A bit of an enigma in the La Gleize '44 museum

[Johan]

I'm sure almost every WW2 fan has heard of La Gleize, where during the Battle of the Bulge Kampfguppe Peiper was stopped by American soldiers of the 82nd AB, the 30th ID, etc. In fact this is where the Germans lost the Battle of the Bulge.

There is a very nice museum there, famous for having one of the two surviving King Tiger tanks of the Battle of the Bulge, and also with, I quote : "de milliers d’objets authentiques dont la particularité est pour une partie d’avoir été récupérée sur le terrain et pour l’autre, d’être des dons gracieusement consentis par des vétérans." Which means : "thousands of objects, part of them found on the battlefield (of La Gleize) itself, part of them donated by veterans of the fighting (at La Gleize)" fe they do have the map case of Peiper himself with his maps in it, which he left behind in a hurry.

... And there is also a PPSh-41 in the museum. See picture in attachment.

Makes you wonder if the Soviets secretly sent some help to the Ardennes in December 1944 ... ???

 

[billyturnip]

Possibly a German soldier acquired it in Russia. Interesting all the same.

Roger.

 

[Helm]

I would say like Rog it was more likely "souvenired" in Russia and brought there by a German or maybe it was just aquired by the museum at some point in a collection
Steve

 

[1969]

The Germans captured large amounts of PPSH-41`s and entered them into service with their troops, some were even converted to 9mm and re designated as MP41(r).
The Sten also shown in the case was also probably German issue, they copied the Sten and produced their own which saw service on the Western front.

Sounds like a great day out.

Steve

 

[Johan]

Sounds like a great day out.

You bet. The Museum of La Gleize is a must see if you're interested in the Battle of the Bulge.
http://www.december44.com/en/history_battle_of_the_bulgela_gleize.htm
People are more familiar with Bastogne, but La Gleize is every bit just as interesting.
I must admit however that, while Bastogne is a fine little town with some hotel facilities, pubs and a butcher at the grande place where they sell some of the best ham in the Ardennes, you will find that La Gleize is rather a dead hole on a sunday afternoon. But the King Tiger alone makes up for that !

Well, I also thought, just like you gentlemen, maybe some of the SS did use captured Russian PPSh-41 in the Ardennes ... I've never seen it confirmed in a photograph, but it's possible ...

 

[Helm]

"The Tiger II is number 213 that was disabled defending Werimont Farm and was exchanged for a bottle of cognac from salvaging GIs by the local innkeeper's wife, thus saving it for posterity" bloody good swap I'd say today it'd be on E Bay
Steve