German Forces

Mortar and crew

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Mortar crew in Italy 1943. They appear to be getting ready to fire, but the picture is most probably staged for the benefit of the photographer. Moving the mortar set up like that would be very diffcult, and firing the mortar from paved ground would probably not be very "healthy" for the mortar. Yet the harness has been removed (the Schütze on the right is sitting on one of the carrying pads), the sight has been fitted and one Schütze appears to be opening an ammunition container. Other details of interest includes two FG42 leaning against the wall, with the magazine bandoleers on the ground, and two empty messtins left over from the last meal. Also worth mentioning is the pillar on the left which appears to have been decorated by childrens hands dipped in paint (or dying enemies' blood stained hands for those who preffer the dramatic :-) ). Picture taken by Kriegsberichter Funke. taken from fb/Bergflak