A) MP 40,it is:)
B) S type Bit
C) Field Glasses
D)Kar 98K
E) Packtasche 34*
F) Type 35 Message blank pouch
G) Looks almost like a P 08 Holster,odd spot for it though.
H) Type 25 Army Saddle
I) The Kid...
J) Grosse Packtasche**
"After 1939 all non-cominshioned officers in comand posations carried a MP38 and later the MP 40. All other NCO's and enlisted men, with the exception of the macine gunners, who were likewise armed with the pistole 08, carried the carbiner 98K carbine. Each of the nine horse horse squads had one MG 34 light MG with AA Tripod (from 1940 only one tripode per platoon), while each troop included a MG section with two MG 34 heavy MG's, later a MG platoon with 4 MG 34 HMG, as well as a comunacations section as well as an ammunation section. The troop train consisted of a field kitchen, a large blacksmith wagon and a Hf 1 ammunation and weapons wagon; with mobalasation these were joined by a series of horse drawn vehicals and a small number of trucks. Priour to the start of the campagine aganst russiathe horse and bicycle troops were issued two Panzerbuchse 39 ATR's."
Standard equipment for a Troop:
20 pairs of binoculars
32 message blank pouches
20 prismatic compasses
125 shovels
23 pick mattocks
16 wire cutters
5 compass saws
10 claw axes
4 flare pistoles
4 signal lamps
22 pairs of sunglasses
1 bugle
All equipment was carried by the men or the horses.
Above from p.22 Calvery of the Wehrmacht by Richter
* This consists of a sadle overthrow and a left and right side portion sean on the horses pistured above, largely concerned with carrying gear for the horse, some grain, brushes and shoing gear, along with a spare shoe. Fead bag,ect...
** Later saddle Bag, larger than the earler varient.
Picture taken Russia circa 1941.
Some interesting fact's:
1st Calvery Divishion had 17,000 horses, faught in Poland, Belgum,France and Russia, was reformed in 42 as a Panzer divishion, horses were reasigned to other units.
Each Infentry regement was suposed to be asigned an infentry horse platoon for recon work consisting of 32 men and 33 horses.
Despite the reforming of the first calvery Divishion in 42 their remained throught the war for the most part, German calvery units, actualy they increased in size and number in 43, and remained in service till the end of the war.
It is likely that these men are part of the 1st calvery divishion but, we cant be certain.
All told their were 8 German Calvery Divishions, if you include the First Clavery divishion mentioned above, in service during the second World War.
