Hitler's Weapons - Vietnam War

During the Vietnam War, US forces encountered many WW2-era German weapons being used by North Vietnamese forces, from small arms to anti-tank guns.
Dr. Mark Felton is a well-known British historian, the author of 22 non-fiction books, including bestsellers 'Zero Night' and 'Castle of the Eagles', both currently being developed into movies in Hollywood. In addition to writing, Mark also appears regularly in television documentaries around the world, including on The History Channel, Netflix, National Geographic, Quest, American Heroes Channel and RMC Decouverte. His books have formed the background to several TV and radio documentaries. More information about Mark can be found at: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Fe...
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Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Mark Felton Productions. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Mark Felton Productions does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
Primary Sources:
- 'WWII German Weapons During the Vietnam War' - wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com/2...
- 'The Viet Cong Used German WWII Weapons Against the USA', War History Online, www.warhistoryonline.com/inst...
Credits: US National Archives; Library of Congress; Swedish Army Museum; The Full 9; Quickload; Ivan Makin; Askild Antonsen.

[@Drop_Dead5789]

Me when that intro hits: 🕺🕺🕺

[@sambrown8971]

Hell yeah.

[@wweminehead5458]

Du du du dududud du du dudududu du du du du

[@ChineseChicken1]

Night at the Roxbury style

[@stino9709]

Trumpets saved my Life

[@davidscott2821]

@@sambrown8971 Say it like it is Sam!!

[@vaclavcervinka65]

Just a little note. The Stg44s in Czechoslovakia weren't replaced by AK47s , but by Vz58, which is a visually vaguely similar, but internally very different assault rifle.

[@willw8011]

The VZ-58 was far better than the AKM. It actually has a usable safety and a bolt hold open.

[@decivox]

Fun fact, Vz58's are insanely popular here in Canada because AK47s are prohibited (basically legally unobtainium for anyone) but Vz58s are non-restricted (least restrictive rifle classification as long as barrel is over 470mm, you can get shorter ones in the restricted class)

[@ranger-rj2ym]

@@decivox I thought Canada passed an assault weapons ban that restricted most full auto and semi auto weapons. Or was that different or did it get repealed?

[@agentmueller]

@@ranger-rj2ym not a Canadian, but I believe it banned guns by name not by category. Like the AK and “black weapons” are all obvious murder sticks so they have to be banned, but an SKS or VZ are totally fine. Obviously, right? Edit: And Canada is SO safer now because of it! God bless Canada and their supreme leader, comrade Trudeau! As an American, I’m going in the backyard in a bit to let loose some 5.56, I wish we were as safe as Canada though!!

[@decivox]

@@ranger-rj2ym Currently under a now extended amnesty as the government tries to find a way to confiscate them from us (there still really is no plan and it will likely continue to be pushed down the road to make it an election issue). They have been sold here for many, many years though, with an estimated tens of thousands in circulation. As they were non-restricted they also do not know who owns what (not registered). The new non-restricted queen is the Type 81 which didnt make it on the banned list, but the vz58 is vastly preferred as it is much higher quality. The king will always be the SKS which also escaped the ban - Id wager any Canadian with a license has at least one.

[@expandedhistory]

I went to Vietnam a few years ago for family and I was absolutely surprised to see MP 40s and MG 34s at museums around the country. As a person who love History, it was a complete shock at first learning about this. I’m sure there is a warehouse somewhere filled with a treasure trove of German small arms. I’ve seen PAK 40 on display there, but I was really surprised to learn more from your video Dr. Felton!

[@jerryjeromehawkins1712]

I would think the Mp40 and StG44 being phased out by the Viet Cong and NVA would be primarily due to a lack of ammunition supply.

[@lambn25]

Vietnamese comminust forces uses alot of old German weapons form WW2 like the sturmgewehr 44 and maschinenpistole 40s They also have supplies of China's weapons like the Type 56 rifle

[@sv5813]

Not surprisingly The Soviet Union gave WWII captured Weapons to their Allies, we are currently doing the same supplying Ukraine with weapons both new and used

[@shoutingmuteness3902]

Oh yes you were the Gilbert's lover. You also were constantly harassing the girls of villages which you know well. How many rapings!

[@timonsolus]

@@jerryjeromehawkins1712 : The MP40 used the very common 9 mm pistol round, so ammunition for that wouldn't be a problem. The StG44 however, was a different story...

[@martian_turtle4070]

Mark Felton has one of the best historically informative channels on the internet, hell even all media

[@finnanutyo1153]

History channel has been a joke for over a decade. So sad.

[@wapiti3750]

Agreed!

[@GuinessOriginal]

Not just historical but also contemporary. I am never suprised when I learn things on his channel that aren’t reported widely in the media

[@genjicrow]

that's because he work with Hitler back then😂

[@MrSniperdude01]

He's actually Scrapping the bottom of the topic barrel here. In order to say you never knew WW2 weapons (German) were used in Vietnam, you basically have to plead ignorance on all the Pop Culture references in Videos games & Movies. "We were soldiers", "Uncommon Valor", "The Green Berets" are notable films. Shellshock: Nam'67, Conflict: Vietnam, Vietcong: Purple Haze, etc are notable console games.

[@fordfairlane662dr]

Hitler's weapons still are in use everywhere...they have just been recycled!..great video as always!

[@javaidzaidi]

The MG 42, nicknamed Hitler's buzzsaw by the GIs, was slightly modified. It's calibre was changed from 7.92 to standard NATOs 7.62. It's designation was changed to 1A 3. The rate of fire was reduced from 1,500 rounds to 1,200 rounds per minute. The 1A3 is currently in use of many armies. I think the German Army has recently replaced it with a new MG or are in the process of replacing it. The 1A3 is still a potent and effective weapon.

[@TheRealRusDaddy]

The last panzers in the 7 day war ironically

[@dakiler2028]

STG-44s are still being found in Syria. There's plenty of photographs corcling the internet

[@andreivaldez2929]

Yo, I like your name and profile pic. Good memories.

