMLE rifles.
Italian Carcano Ammunition Pouches
Posted in Ammo & Magazine Pouches with tags Ammunition, Italy (Fascist), WW2 on October 18, 2020 by The Dude
A pretty simple little bit of kit, these are a pair of green Italian made leather ammunition pouches for the Carcano infantry carbine. These date from pre-1943.
2 cm Flak 30/38/Flakvierling Magazine
Posted in Magazines with tags Flak, Germany (Third Reich), Heer, Magazines, WW2 on August 5, 2020 by The Dude
This is the 10 round magazine for the 20mm Flak 30/38 anti-aircraft gun. These were blued steel and supplied in cases of two. This example is stamped cjs for the manufacturer Kallenbach, Meyer & Franke Metallwarenfabrik in Luckenwalde. It is dated 1943. Amusingly Canadian regulations require all magazines for “rifles” to be pinned for 5 rounds as this helpfully has been. For scale I have put one of the mags for my K43 rifle in the photo.
2 cm Flak 30/38/Flakvierling HE round
Posted in Ammunition with tags Ammunition, Flak, Germany (Third Reich), Heer, WW2 on August 5, 2020 by The DudeA fairly straightforward item here. I got this from Andrew so that I would have one round for the magazine I bought from him. This is an HE 20mm round for the 2 cm Flak 30/38/Flakvierling. It has the asr code for “HAK” Hanseatisches Kettenwerk in Hamburg-Langenhorn as well as the WaA271 inspection stamp for that factory.
Italian Breda M37 HMG
Posted in Firearms with tags Italy (Fascist), Machine Guns, WW2 on May 10, 2020 by The Dude
This heavy machine gun appeared out of nowhere this last month. It’s manufactured by Breda in 1939. It all matches however the barrel has a 1938 roll date so I am assuming they dated the major parts upon manufacture and then assembled them later. It’s a dewat obviously but a nice one, with a moving bolt and a topcover that lifts to reveal the guts of the gun. A great back drop to my Carcanos!
Italian M91/38 Carcano Cavalry Carbine
Posted in Firearms with tags Carcano, Italy (Fascist), Rifles, WW2 on March 14, 2020 by The DudeJust when I thought I was done with Carcano’s I get a call from Sean, who has scavenged up this interesting little variant, the M91/38 Cavalry Carbine (Moschetto Modello Cavalleria).
Chambered in 6.5×52, and equipped with a permanently affixed long spike bayonet, it was intended for the use of horse cavalry units and fitted into a leather saddle scabbard.
Interestingly the setup with the bayonet is almost identical to the Japanese Type 44 Cavalry carbine. I expect that designers kept an eye on what each other were producing and stole ideas that appealed to them. The gun is manufactured by Terni. Interesting that the barrel is proofed 36-XIV, meaning it was manufactured in 1936, the 14th year of Mussolini’s rule.
Japanese Type 4 Ceramic Grenade
Posted in Grenades with tags Empire of Japan, Grenades, WW2 on March 2, 2020 by The Dude
The late war and rather desperate innovation of the Type 4 hand grenade. These grenades were invented in late 1944 in response to Japan’s collapsing raw material supplies. The US submarine and air blockade had run the Japs out of steel at this point. The weapon is pretty simple, a ceramic or porcelain vase shape, with a crimped 5 second detonator made from a blasting cap. These were handed out to all the home defence organizations as well as to troops out in the inner chain of islands like Iwo Jima and Saipan. The style varies a lot because it was left to the individual pottery to decide.
An M91/28 Carcano Reissued by the Jerries
Posted in Firearms with tags Germany (Third Reich), Italy (Fascist), WW2 on February 23, 2020 by The DudeMy friend Andrew bought this rifle only a couple of months ago. I wondered if he was drunk, since he doesn’t collect rifles that aren’t a K98. I knew, if I was patient, I’d end up owning it. And here you go! This Carcano M91/28 (Moschetto Modello Mod. 91/28) in 6.5×52 shows stock markings indicated that it was issued to the Italian Navy. Markings on the stock and receiver, including the dirty bird, plus the blued bolt, indicate it was captured by the Germans, inspected and reissued. This completes my Carcano group as I have a 91/41 Carcano here and a 91/38 here.
Man it’s great having a picker like Andrew :)
A Czech VZ-23 in German use
Posted in Firearms with tags Czechoslovakia, Germany (Third Reich), WW2 on February 23, 2020 by The Dude
Here is an pretty rare rifle, the Czech VZ-23 Mauser, produced by Brno. The rifle was manufactured using a German Karabiner 98AZ base, resulting in a 550mm long barrel. The newly independent Czech arms industry only made these for a short period before moving on to the improved VZ-24. Signs of German reuse in WW2 include a stamping on the receiver under the wood-line and the blued bolt.
