Kradschützen in Action

Original period postcard of the 'Unsere Wehrmacht' series, "An die Deckung heran...Feuer", Kradschütze. The postcard was sent in Augst 1943 by a member of the Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 4 of 4. Panzer-Division.

Source:
https://www.kometmilitaria.com/product-page/postkarte-postcard-kradsch%C3%BCtze-an-die-deckung-heran-feuer

Germans in White Camo in Positions

A squad from III. Abteilung, Armee-Nachrichten-Regiment 501 in positions in a Russian village during the winter of 1942-43. Part of the 16th Army, Army Group North, it spent most of the war on the northern part of the Eastern Front. The Soldiers are armed with an MP 38 submachinegun, an MG 34 machinegun, and Kar 98k carbines. Wearing reversible snow suits, they are better equipped for the winter than a year ago. The Germans used black and red armbands buttoned to the upper half of the sleeves for recognition purposes. The combination of colors and which sleeve they were worn on changed from day to day, just like code words, as a way of minimizing the risk of Red Army infiltrators.

Source :
Björn Hellqvist photo collection
https://ww2inphotos.wordpress.com/2017/07/27/its-grim-up-north/

Reichswehr MG Crew During Manoeuvre

Soldiers of the Reichswehr man a Maschinengewehr (MG) 08/15, during an exercise in the interwar years. The largescale introduction of the machine gun by all combatants before outbreak of World War I totally changed infantry warfare.

Source :
Book "Sturmartillerie: Spearhead of the Infantry" by Thomas Anderson

German Machine Gunner in the Battle of Kursk

A German non-commissioned officer and a machine gunner zero in on an enemy Soviet position during the Battle of Kursk (German: Unternehmen Zitadelle); the Germans hoped to weaken the Soviet offensive potential for the summer of 1943 by cutting off a large number of forces that they anticipated would be in the Kursk salient. The Kursk salient or bulge was 250 kilometres (160 mi) long from north to south and 160 kilometers (99 mi) from east to west. By eliminating the Kursk salient, the Germans hoped to also shorten their lines, nullify Soviet numerical superiority in critical sectors (which would give the Germans time to regroup and plan another offensive against the Red Army) and regain the initiative from the Soviet Union. For the Germans, the battle was a failure, and the Soviets  were able to gain back territory along a 2,000 km (1,200 mi) wide front following the battle. Kursk Oblast, Russia, Soviet Union. July 1943. Image taken by Franz Grasser.

Source :
http://bag-of-dirt.tumblr.com/post/142864374500/a-german-non-commissioned-officer-and-a-machine

SS MG Team on Training

A two-man SS machine gun unit standing at their firing positions in a neatly dug slit trench. Needless to say, this photograph was taken during an exercise on a training ground.

Training of Flemish SS Volunteer's MG Crew (part 3)

Recruits, either Germans, racial Germanic types or of Nordic stock, entering the Waffen-SS underwent a very rigorous training programme designed by the SS authorities to produce very efficient fighting material. This photograph show Flemish volunteers undergoing field training as a two-man machine gun crew. Taking whatever cover a shallow depression affords them, the crew set up their MG as stealthily as possible. The gunner pulls the MG into its firing position whilst the No.2, who has already opened the lid of the ammunition container, starts to observe his front through his binoculars. It was the task of No.2 to observe, usually through field glasses, the target ahead and to direct the fire of the MG onto the enemy.