[@bigshrimp6458]

I mean you’re right the m249 is based off of the mg34 the ak is based off the stig and the panzerfaust/mg42 is still being used by Germany lol

[@Gearparadummies]

In fact, the STG-44 and MP40 Prof. Felton shows in this video come from the "Battlefield Vegas" indoor range. They have a huge WW2 weapons collection. I was told the STG-44 was actually captured in Vietnam and auctioned back when fully automatic weapons were still produced and sold in the US civilian market.

[@jerryjeromehawkins1712]

Sounds like a great destination vacation. My wife can lay by the hotel pool... while I go straight to Battlefield Vegas. 👍🏾

[@Gearparadummies]

@@jerryjeromehawkins1712 You have tons of vehicles to visit, parked on the outside of the range. From Huey helicopters to Soviet IFVs, even an Up-armored Humvee and an early M1 Abrams(which you can rent and crush a car with, Americans can be ridiculosly awesome at times) Very helpful staff. An expensive but one-of-a-kind experience.

[@1pcfred]

Automatic firearms manufactured before 1986 are transferable. Personally I think it's a BS law. Because all it does is increase the price due to artificial scarcity. Then it turns a right into a privilege only the rich can afford. Which just sits the wrong way with me. But if you have a FFL there's ways of possessing full auto firearms then too. Which is even more legal nonsense.

[@Gearparadummies]

@@1pcfred I totally agree with you. I'm European, but I was raised as a military brat and spent a couple years in the early 80s at Naval Station Norfolk. Back then, gun culture was everywhere. I've been a staunch 2a supporter since, mostly because of my law studies background and my defense of a constitutional right no matter what. Automatic weapons were banned at a time when less than 1% of firearms offences were actually carried out using selective fire weapons. I just hate the "Big Baaaad Blaaaack Riiiiiifle" attitude running amok in American society these days.

[@1pcfred]

@@Gearparadummies as a rule law abiding citizens are involved in remarkably few crimes. So them being in possession of firearms tends to not be a problem. It is remarkable how many folks just know it isn't right to go around shooting people. What's more remarkable is the staggering number of people that don't know about the folks that know though. They seem to think everyone that's armed is a threat. I find most that get shot had it coming.

[@nematolvajkergetok5104]

Even WW1 rifles were supplied in large quantities to Vietnam. Hungary sent a shipment of Austro-Hungarian Mannlichers. Most of them were used, their rifling worn out. Some conscripts of the Hungarian army spent most of their service time with cleaning and greasing them.

[@azgarogly]

There are examples of rifles having rifling worn out by extensive cleaning, almost never actually shot. Peacetime army could be weird, but better that way than worn out in the actual war.

[@houseplant1016]

@@azgarogly What does that mean? "rifling worn out"?

[@azgarogly]

@@houseplant1016 Yes, rifling. That spiral groves in the barrel that make rifle the rifle. They could wear if the gun is shot too much and/or neglected. Or, when someone cleans the barrel daily for years using abrasives. That has happened too.

[@houseplant1016]

@@azgarogly Thank you! Learned something new today.

[@richardpcrowe]

We supplied 1917 Enfield Rifles to the fortified hamlet operation.

[@oif3vetk9]

We had numerous captured German ww2 weapons in Iraq in 2005. K98k's, MG42's, StG44's, P08's. For someone like me that loves history and weapons it was fantastic to see these weapons.

[@jo1948]

what happened to them? were they destroyed?

[@cmalberts]

When I was in Iraq, one day (in 2004) a team found two British .303 water-cooled Vickers guns, gathering dust in the basement of one of the government buildings. We took them to Maud House, the UK military mission in Baghdad, and they in turn got in touch with the Imperial War Museum. It was the IWM's belief that they were not WW2 surplus, but may very well have been left there from the Mesopotamia Campaign of WW1!

[@Acceptable76]

@@cmalberts That is AWESOME!

[@djzrobzombie2813]

Greetings from Germany

[@1stdoctor329]

I remember that when I was in Baghdad in 2005. A couple of guys from the History Detachment brought in a fully-functional StG44 and Browning M1919A6 to show the Corps CG. They had obviously been kept in climate controlled storage somewhere since WW2. The StG44 was missing the safety lever but was otherwise in perfect condition.

[@jonathanenglish9146]

We ran into a variety of WWII weapons while serving in Iraq. There were quite a few STG44 rifles smuggled in from Libya, mostly worn out Iranian G3s, and the ever present British Enfield or German K98. We even found a box with half a dozen of M1 Submachinegun magazines in one insurgent cache and went extra hard trying to find the Tommy gun, but never found one.

[@tomhenry897]

Syria not lybia

[@jonathanenglish9146]

@@tomhenry897 The guy we caught smuggling the STG44's in our sector had a Libyan passport on him, but I believe you are correct about the origin of the rifles. We caught quite a few foreign fighters (Libyans, Syrians, Chechens, and a couple of Egyptians).

[@Anthony-jo7up]

Thank you for your service my man

[@cmalberts]

In another thread I mention we found two WW1-era water-cooled Vickers machine guns in Baghdad

[@Tyler-gv6zf]

Thank you for your service

[@Dhardy316]

Mark Felton is the David Attenborough of Military history, love everything they both do!

[@peterm3964]

Piss off Attenborough is a leftist greenie stooge .

[@Smarterthanyou-mthrfkr]

Except Felton doesn’t push the globalist wef global warming lie

[@user-zu6qn9ux9n]

Dr Felton is much better!

[@Litauen-yg9ut]

Agreed..

[@robertfogelberg7538]

Agreebut mark is bather

[@jla8718]

Stopped working on the roof to watch another great video from the Doc himself

[@scoutdogfsr]

I am the proud owner of a p08 Luger that my father recovered from a K.I.A NVA officer. He was on grave duty cleaning bodies out side his firebase. The Luger is scrubbed of original German date and it seems to have gone to Finland during thier fight against Russia. It must have been captured after the fall of Finland as it has a Russian arsenal mark on it. We have the papers allowing the arm to be shipped home to the US and those together tell quite the story.

