No automation in the field: German machine gunners had to prepare their own cartridge belts like the ones above. The more ready belts the better when your weapon spews out 600-700 rounds a minute.

3655 to go

Evacuated wounded soldiers. Savonlinna, 2 January 1940.

Evacuated

Waffen SS battle the Russians in a railway station at an unidentified location in 1942. Note the Mauser C96 with stock and 30-round magazine being deployed by the infantryman on the right. The 9-mm Parabellum pistol WW1 vintage and rather rare on the front line in WW2.