Minifigure – German Waffen-SS Machine Gun Assistant from World War II (LEGO Compatible)

This image displays a toy minifigure representing a German Waffen-SS Machine Gun Assistant (often referred to as Gunner No. 2) from World War II.

Here is a detailed breakdown of the figure and its historical context:

The Figure: Waffen-SS MG Assistant (Munitionsschütze) This figure represents the vital second member of a German machine gun team, responsible for keeping the weapon fed and operational.

• Camouflage Uniform: The figure is wearing a Camouflage Smock (Tarnjacke) and a helmet cover in the Spring Oak Leaf Pattern (Eichenlaubmuster A). This pattern features distinct spots of green and brown and was unique to the Waffen-SS. Underneath the smock, the collar reveals the SS sig runes on the right tab. He wears standard field grey trousers and boots.

• Role-Specific Gear (The Ammo): The defining feature of this figure is the heavy load of ammunition. He has Machine Gun Belts (Patronengurte) draped around his neck and shoulders, ready to be fed into the machine gun.

• Backpack/Load: On his back (visible in the “Behind” view), there is a large printed Green Ammunition Box (Patronenkasten). This heavy steel box held 250 or 300 rounds of belted ammunition. He also has a pistol holster printed on his belt; MG crews carried pistols (like the P38 or Luger) for self-defense because their hands were usually occupied with heavy equipment.

• The Weapon: While his primary job was to support the machine gun, he is armed with a Karabiner 98k (Kar98k) rifle for personal defense and to support the squad when not feeding the MG.

• Facial Features: The figure has a printed stubble beard, giving him the appearance of a weary veteran soldier on the front lines.

Historical Background: In the German infantry doctrine of WWII, the Machine Gun (specifically the MG34 or the fearsome MG42) was the centerpiece of the squad’s firepower. The gun fired so fast (1,200 rounds per minute for the MG42) that it required a dedicated team to operate.

• The Assistant’s Job: While Gunner No. 1 fired the weapon, Gunner No. 2 (The Assistant) was indispensable. He carried the heavy ammunition boxes, spare barrels (which had to be changed frequently to prevent overheating), and helped feed the ammunition belts into the gun during combat. If the main gunner was killed or wounded, the assistant was trained to immediately take over the gun and keep firing.