[@1pcfred]

Finland never fell to the Russians.

[@mikeyorkav4039]

@@1pcfred funny that they never got their territroy back... Finns shouldnt have been in bed with fascists

[@1pcfred]

@@mikeyorkav4039 They ceded territory to end the conflict. If someone powerful is attacking you then any ally is a benefit. It wasn't like the Allies were helping any.

[@scoutdogfsr]

@@1pcfred with all due respect my friend. You must be well aware of the fate of Finland after the Continuation War. The Finn fought like hell. They showed every bit the bravery, fortitude and more that we are seeing today with the Ukraine people. Forget the politics.

[@allangibson2408]

@@mikeyorkav4039 The Russian were in bed with the German Fascists during the 1940 Winter War… Russia and Germany jointly attacked Poland in 1939. Now tell me about getting into bed with Fascists…

[@Grashan]

I was in the Congo in late 1996 and a patrol came across a militiaman armed with a StG44; our commander bought it off him for an AK47 and three loaded magazines. Both parties to the trade were very happy. The ammo that he used was twenty odd year old from the former Yugoslavia.

[@Penekamp11]

Interesting that the MG 42 wasn’t mentioned so I assume it wasn’t in use. As a former owner of an MG 34, I can attest to them being a great gun- when you can keep them running. Their precision machining and tight tolerances worked against their reliability as they got older and inevitably, looser and more worn.

[@temper44]

MG42 was supposedly easier to keep running in the field. But it would make sense that the Vietnam armies would prefer the 34. One trigger pull with the 42 and you've emptied all the ammo in the region.

[@Penekamp11]

@typo pit These days you have to be a Class 3 gunsmith or armorer to keep one of those things running. I know a guy here in Lexington who buys MG 34’s, converts them to semi auto and sells them out the door to all comers some with lafette mounts. I personally wouldn’t buy one because almost all of them are hard to keep shooting as most KZbin videos will confirm. I traded mine for an M 60 which will keep firing if you run the right ammo in them and keep them clean.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

@@temper44 A friend of mine years back was the son of a German WW2 army veteran. He told me his father said they hated the MG42 just for the reason you mentioned. As his father put it: "The whole platoon were turned into packhorses carrying ammunition for those damn MG42s!" And if you ever were in the infantry (anyone's infantry) you know you don't want to carry one more ounce than you have to!

[@1pcfred]

@@Penekamp11 why is he doing that? Anyone can own an automatic firearm that was manufactured before 1986. They're grandfathered.

[@Penekamp11]

@@1pcfred Because, he uses dealer samples that are only transferable to other Class 3 dealers if they are fully automatic. This way he can sell them to the general public. An interesting fact is that if you watch the original Star Wars, the imperial storm troopers are using facsimiles of the MG 34 as their blasters.

[@wild4861]

I’m from Vietnam, my grandparent house and some of their land are riddled with left over weapon and unexploded munitions. The house is located somewhat close to the Bien Hoa airbase and US compounds, so plenty of American weapons left dumped in the creek nearby or in the old family well (they are still down there) when the war end. The other piece of land is located a bit outside of the city, in some jungled and swampy area by the Dong Nai river. The older locals said it was a hotbed of VC activities. So it is no surprise that more than a few weapons, possibly some of German origin and unexploded munitions got pulled out of the ponds and whatnot. I heard that some mortar shells still often turn up when they are fishing or cleaning those ponds.

[@stevekells7283]

Intresting,thanks for sharing

[@alanrogs3990]

What's your current opinion of China?

[@oddballsok]

magnet fishing :)

[@Ralampos]

so can i have a precise location don't worry i won't sell them to the americans totaly not

[@vipeton.8927]

Interesting information. P.S. Excellent English, wish I had that level!

[@pawel8365]

Just imagine, that some of these German weapons could have fired at American WW2 soldiers, and then decades later, at the sons of these WW2 soldiers 😳

[@juki6377]

well if they were seized by the russians most likely not fired at americans

[@jharris0341]

Well, many German units were switched back and forth between the Eastern and Western drinks. So it might have been a possibility.

[@benx6264]

and a few decades after that at the grandsons. Serving in Iraq in 2005/2006 my unit found and confiscated at least 3x KAR-98s that I know of. Not to mention a couple of M1s and a M1911A1. I was really wracking my brain trying to figure out how to get me one of those M1s back to the US.

[@allangibson2408]

@@benx6264 M1’s are semiautomatic only so could just be posted. An M2 would be a problem…

[@benx6264]

@@allangibson2408 no way. The military checked all outgoing mail for stuff like that. The pistol would have been easy, I could have slipped into the arms room and sent it back that way, or just gotten a holster and carried it back as my issue pistol. But nobody would have believed I was issued a M1 rifle.

[@markrook6085]

If you go to Vietnam, you’ve got to see the Cu Chi tunnels outside of HCMC/ Saigon. It’s been turned into a historic site…and of course, they get a lot of tourists. The Vietnam Peoples Army runs a shooting range, where for a price, you get to shoot pretty much any of the firearms used by both sides, from pistols to .50 cals. The soldiers who work there are friendly, knowledgeable, and speak basic English. A really amazing place to visit…

[@winstonbelisle3560]

This video goes to show that a gun is.a gun, whatever era war, it's from and still can be utilized. I'm a cold-war vet here.

[@ericscottstevens]

My father took a graduate class in the mid 1980's. After a conversation the with a girl sitting next to him, she informed him she was half Vietnamese and half German. Dad wondered why, but had a feeling the story had to deal with a clandestine theme. Ends up her father was Waffen SS and avoided being captured at the end of the war and joined the French Foreign Legion. No questions asked the Legion took him in and shipped him off to Vietnam in 1953. With the French capitulation in 1954 he ended up evading capture yet again and made it to Saigon and eventually immigrated to the US with his new family in tow.

