Deckungszielgerät - Germany's WW2 Trench Rifle System

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When the German attack into Russia stagnated in late 1942, some areas of the front returned to a trench-and-sniper sort of warfare that was reminiscent of World War One. The German military actually went so far as to design and issue a periscopic tech rifle mount, the “deckungszielgerät” (DZG). Stereotypically German in design, it was adjustable to fit a variety of different rifles. The original design intent was for the Gewehr 41(M) and 41(W), but the devices were quickly modified to also fit captured SVT-40 rifles, and the K98k could also be used if necessary (although unlike the WW1 trench rifle mounts, these had no mechanism for cycling a bolt action).
It is unclear how many DZGs were actually made, but certainly not many. This example has been heavily restored, but none of the known surviving ones have serial numbers of manufacturer codes (the “DZG” stamped on the side is its designation, not a manufacturer). For more information, see Michael Heidler’s article in Small Arms Review:
www.smallarmsreview.com/displa...
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[@jarink1]

German Engineer 1: We can make these trench firing devices simpler since we have semi-auto rifles German Engineer 2: Why on Earth would we want to make it simple?

[@stanislavczebinski994]

If you want to know why we Germans lost WW2: We did not have engineers - we had only overengineers 😂😂😂

[@e30kitty]

German Engineer 3: Do you remember this complex strange Engineers of WWI & WWII? Lets build a semi auto sniper rifle and be like them = PSG1

[@johndododoe1411]

Was this one of the guns that Russians discarded after capture and a few uses because it was too complicated to service, leading to simplicity as a design criteria for the AK47?

[@WindHaze10]

Now that's a shoulder thing that goes up!

[@NomadicHacker.]

👌nice

[@BasedOddz]

Ahhh so thats what she meant when she said the shoulder thing that goes up.

[@shawnr771]

As much as I am tired of this quote. For once it is appropriate.

[@kebertxela941]

BAN IT!!! For the children of course.

[@myotherlifed9554]

Its so tactical, militaristic and conceliable with that folding stock

[@hemisphere22]

"And if you want to see how it shoots, stay tuned. I will be using this in the next 2 gun match." -Gun Jesus

[@diestormlie]

*Camera cuts to Karl, unhappy at having to being Ian's mobile Trench Replacement*.

[@hemisphere22]

@@diestormlie Or a new Kasarda drill: throw kettlebell, dig foxhole, jump in, shoot, climb out, throw, rinse, repeat.

[@Devin_Stromgren]

@@hemisphere22 I think we could skip the kettlebell with that one.

[@mfree80286]

Nobody filled the barrel this thing gets perched upon, it keeps falling over....

[@nighttrain1236]

Try using it after a few gins.

[@martinlange8372]

Someone in the Waffenamt was lazy. This device lacks the tank tracks, the snorkel, and the dive bomber capabilities.

[@travistucker1033]

This invention would not be suitable for destroying allied shipping.

[@fatassshibe7285]

It's suitable for anything if you're brave enough. Of course, you might not succeed, but hey, it's the thought that counts!

[@rogerwennstrom6677]

Imagine if it was japanese: the thought of a periscope with a bayonet is pretty amusing :)

[@klasandersson7522]

@@rogerwennstrom6677 LoL DEN kommentaren gjorde min kväll!!! 🤣

[@RokuroCarisu]

You should see the modern American take on it. It's got select fire, electronics, and shoots around corners.

[@crabgnome5388]

a collapsible stock on a trench rifle is the most german thing I've ever seen. I'm surprised they didn't make a carbine verseion and issue them out to panzer crews

[@davidgillon2762]

They had the Krummlauf bent-barrel MP44 for that!

[@JustIn-op6oy]

@@davidgillon2762 imagine using this in combination with a curved barrel MP-44

[@jamesgoldring3445]

@@JustIn-op6oy mein gott..

[@charlesphillips4575]

I expect the folding stock is to make the mount compact with the rifle removed.

[@JokiMBS]

*Shoots rifle* *Transmission breaks* Hans: "Ze fuck?"

[@JH-lo9ut]

Did you finally bring us winter uniforms? No, but we got you these.

[@SomeDumbKid1]

I love when Ian uses technical terms like "contraptiony".

[@michaelrogers4157]

And "Bits".

[@nannesoar]

forgotten contraptiony contraptions

[@SomeDumbKid1]

@@michaelrogers4157 There's a video where he refers to a part as a "doodly bit".

