Thread by @Niels_1944

There seem to be two options in talks about German MGs on the D-Day beaches:
1) All guns MG42s (especially at Omaha)
2) Just old and captured MGs
Neither are true. Let’s take a quick look at the available numbers for the 716ID and 352ID. [I’ll ignore the Osttruppen for now]

The 716ID was a static division, so poorly equipped with just old and captured MGs. Right? Not quite.
So why the confusion? For one people confuse organic and static weapons. Big no no.

On 1 Dec. 43 the division itself had:
349 x MG34
3 x 08/15
11 x 116(f)
13 x 08
It received 9 MG42 before D-Day.
You can expect the MG34 and MG42s in frontline units.

In addition it had also static (non-organic) MGs in its sector on 1 Dec 43:
61 x 116(f)
28 x 311(f)
1 x MG13
32 x 28(p)
4 x 08/15
20 x 14(p)
11 x 30(p)
= 157 static MGs.

On 1 March 44 these numbers had changed to:
64 x 116(f)
65 x 311(f)
32 x 28(p)
4 x 08/15
20 x 14(p)
11 x 30(p)
23 x 257(f)
7 x 37(t)
15 x MG34
= 241 static MGs.

This was lower on 1 May, after the 352ID had taken over the western sector:
25 x 116(f)
31 x 311(f)
20 x 28(p)
1 x 08/15
10 x 14(p)
6 x 30(p)
5 x 257(p)
2 x MG42
22 x MG34
= 122 static MGs
Most of the difference between 1 March and 1 May prob. ended up in the 352ID sector

As for the 352ID. This division was neither elite nor poor. It was as about as standard as a 1944 German division could hope for. Equipped with modern German weapons and at or close to authorized strength. That might be a bit rare, but certainly not elite.

On 1 November 43 the division had 208 MGs. These were German. Most likely MG34 or MG42.
Up to the invasion the division received another 505 MG42 and 5 MG34.
On 1 Jan. 44 the division had just 1 Russian MG. The only foreign piece. It was no longer there on D-Day.

Now this thread is not about which weapons were actually on the coast, but if you look at the numbers you can get a pretty good idea.

The basic rules are these: organic MGs are German and either MG34 or MG42. Static MGs can be captured, old or both. The organic weapons of frontline units are modern, the rear area elements can have older and captured types.