[@mikedoyle3455]

Years ago a German naval veteran told me of Germans, from all branches of the forces, joining the French Foreign Legion at the end of WW2 and fighting in Vietnam. They were allowed to sing their old regimental songs and to display their old regimental/divisional flags.

[@ericscottstevens]

@@mikedoyle3455 My Mothers uncle in law (her aunts husband) was not in WWII but joined in the late 1950s. I suppose he may have been rejected by the new German army and sought out being a Legionnaire. He was bayonetted in the back in Algeria in hand to hand fighting puncturing his lung but surviving. He was medical discharged out of service and became a super violent alcoholic due to the pain of his wound that never really healed right. He eventually ended his own life by hanging himself in the barn after a terrible physical fight with his wife one night. Very handsome man as the story was told, but very dark personality.

[@tonyromano6220]

Wow

[@xrayperforator]

I read memoirs of Polish member of Foreign Legion who fought in Indochina War. He wrote, that many of his brothers - in - arms were former SS members - the toughest and most ruthless soldiers in the Legion, being highly experienced in anti-guerilla warfare tactics.

[@charlesortlip707]

Wow! Interesting story. Thanks for sharing.

[@williamharris9525]

Once again, thank you Professor Felton!!! Keep up the great work!!!

[@wapiti3750]

He is a master at his craft of historical military education.

[@wapiti3750]

You have earned some Patreon dollars from me! I will get on that task later on today. Keep up the good work, sir. Watching each of your videos is the equivalent of getting incremental parts of a degree in military history at a low cost. :-)

[@kennethrouse7942]

Hi Dr. Felton, Some 40 years ago during my Army days I helped a fellow NCO register a war souvenir he'd brought back from Viet Nam: a Belgian FN-35; A.K.A. Browning Hi-Power. It's finish had been worn to the bare steel and it had the remains of a cypher stamped into the top of the slide. You could still make out a lion and the letters "C.B.". We researched that, too. It stood for "Congo Belgique". If it could only have talked! 👍😎

[@flouisbailey]

It takes a lot of use to wear the finish off a Hi-Power if you have seen a well cared for copy you can almost check your hair in the super black finish.

[@r2gelfand]

I remember watching We Were Soldiers and seeing what I thought was an mg 42 amongst the Vietnamese defenders in the final great attack scene. I wondered, what in the world is that doing there? Now I know! Great video Mark!

[@cpttankerjoe]

I watch that movie probably 100 times a year and always wondered about the 34 there at the end.

[@cpttankerjoe]

@ThyPeasantSlayer yes I just watched the video

[@r2gelfand]

Props to the movie producer who put those old weapons on that set.

[@patriotenfield3276]

Three sources 1) Soviet captured 2) French captured 3) Chinese Captured

[@MichaelKingsfordGray]

You remember that, but not your real name!

[@RiposteBK]

I'm really loving all these "Wartime guns used post-war" videos! Incredibly interesting yet hard to find decent information on. Thanks Dr. Felton for the solid work as always 👍

[@flouisbailey]

If good in one war why not another? They came to Russia only got cost of blood. Patton was right now on to Russia too bad George didn’t get his way.

[@jonmcclane7433]

As a Firearm collector the STG44 and MP40 are Dream guns of mine. The Red Army PPPSH42 was iconic, as well. The Germans and Russians have always been great at making Firearms.

[@robertphillips6296]

I remember an old saying. "You fight the war your in with whatever you have left over from the last war!"

[@bruhism173]

Wonder what WW2 vets in Vietnam thought when they heard a MG42 going off against them again in a country far far away from where they last heard that amount of bullets going over head.

[@martian_turtle4070]

That's an interesting notion I wonder if there are any stories out there like this

[@wapiti3750]

I imagine they blurted out "scheisse" more that once!

[@yourstruly4817]

They would understand, since some of their own weapons like the M-60 are based on superior German WW2 designs

[@patriotenfield3276]

Here's a mega plot twist :- many Japanese soldiers actually fled and joined the Vietminh to avoid being trialed in Tokyo , and also fought against the French . Many died in diseases and booby traps set up either by French or by their own. Out of the survivors, some decided to go back home or anywhere else abroad for good, others stayed and got mixed in local culture. Same in the Korean war , where the PLA used many Japanese POWs armed against the UN forces Now imagine , your father fought in WW2 against in the Pacific theatre, telling you stories that made you think, oh good lucky, glad we are fighting the Vietnamese and not the Japanese. Then as a young teen in the 60s , you were drafted to the 'nam and while patrolling, a VC Moe's down your patrol with a MG-34 and a steilhangranate .and you get captured as a POW . But for some reason the VC who captured you was different from other Vietnamese, as if he was no Vietnamese at all. You recall some of your father's Pacific take and oh kurwa, you are now a POW to a WW2 era Japanese escapee who is now a VC and eager to venge his anger on the Americans, again.

[@willw8011]

@@yourstruly4817 The M60 has almost nothing to do with the MG42. The internals are completely different system.

[@lambn25]

I'm form Vietnam but I never knew that the Viet Cong uses German weapons like the MG34 and MP40 I was only aware of their uses of the stg44, thanks you for the information in this video!

[@riverman6462]

Aren't Vietcong still around

[@reisen1932]

@@riverman6462 Yes, they still exist, in the South around the Mekong Delta, the "remainers" of Vietcong guerilla forces.

[@nickstarks22]

It was a nice addition to see the actual live fire of some of the weapons you referenced.

[@ReprobiCrucesignati]

Imagine being WW2 vet and then going to Vietnam to fight another war and then hearing the familiar sound of german MGs

[@bingusbongoose2959]

one of the founders of macvsog was an ex nazi

[@derherrgraf6001]

*emotional damage*

[@joeruiz4010]

German WW2 MGs were very prominent among NVA and VC forces in the Tet Offensive.

[@gringoreno]

Heard many ww2 stories from Sargent's who served in Korea also some education at 17 in 1963🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🪖 DAV reg army,👍👍

[@eye_straindigital]

On the allied side, the US also used ww2 era weapons in vietnam. My grandfather was a veteran and he said he fired everything but that the BAR was his favorite.