[@ringowunderlich2241]

Officer: Gefreiter (Private) Schulz! There is a target at 0100! Gefreiter Schulz: You may adress me as Kapitänleutnant of U 9999

[@johnib5905]

Ahhh, now the Aussie Matilda tank with Hedgehog mortars makes sense!

[@fenrislegacy]

Bring the helmet guns!!

[@Taistelukalkkuna]

*Russian trenches* "Boris, you hear that?" "What?" "Music. It is coming from German lines." "So they have gramophone, who cares." "I´m going to have a look." *Grabs sniper rifle* "Now lets see.....TORPEDO! " "Whu..what???" *Explosion!*

[@voiceofraisin3778]

@@fenrislegacy Its German, don't you mean Helmut guns?

[@Kerithanos]

I now want to see a sequel series to Hogan's Heroes about a demoted Klink and Schultz on the Eastern Front, a la Blackadder Goes Forth

[@CanalTremocos]

"We need something from our bag of tricks from the last war." "But, Günther, we lost the last war." "That's why it's genius, Hans!"

[@cirno9356]

well they say 3 times is the charm xd

[@landonkim7837]

But it's the second time.

[@iamjohndeleon]

"They've overdone it as usual... like they did on their French holiday" -James May

[@bean5prout293]

"James, the queen is German, but you don't say deutschland deutschland über alles everytime she comes on the televison"

[@emootikoah8156]

@@bean5prout293 i do actually

[@muhammadnursyahmi9440]

Never thought i would see a Old Top Gear references here.

[@Seb-Storm]

@@muhammadnursyahmi9440 neither do I

[@kevinwestermann1001]

Welcome to Forgotten Teaspoons. :D

[@lamnaa]

Add this to the list of "Hans, I don't think we are winning anymore..." German equipment.

[@marvindebot3264]

Oh most certainly.

[@typxxilps]

Wait, who had sitten in the trench behind the Maginot line in that phony war ? What rifles did they use ? ahhh, those they had from world war 1 for trench warfare ... but of cause the western allied would have even won against those russians ... but did not even make it through Italy ... Hitler's soft underbelly.

[@marvindebot3264]

@@typxxilps What on earth are you going on about? Apart from some Japanese troops on places like Saipan or Yap "those Russians" were the toughest adversaries in the entire conflict, no one is putting down anyone but you. Grow up.

[@Dapstart]

@@typxxilps Don't watch youtube with a concussion

[@stefanb5189]

@@marvindebot3264 thats his point. In hindsight Western allies like to wrongfully feel superior/arrogant about thier involvement and equipment during ww2, despite it been won and lost in russia. Thier moraly questionable lack of action concerning the genocides in asia and europe doesn't help either. PS: op dudes a idiot tho

[@geiroveeilertsen7112]

From my basic understanding of German, "Deckung" means "cover" and "zielgerät" means "aiming device" (literally), so "Deckungszielgerät" more or less directly translates to "device for aiming from cover" 😇

[@brittakriep2938]

Exact.

[@colbunkmust]

Nah, I'm pretty sure it means "Vasily Zaitsev is OP, plz nerf".

[@CheeseDanish85]

Yeah but its more fun if you break down all three words. "Deckung", "Ziel", "Gerät". Cover-Target-Gadget. Still doesn't beat "Kreislaufszusammenbruch", Circuit-Run-Together-Break, aka circulation failure.

[@fuggoff5277]

@@CheeseDanish85 sssßssß.....is the Sound you hear sitting in the Deckung with your Deckungssssszielgerät

[@CheeseDanish85]

@@fuggoff5277 I'm drinking some Pißwasser beer while waiting.

[@toddstrongrayvenz5286]

That's some Wile coyote shit right there

[@IrishTechnicalThinker]

Imagine being in a dug out and Hans pulls this out but with a Panzersherk on it. Then says 'War's over boys.'

[@michaelrogers4157]

Now THAT would have been even MORE handy!

[@bezahltersystemtroll5055]

*Panzershark

[@ragnarragnarsson6636]

@@bezahltersystemtroll5055 "Panzerschreck" heisst das Ding bekannlich.

[@jamesgoldring3445]

@@bezahltersystemtroll5055 Jaws theme plays

[@bezahltersystemtroll5055]

@@ragnarragnarsson6636 Ich rede aber vom Panzershark

[@m.sydneyvern2260]

I never knew that periscope rifles were still being used in WW2

[@magniwalterbutnotwaltermag1479]

@@MegaZeta that makrs no sense at all since everyone had ww1 experience, you mean tactics/technology?

