The Boys from the Blitzkrieg

 As mentioned in my previous posts, I have now finished off the last of my current batch of 1st Corps Blitzkrieg German infantry - and this may well be the last of the infantry (bar some figures to represent the dismounted motorcycle troops) altogether for this collection.

The full ten-man squad - a 2 figure command, 2 figure LMG crew and 2 x 3 figure schutzen.

NCO

Schutzen no 1

Schutzen no 2

MG 34 crew

I also had this 50mm mortar by Crusader to finish off.

And here is the completed Rubicon PAK 36, 37mm anti-tank gun and crew.

The figures are considerably smaller/finer detailed than their metal brethren.

I based the crew in two parts, and the gun is not fixed in place, so it can be towed into battle by a truck or half-track tow vehicle.

TOOLS OF THE TRADE - MILITARIA

A few days ago, Mark/JBM at Mud Blood and Steel did a post on a significant collection of militaria that he has quite recently amassed - see here Mud Blood And Steel: Tools of the trade.

Tonight, I add my own small contribution on this subject, a WWII German bayonet that may well have been used during the Blitzkrieg era. I came into possession of it via my father-in-law, who served in the 21st Battalion of the NZ Division in Italy from 1943-45. All following details are courtesy of the web!

The S84/98 III was the standard bayonet for the Karabiner 98k rifle.

Origins

The S84/98 III was the last production of the S84/98 German bayonet. It originates from the 1871/1884 bayonet, the first ever standard issue rifle bayonet for any army which was adopted in the German Empire for use with the 1871/1884 rifle. This was a modification of the Mauser Model 1871 the first Mauser rifle which fit it with a 8-round tubular magazine designed by Alfred von Kropatschek. This was the first repeating rifle of the German armed forces although it was quickly replaced by the Gewehr 1888 made in response to the Lebel Model 1886 rifle, the first rifle to use smokeless powder. The first pattern of S84/98 or M1884/98 bayonet was the 1871/1884 bayonet adapted so it could be used on the Gewehr 98. This was replaced in service by the 1898/05 bayonet. However during World War I the S84/98 began to be produced again under the designation S84/98 II. The German Imperial Army used this bayonet in World War I as a way of conserving scarce resources. The S84/98 III was production of the S84/98 bayonet during the late Weimar period and during the time of Nazi Germany.

Production

Most production of the bayonet was done by facilities in the Solingen area of Germany. Besides this, other German producers were businesses such as Jos. Corts who made power tools, Adler AG, Dürkopp who made motor vehicles today sewing machine manufacturer Durkopp Adler, Mundlos AG who made sewing machines and major surgical instrument producer Jetter & Scherrer, Aesculap Werke, Tuttlingen. The bayonet was also produced for Germany abroad in countries they occupied which was done by Genossenshaft Maschinenfabrik, Ferlach in Austria and the famous Manufacture d'armes de Châtellerault in France who made the FM 24/29 light machine gun.

The bayonet is about 15" in length. According to a militaria site selling a similar bayonet, it has a 251mm single edged blade with a deep fuller on both sides.

The ricasso bears the makers name. 

The obverse ricasso bears the number 2169, above the lower-case letter "a".

The blade is marked on the spine with the year of manufacture,'39

The bayonet I have was manufactured by Clemen & Jung, details of whom are shown below from their website:

The company CLEMEN & JUNG was founded and registered with the Chamber of Commerce in 1860. Up until the destruction of the factory in 1944 during World War II: CLEMEN & JUNG produced and manufactured restraint systems, sabers, rapiers, daggers and swords.

After the Second World War ended, CLEMEN & JUNG rebuilt their factory, specializing in the manufacture of high-quality restraint systems. Through continuing technology, innovation, and decades of experience; CLEMEN & JUNG have set new standards of quality in an ever-changing market. Today CLEMEN & JUNG deliver their products to law enforcement, military, justice institutions, and correctional facilities worldwide.

Above you see the original logo of CLEMEN & JUNG of the early years 1860. In 2014 the management of CLEMEN & JUNG decided to change it to a new logo. The reasons to make a big step like that and to change the existing one, was the generation change in the company as well the new technologies and products of CLEMEN & JUNG today.

Our Brand name CLEJUSO coming out of our name and town Clemen & Jung in Solingen

 I actually did not know a hell of a lot about the bayonet until I used the web to track down all the details above - hope you found it as interesting as I did!