[@georgebuller1914]

I'm English and in my mid 60's. My late father fought 'Jerry' in the 1939-45 World Tour and I can still see him telling me earnestly "Son, NEVER underestimate the Germans!"

[@wobblybobengland]

Overestimating they do themselves 😉

[@tombrunner8181]

Du musst dich nicht mehr sorgen, Das Deutsche Volk steht gerade nach 80 jahren Besatzung und Gehirnwäsche vor der Auslöschung! Vim

[@augustvonmacksen2526]

Imagine an M60 gunner clearing an NVA pillbox and finding his M60’s dad chambered in an even bigger caliber.

[@shawnr771]

Very interesting. M1 Carbines are still listed in the inventory of the ROK National Guard.

[@methodical.millennial]

I’m convinced that no one else is as capable of making any overlooked military history subject as “surprising” and “fascinating” as Mark is able to.

[@justdoingitjim7095]

Fun fact: Early in Hans Solo's role in Star Wars, Hans used a Broomhandle Mauser as his laser sidearm. It had special attachments added to make it appear more authentic of course.

[@las10plagas]

*Hans Olo

[@NJPurling]

A Bren muzzle-brake.

[@marcoh.3467]

Didn't they also used some MG34's in Star Wars? I think some Stormtroopers had them

[@projektkobra2247]

@@marcoh.3467 -Yes...some Sandtroopers carried modified Lewis guns, and MG34's...The standard weapon of all Stormtroopers was a modified Sterling SMG. Rebel troops on Hoth used a modified MP44.

[@waynewalters426]

​@@las10plagas good one

[@iandoyle3695]

Hitlers weapons in the Vietnam War was not something i was mentally prepared to see today

[@bjornsmith9431]

Ian doyle the 98 K rifle was the main weapon feature in the first Vietnam War block bust movie: " The Green Berat movie" in 1968 arming the NVA and Viet Congs in the movie which is a historical accurate at that time.

[@oif3vetk9]

If you weren't ready for that then this will really blow your mind, they were still in use in Iraq in 2005. We had captured numerous ww2 German small arms and crew served weapons.

[@waterheaterservices]

@@oif3vetk9 I discovered a 1967 Volkswagen still in use in Sai Gon in 2000

[@2ballz543]

Well the mp40 and other german weapons are still in use by various insurgent groups around the world

[@erdiakarsu4945]

Neither muricans back in the day when they got their asses whopped even after committing every single warcrime there is and using banned weapons.

[@bobcosmic]

Here in class at the front and not the back !

[@Roller_Ghoster]

From Ukraine to Vietnam via WW2. This channel has you covered 👌

[@TankerBricks]

Mark. Thanks for providing my Wednesday night entertainment!

[@silkplayer9]

Professor Mark’s pronunciation of “Việt Nam” is exceptional and pleasant to hear as a Vietnamses ! !

[@shitheadmachin]

In my teens there used to be a deactivated arms dealer in the UK had access to these sorts of weapons. They seemed to dry up in 2014 but I got a 1942 mosin nagant for £100, a US lend lease Thompson SMG for £350. You could get Russian maxim MGs for £350! Plus SKS, K98, WALTHERs and many others.

[@andrewruddy962]

Richy, so sad that the weapons were vandalized. Seattle.

[@Pein061]

Thank you mark for cover a story about Vietnam, the german weapons did help alot during the war between Vietnam and France. In fact, flak 88 and various german made weapons are widely use by the Vietnamese forces against France in the last battle - battle of dien bien phu. The flak 88 and german weapons help protect the sky from France force which lead to the total victory of the Vietnamese over France. In a twisted history, many ‘France’ troops in dien bien phu are actual former SS and former field army and many of them died in Vietnam. Today in dien bien phu there are a whole site of tomb of german troops who died in the battle buried there. Poor mans tried to escape war torn just to end up thousands miles away from home end up die for nothing for the french.

[@tonyclewes8]

The Germans joined the Foreign Legion and fought in Algeria also.

[@marcosbradanovic9100]

@@tonyclewes8 isn't that just a rumor?

[@juki6377]

I was just posting about this, the german soldiers i met that had done DBP were war machines (not all were SS either) they had then continued to algeria, then some served as mercenaries in Africa (belgian congo ect). Last century and prior military had some cultural aspects in german culture and for some it was all they had known. I already find germans have a strange mind, these guys were aliens

[@alejandrocasalegno1657]

In Dien Bien Phu were not "88", not soviet heavy AAA, the M-1939 37MM was present, around 35, with chinese advisors in charge.

[@LongTran-em6hc]

The only heavy artilery we had in ĐBP were M2A1 105mm howitzers, and 61-K 37mm AAA 88mm's were after '54, and in limited use, if at all.

[@elvenkind6072]

These, small, bite sized chunks of information about WW2 help keep me sane during the daily grind. Thank you for producing and publishing them here for free.

[@frenchfan3368]

I am the owner of a K98 that was brought back by a U. S. Vietnam War vet. The Vietnam vet sold me the rifle at a gun show over ten years ago at a very fair price albeit the rifle is in very rough shape. Despite the rifle being in rough shape, I have personally cleaned it and it fired just fine at the range.

[@klauslueckert4773]

simply built to last.

[@DavidB5501]

If you want a reliable gun, you can't beat the Germans. The chief executioner of the Soviet NKVD, Vasily Blokhin, used a Walther pistol with German ammo for his very numerous executions. He personally killed many thousands of Polish army officers and other 'enemies of the people'. This became a temporary embarrassment for the Nazis when the discovered the burial sites at Katyn. They knew the Soviets were responsible, but they were puzzled when they found that all the victims has been shot with German weapons. Then they remembered that a lot of Walthers had been exported to the USSR in the 1930s. There is an excellent PBS America documentary on the Katyn massacres, shown on UK TV yesterday.

