Guillou, Luc/DuPont, Erik The German MG 34 and MG 42 Machine Guns in World War II

The German MG (Maschinengewehr) 34, along with the later-war MG 42, was a recoil-operated, air-cooled machine gun and is considered the world's first general-purpose machine gun. Considered the most advanced machine gun in the world at the time, its ease of mobility and high rate of fire - 900 rounds per minute - made it ideal both for infantry and antiaircraft use. First entering service during the Spanish Civil War in 1936, it remained in Wehrmacht service through the end of WW 2 in 1945, along with its updated model, the MG 42. This illustrated book presents the design, manufacturing, and development both of the MG 34 and MG 42, from its acceptance by the German military through production and combat use from 1936 to 1945. Includes close-up views of markings and other details, as well as a breakdown of the weapon. Accessories such as ammunition and gun mounts are featured throughout the book, as are rarely seen combat-related uniform and equipment items.

First used in combat during the Spanish Civil War in 1936, both weapons remained in the Wehrmacht's arsenal until the end of the war in 1945. This illustrated book presents the design, manufacture and development of the MGs 34 and 42 from their adoption by the German military and serial production to their combat use between 1936 and 1945. Included are close-up photographs of markings and other details as well as photos of all individual parts of the weapons. Accessories such as ammunition and weapon mounts are also documented, as well as rare parts of combat uniforms and equipment associated with these machine guns.