|
The MG wagon and zwillingssockel were
used frequently throughout the Wehrmacht's campaigns of 1938 to 1941. They appear regularly in period photographs
and film footage. Research has shown that the majority of original photographs found show the MG wagon in use prior
to the winter of 1941-1942. Photographs taken after this time have proven very difficult to find. The
use of the MG wagon seems to have declined rapidly after the first winter in Russia. This is most likely due
to the fact that by this time the aircraft speeds and armament had increased beyond the capabilities of the MG34 and
its standard rifle caliber cartridge. By 1942, it seems the zwillingssockels were increasingly used on motorized vehicles
and in stationary defensive roles where secondary anti-aircraft protection was required. The zwillingssockel was
used extensively along the Atlantic Wall and in many fortified areas throughout the German occupied territories. Period photographs
show that they were commonly mounted to variety of vehicles and fortified installations. The wagons, without their
mounts, can also be seen in use as supply and equipment wagons by the units that had given up the mounts. In
many cases, the wagon was simply buried in the ground or snow as a semi-permanent platform for the zwillingssockel. Today, many of the zwillingssockels have survived in various conditions and
can be seen in museums and private collections throughout the world. The wagons are not as common, as only five
examples are known to have survived to this day.
|
|
More original, unpublished photographs can be seen by following the link
below.
ARCHIVE
|
|