[@TheGrace020]

Indeed remember hearing about that when learning about Katyn as a child

[@TheRealRusDaddy]

Remember the soviets weren’t afraid to smear others for their crimes a lot of those photos of “german officers” from the end of the war shooting a bunch of naked men into graves was actually russians in german garb executing german pow’s and using it as propaganda to make the germans look like psychopaths, yeah the germans did still do some mass executions but the ones im talking about you look at the people being shot and its just naked skeleton thin men not women or children

[@GuinessOriginal]

That was the German narrative of events anyway. If they could have blamed the concentration camps on the Soviets they have done that too. Truth is the first casualty of war, as we’re seeing only too well at the moment

[@TheGrace020]

@@GuinessOriginal muh russians are innocent angels

[@DavidB5501]

@@GuinessOriginal No, it was also the Soviet narrative of events, as recorded in their own archives. It just took them another 50 years after the war to admit it.

[@hakimcameldriver]

As a collector of guns in Tasmania in the 1990s i had a mp43/Stg43 rifle. It had an interesting story. The man it was originally issued to was killed when his unit was overrun by the russians east of berlin in 1945, it then dissapeared until it was retrieved from the body of a dead NVA soldier in Laos by an Australian SAS trooper who was not there.. It was then brought back to Australia where it lived in west Australia untill the soldier returned to his home state of Tasmania. Upon his death i bought the gun from his widow, the gun was in my collection until it was taken from me during the gun seisures in 1997. It was cut in half lengthwise by a government employee supervised by a fat cop who was laughing at destroying this historic gun..

[@janwacawik7432]

Downright tyrranical.

[@dlmsarge8329]

Another fantastic video !! Thanks Mark Felton Productions!!!

[@grahambamford9073]

Love the military history Dr. Felton, always been fascinated about military history especially WW2. The leap forward in tactics and equipment is amazing, at the start of the war a lot of armies still used horses and just 6 years later were in the atomic age, with jet aircraft, and the first man made object to go into space, the V2.

[@mrhamburger6936]

A guy that I worked with had a Mauser k 98 sniper rifle that his father brought back from the Korean War when I was in the Vietnam War we came across some American Equipment that was lend least to the Soviet Union during World War II

[@andrewruddy962]

Very interesting, thank you for posting.

[@skippythescout5446]

like m3 half tracks ? what land lease equipment's? i am interested.

[@jerryle379]

@@skippythescout5446 truck maybe , we did capture m24 from french beside M8 grey hound , Soviet also supply us with 90mm flak american made , but if capture in the south it high chance a truck

[@skippythescout5446]

@@jerryle379 Wow. quite a far place for these antiques.

[@showmethem0ney]

This reminded me of the story of a nazi uniform showing up in the Korean war. Taskforce Kirkland was a guerrilla force made up of Koreans but under the direct command of the Far East Command (US). The special forces were given leftover uniforms within the US army, which just happened to be Waffen ss camouflage uniforms (SS camouflage M-44 Dot tunics) they had after disarming them. They still had the Eagle, iron cross and in some instances the Hakenkreuz was still on it. Only thing they changed was the insignia for rank into American style. When the North Koreans saw this unknown uniform they, of course, reported to the Soviets who thought the US was using former Nazis in special operations in Korean War and protested. Only to be told it was just uniformed Koreans and not Germans. Maybe there is an alternate history book to be written about 'what if skorzeny was involved in Korean war' thought that comes to mind :)

[@vk2ig]

Maybe they really were Nazis who'd disembarked from a U-boat which had sailed up from the secret Antarctic base ... :)

[@TheMilitantHorse]

An alt history book about Skorzeny sounds like a fascinating read regardless of what it's about.

[@wolfgangemmerich7552]

Do you know who made the most Soldiers in the french Legion Etrangere ..... many of this Soldiers was former members from the german SS and Wehrmacht .... someone once speak about this as : the last SS Battel after WW2!

[@fr-tigerfangs7039]

@@wolfgangemmerich7552 True. Some French Légion Etrangère units counted up to 80% of bittered, "nothing to lose", hardcore, seasoned ex-German SS veterans during the French Indochinese War. My grandfather was a career officer in the French army at that time, and he used to talk about these units and how they were absolutely feared by the communist "rebels" for their dedication to win almost at all and any cost.

[@dimon3098]

Thanks for all this free high quality History Content, Dr. Felton

[@korbell1089]

I'm glad you clarified that about the Pak 40 because I couldn't even imagine trying to drag that thing up and down the Ho Chi Minh trail!

[@ekim000]

Excellent historical content as usual, thank you. An added bonus is that your descriptions of firearms are refreshingly free of the flaky made up terminology common to journalists and other historically focused channels.

[@BobSmith-zp2kk]

True Story: In one instance, US forces in Vietnam captured a small trove of British Model 1853 Enfield Two-ringed Carbines -- a percussion-fire weapon employed by Union & Confederate forces in the American Civil War -- one hundred years before (By the way, the cache of Enfields was subsequently destroyed....).....

[@sathancat]

I've seen all of these weapons but it's nice that you included examples being used on the range, it really adds to the understanding of a weapon being talked about. Thanks for all the great videos Dr. Felton!

[@PersianImmortal0]

Your clips are the highlight of my day. Best history channel ever!

[@comicbookninja5268]

It amazes me how many interesting subjects Mr. Felton is able to find. Well done!!

[@duster1968]

Another great video, I certainly learned something. I was a marine grunt in Vietnam 4/67-5/68 but we never captured any German weapons from the NVA (most of the tour was along the DMZ). My company did capture (before I joined it) an old Soviet machine gun on wheels with a shield, I think it was a PM M1910, but nothing as exotic as an MG-42.

[@ronniecoleman2342]

Mark is my hero here on KZbin. Why you ask? Because only he can take any war story and make it about World War 2 with a German focus. Bravo 👏!!!

[@1970swimmer]

We also found these same weapons in Yugoslavia in 1992, when I was a Canadian soldier on the first un tour in the former republic of Yugoslavia

[@thefurthestmanfromhome1148]

An absolutely amazing video Mark, even by your standards, thank you 😍

[@victortachiquin4965]

There was even a huge stockpile of STG44s being used in the Syrian Civil War! Incredible!