[@AUSMSokolovac]

@@MegaZeta if anything the germans were the ones who pushed tactics forwards?

[@temuujinb.7709]

@@MegaZeta wut?

[@hvalour1]

Interesting to see pre plastic stuff like this.

[@darkelf2x1]

It's not pre-plastic. Plastics like acrylic were in widespread use by WW2 for aircraft windows/canopies (aka perspex / plexiglass) and older plastics like bakelite were also in use for stuff like jewelry, purse accents, pistol grips, and other items pre ww2 as well

[@jayscraggs405]

@@darkelf2x1 talking about the wood furniture on the gun not the synthetic shit we run today but thanks for the nice history on plastic

[@gumshoe1285]

Damn son imagine sitting in a trench with fritz and he just pulls this thing out

[@gumshoe1285]

Ok fritz-en what iz zit

[@Uncle_Roadkill]

Vhat zhe actual hell, Fritz?!

[@gumshoe1285]

I know otto he'z zust vipped zat thing out an zarted mowing down s Zome ivan'z ja?

[@gumshoe1285]

Oh jaaa

[@caeserromero3013]

It has a clip with 10 shots, but the it's useless when Soviets rush it with 20 guys...

[@SulfurD10x1de]

Trench rifles are always fascinating

[@jmalmsten]

"The periscope is actually detachable like this..." Wait, why and how would I want to use that thing without a periscope?! "... so you can use the periscope on it's own." Ooooooh!

[@wilsonj4705]

And be easily replaced. I'm sure compared to the rest of system it's easily broken plus with the periscope sticking up like it does and having reflective glass would be no doubt be a target

[@Kaboomf]

And so you can adjust the periscope to line up with the sights on various rifles.

[@IceWolfLoki]

@@quentintin1 knowing the Nazi Germany war economy that periscope was probably purpose made specifically for this device and this device only.

[@sebastianriz4703]

I love that the parascope isnt an zeroable optic either. With how over the top this device is I would expect you too shoot out to 300 yards by itself but nope. Look down your iron sights with it. Theres something about that parascope that makes me giggle

[@Kerithanos]

I mean, hey, you could still use it for suppressive fire! You might not be able to see who you're shooting at, but they don't know that!

[@titaniummechanism3214]

Gerät is one of the funniest german words when you hear people with other languages say it.

[@jeremiec8014]

It's even funnier with French with our many words where almost all the letters aren't pronounced the way they should be.

[@heikkiremes5661]

Ger-@?

[@titaniummechanism3214]

@@heikkiremes5661 That would be Gerätt with an emphasis on the t in @. You want the emphasis to be on the a, so more like Ger-aht.

[@11Kralle]

"gay-raid" ist auch nicht schlecht...

[@johndododoe1411]

@@heikkiremes5661 ä is not the a sound. More like the e in help. In German the ¨ (umlaut) changes a vowel to a completely different sound (laut), unlike in a few other languages. It has the same effect in Swedish.

[@hiramnoone]

Imagine doing the manual of arms with *that* thing.

[@rodgerjohnson3375]

Really enjoy the engineering that goes into devices such as this. I wonder about the first thoughts of the designers are when they are tasked with inventing these attachments. You want me to build what?

[@michaelrogers4157]

Followed immediately by, "wait... just how FUCKED are we??"

[@Panga_]

Engineering?? More like: less talk, more welding!

[@LOL60345]

i always wonder how theyd get them all the way from home to the exact troops that needed them. always weird to me with niche german equipment like this.

"Anyone who sticks their head up out of the trench gets shot" That cost my granddad his life. :-( My mom never even got to know him, she wasn't even one year old when he died.

[@aldenconsolver3428]

Really appreciate your historical work. Way way to many websites are busy with inane comparisons of something they bought over the counter last week. These older mechanisms are what made history (even in defeat) Keep it up Ian

[@charles_wipman]

I didn't knew those were used too on the WWII, very interesting.

[@Fortysevenry]

Awesome videos! I love history & these relics of war make it all the more interesting

[@literal_terrorist]

this reminds me a lot of the krummlauf, a german ww2 STG44 with a bent barrel for the trenches. 3 variations existed, the 90 degree bend, the 60 degree bend, and the 30 degree bend. they also has a parascope so you could see out of them. they had 2 main problems, but i won’t go into those here unless you want me to

[@shanemoore8055]

Fritz:" I think we`re losing the war again !" Hans: "Why do you say that?" Fritz: "They`re sending us these weird contraptions again."

