Why didn't the Germans used captured Lee-Enfields?
- Thread starter steelgray
- Start date
Not issued...
I think the most logical explanations have already been posted.
You're just not going to issue out to troops a weapon you have limited quantities of, limited ammo (also a caliber you don't use) and replacement parts at a time when you don't think you'll need them because you're steam rolling everyone and expect the war to be over shortly.
I'm willing to be proven wrong. Anyone have some period photos of the Wehrmacht, Kriegsmarine front line or rear detachment troops with them in use?
I think the most logical explanations have already been posted.
You're just not going to issue out to troops a weapon you have limited quantities of, limited ammo (also a caliber you don't use) and replacement parts at a time when you don't think you'll need them because you're steam rolling everyone and expect the war to be over shortly.
I'm willing to be proven wrong. Anyone have some period photos of the Wehrmacht, Kriegsmarine front line or rear detachment troops with them in use?
Whatever the reason, it seems pretty clear that these captured LE guns didn't survive the war intact.
If they had been issued to German forces, German home guard type-units, Vichy French units etc., in any significant numbers - comparable to the numbers captured at Dunkirk - they would have eventually been recaptured by the Allies and maybe even "re-liberated" back into Allied arsenals after the war.
Instead, by war's end these guns were gone - presumably scraped for their steel and then made into tanks, ... then recycled into boilers, ... then construction steel, ... then several generations of cars, etc.
Your cr**py Toyota is probably made - in part - from some WW2 LE. Pretty sad.
I don’t know this for a fact but my theory is the Commonwealth troops were good at disabling their weapons before capture. Toss your bolt into a bush before surrendering and that’s one less useful weapon in enemy hands. I suspect a lot of the reissued captured weapons actually came from stores and not battlefield pickups - because those would also have spare parts and a ready supply of ammo. Obviously the Germans weren’t capturing warehouses full of Enfields and I doubt much of the Dunkirk or Dieppe rifles were taken in usable condition.
nowarningshot
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
When you have M98, why?
Not so great of sights. scope and war trophy most likely taken a few days before, might as well make use of a rifle that would give you a little bit more range with the scope, use it till ya have to wreck it then back to the regular rifle, make use of what you have/need at the time another sniper/marksman in the field
nowarningshot
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
LE....as a sniper rifle....compared to M98...really....Really...ok
Not comparing sniper rifles, look at the circumstances, that's probably a regular soldier that's been on the defensive probably picked it off the poor fellow that use to have it, now he's got a little more range can put himself in a marksman role providing deadly accurate fire at ranges he couldn't accomplish with his k98 well still supporting his machine gun squad, same as when other guys picked up other weapons like when the allied soldiers would commandeer mp40's, you'd be a fool not to realize you have a useful piece of equipment that could be put to use till supply runs out at which point, make unusable go back to k98, at no point did I mean to compare sniper rifles, I doubt he was issued it or a sniper 98 and I doubt anyone would stop him from using it well he could.... Well except its previous owners
And as it is, its June 44 the Russians are well on their way to eastern Poland by the end of the month, the Italian front is in disarray, equipment losses are getting worse and worse, it may just could have been issued as a weapon to field more snipers
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