[@stevem2323]

Come on, really?

[@wolfgangemmerich7552]

Who was there first : The STG44 or the AK 47 ?

[@calebthecwwade93]

@@stevem2323 yea that's true matter of fact it's well known there still using them

[@stevem2323]

@@calebthecwwade93 Well i'm pretty shocked.

[@calebthecwwade93]

@@stevem2323 I wish I had one or could find one they are using and just destroying them or leaving them it's a shame

[@pesnevim1626]

My favourite modern historian on KZbin. Excellent, as always. Thank you.

[@fortnerbuiltmotorsports444]

Mark I sure hope you are able to make content for a long time. My family and I watch your videos multiple times a week for educational purposes! Can’t thank you enough!!

[@easymagic100]

thank you Mark

[@keithdaniels5918]

I bought a MG34 on a dealer to dealer transfer that was a Vietnam bring back (duffle bag special) and registered in the 1968 NFA amnesty. The Soviets had a collectors dream in weapons history in storage.

[@willw8011]

One time, I asked my dad why he did not bring back an AKM or something cool from Vietnam. He just looked at me funny and said: everything they left Vietnam with was checked for contraband. They were given a chance to get rid of contraband before leaving a room... if they left the room with something illegal it would be found when searched, then they would be prosecuted. My dad said there were no duffle bag bring backs, as many think. If someone wanted to bring something illegal back, then they just mailed it... and postage was free for US Troops. He knew of people that stole all kinds of things from the US Army through just mailing back home. Some were found-out, but most probably were not.

[@keithdaniels5918]

@@willw8011 I heard the same from many returning vets about searches. I can attest to at least 300 of us being waved thru customs in Anchorage Alaska with no checks what so ever. Boy was I pissed.. :)

[@scottcleaves1040]

This is very interesting. This is why I watch Mr. Felton's videos. You get info that you don't normally find in most history books

[@Cireztualp]

Truely one of the best channels out there. Thanks for your videos!

[@lucasglowacki4683]

I kinda knew the answer when I saw the title. The Soviets must have come in possession of tons of German equipment. Especially with the control of East Germany at the time.

[@allroader66]

In 1990 my platoon was guarding the shipment of US military equipment in the port of Rotterdam for Operation Desert Shield after Iraq had invaded Kuwait. I saw an American sergeant carrying an MP40, so I asked him why he was a carrying such an old gun around. He called it his grease gun and told me it was a souvenir from Vietnam. At the time I did not know what to make of it, he sure looked old enough to be a Vietnam veteran. But now I know it could be true!

[@skippythescout5446]

you aren't wrong, both guns were stamped steel and smgs, easy to mistake from distance.

[@trumpie5399]

My Dad brought back a P38 BYF 1944 complete with extra mag and original holster from Berlin in 1958 in excellent condition. My Current home defense gun !

[@SquirrelRIP]

This channel is so good.Thank you Mark for all your hard work.

[@Tjalve70]

It's interesting to see that USSR kept old, surplus, captured equipment, until such a time as some of their friends might need it. Here in Norway we have recently made the old assault rifle AG-3 obsolete. We had about 200,000 of them. These were scrapped, possibly as late as 1-2 years ago. But I am sure they could have been quite useful in Ukraine now.

[@hunter3836]

Leadership of countries in the 1900s were more concerned about war & utilization of equipment than the incompetent, money wasting bastards you have in office today.

[@neiljasonvillanueva1864]

Especially now in the eastern Ukr.plains.

[@questionmaker5666]

Fortunately, Portugal has their backs.

[@andrewruddy962]

Are they H&K G3s ?

[@Tjalve70]

@@andrewruddy962 If you're asking me, then yes. Sorta. They are H&K G-3's that were slightly modified and produced by Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk as AG-3s. I don't know how big the difference is, but the AG-3's are 3 cm longer than the G-3's.

[@HypocriticYT]

Small arms operate the same way as they did decades ago. Many modern mg’s use mix and match systems. German arms were successful in WW2 and they will continue to be. For instance the only thing lacking in the P38 is higher capacity magazine, has safety decocker, chamber indicator being visual and you can feel it. Double/single action. Just change the mag release position and add higher capacity and it would compete with the best of them

[@HypocriticYT]

@The Colonel not quite, the P1 is a modern P38. Yes they have similar locking. Different recoil spring location and number of springs. Slides are different, P38 short and M9 is long, other than being open top. There is enough differences to make a P38 not a Beretta M9. Of course most modern arms mix and match systems. Mag 58, M60 etc. all use older German designs. I own or have owned all mentioned here including the Beretta 1951. I like the slim P38 grip, the M9 being a fat grip.

[@shooter7734]

All those P38 features are present in the modern pistol sitting next to me as I watched this video, an FNH FNX-45 Tactical ......plus a high capacity magazine.

[@HypocriticYT]

@The Colonel not wrong, all semi auto firearms work on the same principles and all have similarities. The AUG Steyr has a trigger mech that looks like it came out of a 50 cal spotter on the 106 recoilless rifle. I said the same about the type 81 being essentially a SKS and others disagreed due to a rotating bolt though much of it is a direct copy otherwise. The M16 though older now was a new design and works very well (once the bugs were out of it). The 1911 Colt is copied to an extent by the TT33 less safety features and different caliber.

[@HypocriticYT]

@The Colonel it's true many firearms are related. All semi autos must fire, extract, eject and load.

[@michaelhviper]

It's always fascinating when you do these videos on older weapons serving in later wars. Certain weapons and technology can stay useful for a long time.