[@docskate4312]

Deckungszielgerät - not the easiest word for starters. Trotzdem netter Versuch Ian😂

[@partikelsmusic]

Cover target device

[@vivavideo-videofilmer]

@@partikelsmusic Cover aiming device

[@keithallardice6139]

Brilliant!! Never ever seen one of those outside of comics when I was a wee boy lol ... I actually thought I'd imagined them for a while - thanks Ian, now I know my memory isn't playing tricks on me...!

[@crazyfvck]

These trench rifle setups are always cool to see :)

[@frankgaletzka8477]

Thanks for the Information

[@Slenkamure]

that is an interesting looking setup to be sure

[@964cuplove]

Deckung = Cover , Ziel = aim ( also means target) , Gerät = device

[@TylerMcL3more]

Token engagement comment for the algorithm because Ian rocks!

[@arcticfox6808]

Badass piece of forgotten history.

[@hjorturerlend]

Trench warfare began well before late 1942. Remember, only Army Group South was on the offensive in Summer 1942, the other two were hunkered down around Leningrad and Rzhev.

[@Enetso]

I wonder if somebody tried mounting a PPSH to one of these things. That would've made for a terrifying little suppressive fire device

[@mascadadelpantion8018]

I am just but one of million people who immediately after this video was over instantly went to your video 5 years ago where you first talked about this contraption

[@LuGer212]

it's great fun as a German hearing Ian try to say Deckungszielgerät, as even I struggled with it at first glance :D

[@foxtrotunit1269]

Please Ian, try to get your hands on a FGC-9 and tell us more about the design, it's soo cool to see this kind of modern engineering

[@123crafter123]

This honestly would be really cool to see

[@kowalski363]

Great video

[@leppeppel]

This and the Nomar extendo mag are everything a soldier could want for the trenches of WW2!

[@gleisbauer25]

I only came to listen to Ian‘s pronunciation of Deckungszielgerät- I wasn’t disappointed.

[@shawnr771]

I have seen pictures and descriptions of these before. Interesting device.

[@christopherreed4723]

Note that they had a very similar setup for the tripod used for the MG42 (and, for all I know the MG34 as well, but I'm only certain of the '42). It consists of a nifty binocular periscope that's fitted to the tripod, and a lever that connects to the trigger. This allows the machine gunner to lie prone well below the gun itself and send 900-1100 rounds per minute of good news to where it's needed. Also note that this particular device is *still in use* with the modern German army, since both the tripod and the machine gun (rechambered for 7.62x51 and called the MG3) are also still in use.

[@beanladen85]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/lamXhHWrial1eq8&ab_channel=BTB-concept

[@hacksbeenjamin]

this is the single most echo-y room I've ever heard.

[@JimmySailor]

Always thought the C95 would have made an ideal gun for this sort of thing. Semi-auto, light recoil, and small enough to be much less noticeable. It also has a nice shoulder slot already cut into it for attaching the periscope.

[@phillipgrunkin8050]

Negative height over bore length, love it

[@slashdotism]

I did enjoy the video!

[@coldspring22]

Concept is still useful. Drawback is narrow angle of view and awkward setup. But today, instead of periscope we would use wide angle camera mounted on the gun sights. No need for that awkward extension kit though, you can just grasp the rifle directly with slight extension and shoot pump action or semi auto behind bullet proof shield. Right now, world is in such place that such measure for home defense would be overkill, but soon this kind of preparedness might be necessary if you want to survive.

[@andylawn9521]

There are no words for how contraptionary this is. Come on surely we need to see how this shoots!

[@Beezy1337]

One number of greatness

[@sebastianriz4703]

now this looks like a gun I would draw for my stick figure wars when I was bored in class.

[@lucassmith2504]

Love the ingenuity of the world wars " especially in the trenches".

[@ricks2651]

Amazing idea!

[@coast219]

Grandfather of the Cornershot.

[@briantayler1230]

In 1915 Australian soldiers made a periscope rifle device like this out of bits of wood from empty boxes laying on the beach at Gallipoli. There is a film of them using it.

[@jalpat2272]

and this one made with enough stamped metal and springs for making an assault rifle.

[@luisnunes2010]

The sturmgewer's range seems to be really on the low side for such a device... on the other hand, being able to use it without getting your longjohns imediately damp while in the snow must count for a lot.

[@tamirspivak9434]

Awesome vid. Just saying, it may be just me but i think im hearing you twice. Dont know if echo or sound bug, but just making u know.

[@jm9371]

Never knew these ever existed. Pretty cool.

