Binos and Brits

[Michael Emrys]

German binoculars were highly prized and frequently the first thing after weapons that POWs were relieved of. And as the campaign wore on, and especially after Cobra, finding them at the squad level would not have been all that rare. This is in addition to whatever the GIs could acquire by the unsanctioned bartering among different units or otherwise manage to scrounge. GIs tended to flesh out their list of equipment by energetically pursuing various quasi-illegal means.

Michael

[JonS]

Go easy on the Ambrosian nationalism there, Mike. All soldiers tend to make use of whatever they can find.

Edited January 24, 2017 by JonS

[Michael Emrys]

10 minutes ago, JonS said:

Go easy on the Ambrosian nationalism there, Mike.

You are imagining things again. Nothing like that was intended.

"All soldiers tend to make use of whatever they can find."

That was exactly my point.

Michael

[JonS]

It may have been your point, but I didn't imagine what you wrote

[c3k]

15 hours ago, akd said:

Well, did some more digging:

-US infantry were not issued binoculars at the squad level with some exceptions, e.g. scout squads. (Yves J. Bellanger, U.S. Army Infantry Divisions 1943-45)

-German infantry rifle squad leaders were issued with 6x30 binoculars, at least early in the war. (Alex Buchner, The German Infantry Handbook 1939-1945)

Gah...I have both of those. Points to you! (Any points not redeemed immediately become null and void.)