I wouldn´t consider myself ignorant on the subject but I was wondering if somebody could confirm( because maybe they have LOADS of books on the subject) if I could just paint them up as any Panzergrenadier in any theatre of operations. I was thinking of something like SS with a pea-pattern around Normandy time,so would that be too early in the time frame to put the StG 44 on a figure ? It was a Christmas present & I am really impressed with them & all the extras that are left over.

In normandy??

Propably not

Because of the light clothes and the different type of uniform

But let the experts speak

Cheers Nick

Nick I meant ,changing the colours & not all SS wore smocks.

To change these Heer troops to waffen SS needs guite alot of small changes, most of the changes are to the insignia. 1st the eagle emblame on the field cap was differant and the national cockade must be substituted for a Totenkopf (skull). 2nd the collar taps would be changed to SS runes also the shoulder boards would be differant, SS and Heer ranks were differant 3rd On the left arm of the field jacket the SS eagle would be used instead of the Heer one and all SS units carried the name of they're Division on a cuff band. 4 th SS troops used a differant belt buckel to Heer units. Next the SS and Heer wore pretty much the same uniforms. The short boots with putties was introtuced in 43 and earned the nick name retreating boots, as to camoflage the trousers are no proplem. Normally camo smocks were used but men did have Field jackets tailored in camo patterns. Heer and SS used the same webbing. I dont think the Mp44/StG44 was in wide spread use in Normandy, personally I would stick with the Mp40. I have found that a good starter to Herr and SS uniforms are the Ospray Men at arms books The German Army 1-5 and Waffen SS1-4, you can pick them up cheeply 2nd hand of the net. Hope this helps. cheers Geraint

Is there a list of the nine volumes by title? I found some of them on Amazon.com for less than $5 and they seem like a good deal, but it is hit or miss.

Mike as Geraint said the Sturmgewehr 44 wasn't really in widespread use during Normandy. But that does not mean it wasn't fielded. It''s possible it was. Facts are that over 10,000 were produced in late 1942 - early 1943 under the designation Maschinenkarabiner 1942(H) for field trials & tested in actual combat on the Eastern Front.
Waffen SS troops were given top priority to receive the weapon. It was distributed to SS divisions which included 1.SS Leibstandarte and 2.SS Das Reich and these divisions were eventually transferred to the Western Front . I know 2.SS was transferred to France for rest and refit ( April/May 1944 ) and the build up of forces for preparation of the Allied invasion.
- So is it possible that the StG44 made it's way to Normandy with some German veterans from the eastern front ? ...... " Yes, it's argueably possible"
- Have I seen or have any photo's as evidence?......."No"
As Geraint said, it just was not in widespread use or in full production as it was in mid-late 1944.

- ralph

Thanks for your replies. Nice figures it just shows that they are good for just about anything as long as it´s not an Eastern European winter setting as they are obviously underdressed.