[@bulukacarlos3571]

Excellent !!, although I knew of its use in the first world war, I was completely unaware of it in the second. Excelente!!, si bien sabía de su uso en la primera guerra mundial, lo desconocía por completo en la segunda.

[@Nedula007]

Never even heard of this wow.

[@LostShipMate]

It beautiful, simply ridiculously beautiful.

[@FowCowMow]

You got the name pretty good!

[@tobiash4727]

Made me check the date for april 1st

[@dennishayes65]

That was different! Never seen a setup like that !

[@thesmugmug2840]

The Australians invented the periscope rifle in 1915 at gallipolli

[@QuacGiaNgoVietCongHoa]

the sniper in trench shoot the any posible place that enemy will appear, in some cases they don't even find a individual enemy but just look at a hole on enemy trench and fire it. the sniper have the same chance to be shot when they are shooting. the meaning of snipering each other is trying to press the enemy not to assault and try whether we can assault.

[@johngibson2884]

Something's a good idea when it comes back many years later to serve the same purpose that it originally did

[@lorenzobellin2727]

It's amazing!

[@Eric_the_miserable_midget]

That thing is awesome

[@ronaldwhite1730]

Thank - you .

[@simfreak187]

Ian sounded like he had a stroke while saying "Deckungszielgerät" 😂 i love u, Ian ❤️😂

[@williamcattr267]

Ian's stash and goatee are something of an "anachronism." (kidding) Good video as always.

[@cyprusgrump]

I had to check the date on the video when I saw the thumb!

[@travisinthetrunk]

I thought that was a typo. I didn’t know there was trench warfare in WW2.

[@Clowndoe]

I don't know your definition of trench warfare, but trenches are used almost as long as there are guns.

[@taheelur1]

The recoil on that thing must've been wild

[@charlesphillips4575]

The current MG3 tripod comes with a periscope sight, which seems like an even better solution to the problem. As far as I can tell the sight is post war and they never devised one for the MG34 or MG42 despite the tripod being basically the same. Note that several ATGM systems use periscope sights, and the Milan angles the eyepiece so that the operators helmet is towards the enemy. Today one can use electronic systems giving much more flexibility in the relative positions of gun and eyepiece.

[@hopkinskennemer6396]

The real question is “does it fit a FG-42?”

[@hplive7399]

The new version of that weapon in the bundeswehr can probably be adjusted in about 80 million different positions, so it fits every person living in germany.

[@badazzmaro]

"Gasp! Mirrors reflecting mirrors? High tech sorcery!" - Bender B. Rodriguez

[@nateweter4012]

The Gewehr 41(w) is my favorite firearm of all time. I can’t even say why, there’s just something about it.

[@rogeriocosta1035]

With all this weight, maybe a steel shield in the front of the rifle would work better. It could be conformed to work like a chester shield while not in use.

[@henkeH2]

Deckungszielgerät - Cover target device? Kind of? Makes sense to me!

[@stevenbaker8184]

God that is perfect for the Elbonians. It is such a Rube Goldberg contraption.

[@matthayward7889]

No chance of an In Range episode on the practical application of this? Imagine a 9hole review!

[@muhammadnursyahmi9440]

Heh, i just imagined Ian smuggled the device out of the auction house.

[@balham456]

They had an SMLE version of this at the IWM many years ago.

[@all4dalulz]

der Gerät

[@Seelenschmiede]

schläft niemals!

[@tigeriussvarne177]

Döner macht schöner.

[@duderobi]

0:18 you are not far away with Deckungszielgerät.

[@lathanchurch8352]

The meme about aiming down sights in video games is just this but with the ability to put any gun in it

[@matzlubbelinkhof9246]

I wonder if you can fit an mp43/44 in there so you can take more shots before having to pull that thing back in the trench.

[@Tuan_E_Videos]

Amazing fun!

[@ripper888888]

Well you don't see those everyday. Very nice. Thanks

[@andrewg9216]

A device precisely designed to be imprecise. There is no way accurate fire comes out of a system like that. But you can definitely get a large volume of fire, safely, out of a system like that.

[@erebostd]

Very interesting 😁👍

[@itsapittie]

That's interesting and clever.

[@tuomojarvinen9858]

Awesome device ! Apparently only couple dozens of these devices were ever made.

[@thelemon0001]

Somewhere sometime, someone out there has made a periscoped heavy machine gun.

[@Forodir]

MG42 on the tripod gun mount (Erdziel Lafette). It does that exactly.

[@JohnDoe-zs6gj]

That linkage on top of a ww2 era trigger....and people complain about modern bullpups.