[@oldmangrady]

A good friend, now deceased, was in Vietnam in 1965. His job was to set up air strips in rural areas of the country. At one location he had just set up and had the facility operating and his crew (20 men) had to do guard duty because of enemy activity. The only weapons they had been assigned were revolvers. This was brought up to the commander who said I'll find something for you. Three days later a 3/4 ton truck pulled up to the control tower with a Vietnamese soldier driving. He had the name of my friend written on a piece of paper. He spoke no English. He took him to the rear of the truck , flipped back a canvas cover and began unloading boxes. each wooden box contained a new MP40, six magazines, and a canvas magazine carrier. There were forty guns and a dozen cases of German 9mm. Once unloaded the driver saluted and drove away. The guns were used for guard duty and trading material.

[@nonyabiz9487]

Ive got a Vietnam bring back Mauser 98 that had the barrel machined down and sporterized to look like a hunting rifle back in the 70s. Its one of my most interesting and best looking firearms I have because it was so nicely done with beautiful walnut stocks. It was made in 1943 so Im sure that rifle has quite a long crazy story.

[@kommandantgalileo]

Just shows how good WW2 German guns were

[@ATruckCampbell]

A gun is a gun.

[@Frank009-fl]

@@ATruckCampbell nothing better then German engineering

[@markadams7597]

Love these period movies and photos. They tell great stories, like your narrative. Thanks.

[@justanotherviewer52]

I don't know where you keep getting all these great ideas from, but I'm glad you do. Thanks Mark.

[@Laakona]

To this day, the German Army has MG-42 machine guns. They are in reserve units. All the Bundeswehr had to do was change the barrel to one chambered for 7.62x51 NATO. They still use non-disintegrating ling belts. Many still have the winged swastika on the receiver by the serial number. Most of the parts are interchangeable with the MG-3.

[@andrewruddy962]

Laakona, interested. Tell us more.

[@Laakona]

@@andrewruddy962 I ran the Firing Range Haunstetten which was owned by the US Army. It was 1977. At times it was utilized by Luftwaffe Reserve units from Lager Lochtefeld, south of Augsburg. They came out one weekend with slightly different looking MG-3s. I looked at the guns and on the right side of the receiver there was indeed the winged swastika. Their armorer showed me how easy it was to change the caliber. Just change barrels. That's it.

[@andrewruddy962]

@@Laakona , very interesting. Thank you for taking the time to reply.

[@stephenbridges2791]

There was a plethora of WWII weapons all over SE Asia. I ended up with a Czech CZ52 in 7.65mm. I am guessing it was an end of war sample as it is somewhat on the crude side. Never could figure out how it got to where it was. Perhaps the French left it behind. Don't know. Still have it after all these years. Good episode, as always.

[@j311ycaa5]

The CZ52 wasn’t a WWII-era weapon though.

[@jordanhicks5131]

@@j311ycaa5 and it wasnt in 7.65mm either lmao

[@j311ycaa5]

​@@jordanhicks5131 Weren't they only chambered in 7.62x25?

[@jordanhicks5131]

@@j311ycaa5 yup

[@noahtw96]

Love your videos! I always know i’m in for something good when mark uploads a new vid. I only wish he had his own podcasf!

[@Smokeybonez_7]

This is a GREAT watch! Loved the footage of the Stg-44 at the range, that thing sounds like such a beast!

[@M.H.D.actual]

Czechoslovakia actually adopted the vz58, which was a domestically designed and produced weapon that while similar in appearance to the AK is mechanically very different.

[@neiljasonvillanueva1864]

In fact it was shown and mentioned in the movie Platoon by Sgt.Barnes (Tom Berenger)

[@WAL_DC-6B]

That MG 34 was a particularly nasty weapon for those on the receiving end. Thankfully the ammunition stocks for it were eventually exhausted (unless you were NVA or the Viet Cong). Interesting how weapons from one war end up years later in another. Thanks for sharing!

[@mitchmatthews6713]

I've said it before, I learn something new with every Felton video. Thank you, Mark!

[@viktormichael821]

Beltin' Felton with another slice of obscure, War History!

[@scrappydoo7887]

I love the STG-44 . It may not be perfect but it was way ahead of its time.

[@Marylandbrony]

Imagine a C96 being made in the German empire, captured by Poles in 1918, captured by the Soviets in 1939, Captured by the Germans again in 1941, Captured by the Soviets again in 1945 and sent off to Vietnam in 1965 and captured by the Americans in 1968.

[@magr7424]

Yes, indeed, that's very fascinating... The moral of the story : never throw away a good weapon, it might be useful in the far future

[@kennyreynolds3406]

I like all of you content Mark Felton. You give me old History Channel Vibes in your Videos. Rarely do I hear something "new" about World War II but your Channel has proven that there's much to still learn.

[@rolandocastaneda4429]

I don't know what it is but I get excited when I hear about these older style weapons. Thanks Mr Felton for sharing.

[@anonymousanonymous7250]

Mark, could you do a video on Brazil's contribution to the Allied Powers? They were a major part of the Italian campaign and yet no one knows about it.

[@catlee8064]

We had an SQMS over in germany who use to go metal detecting in and around the camp....he was finding MG42s.....though it was only after he cleaned them up and was selling them that the regiment took notice as he was arrested for arms dealing.

[@bob_the_bomb4508]

Surprised he didn’t find all those Tigers allegedly buried under every parade square in BAOR!

[@catlee8064]

@@bob_the_bomb4508 HA!! I wish!! worth a fortune!

[@gregoryemmanuel9168]

This video is precisely as you described “surprising and fascinating!” Good job, thank you Mark!

[@stevenhershman2660]

Dr Felton did it again ! Outstanding video. This is great info.

[@josephstevens9888]

I'm not surprised that the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong were using WW2 German weapons. No doubt American and Allied troops came up against American and British-made weapons supplied to the Chinese and Vietnamese to fight the Japanese during WW2. Good work Mark - you always deliver a high-quality product!

[@oasis1282]

Guessing the vietnamese used super secret german weapons before watching this video.

[@HeiniSauerkraut]

Czechoslovakia never adopted the AK-47. They had their own design the Vz-58, which only has a similar look to the AK, but it is quite different.

[@King_Ears]

Loving the high upload frequency currently without diminished content. Keep it up 👏👏👏👏👏