Wartime Soviet Thompson Machinegun Document

[desantnik]

For your perusal an interesting identification document issued by the Tskhakaia NKVD bureau (now Senaki, Georgia) issued sometime in 1943 to a member of a local "destroyer" unit. The document was extended beyond its initial, unspecified issue date to later periods through 31 December 1943, 1 July 1944, then 31 December 1944, and finally 31 December 1945.

Senaki - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This unit was formed to pursue and hunt reports of enemy agents parachuted into the friendly rear area, as well as general, local security.

Most notable, this document is outstanding in that it mentions the bearer was armed with a Thompson submachinegun, serial-number 161804. An on-line search engine led me to this article Thompson submachine gun - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia that reads: "Through Lend-Lease, the Soviet Union also received the Thompson, but due to a shortage of appropriate ammunition in the Soviet Union, usage was not widespread."

This document seems to substantiate the supply problems involving U.S. 45 caliber ammunition in that these Lend-Lease weapons were shipped to the "backwater" of Georgia and not used on the front lines.

The reference is this book: Bishop, Chris (1998). The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II. New York: Orbis Publiishing Ltd. ISBN 0-7607-1022-8.

I'd appreciate any more information if it's available.

[desantnik]

I forgot the photos...

[desantnik]

And the piece de resistance - the Thompson reference.

[CtahhR]

Nice to see a "Tomson" related document. I'm sure anyone with this entry in their record would want it to be changed or obscured when the Cold War was in swing.
I have a motorcycle permit from either 42 or 43 somewhere I will post later, where someone has accidentally entered "BMW" and then changed it to the Soviet designation of the vehicle.

Friends one day, enemies the next.

[Al-muell]

It wasn't that bad. I have heard that Rokossowskiy's WW2 Willys is still in a perfect state and currently ina lend-lease museum somewhere in Russia. I don't know for the Red Army, but some lend-lease vehicles were used by Polish Army even in early 1950's, and they were the same that USSR recieved during the war.

But back to the topic, I have once even seen a picture (in a book) of a Red Army soldier armed with Thompson smg from 1944 or 1945.

[Tommy]

HyperWar: Lend-Lease Shipments, World War II (Ordnance)

:-)

Ctrl +F search "Submachine, Cal. .45 (All Types)"

Ordnance--General Supplies
Part I -- Principal Countries

Submachine, Cal. .45

British Empire - 651,086
USSR - 137,729
French Forces - 20,856
China - 63,251
Brazil - 1,401
Other Lat. Am. Repub's - 871
Canada - 1,321
Netherlands - 3680
Other - 0


It seems likee you also lent them 220,906 gallons of radiator antifreeze!

Hope this is helpful!

Tom

[CtahhR]

Nice to see the British Empire get the Lion's share (pun intended).
The Thompson was a "preferred" weapon by many of the combat troops of the time (that had the ammunition).
Many of the British squaddies romanticised the Tommy due to its connection to American gangster culture, it was also far and away better than a Sten Mk 1.
Almost everyone wanted to pose with a Tommy for a photograph to send back to their N.O.R.W.I.C.H.
Somehow I don't think the Hollywood films glamorising the gangsters were that widespread in the USSR.

No lend-leasing of any Violin cases to put the Tommies in?

[Dat Nguyen]

Hello Desantnik.

Thanks for your post.

Somewhere in my gigabyte of digital photos, I have a photo of a crate of Thompsons sub-machine gun in a rather HUMONGOUS private collection. Allow me a few day to locate the photo.

Here is Afghanistan, there are Thompson still being stored in the Afghan Army weapon depot. I won't be surprise if the serial numbers on those Thompsons matches those given to the UK.

v/r
Dat

[UQWozza]

With a quick web search I came up with these three photos:

1. Russian marines on the Kola peninsula.

2. Russian tank troops with American tanks and equipment.

3. The inventor JT Thompson

Simon

[desantnik]

Originally Posted by UQWozza

With a quick web search I came up with these three photos:

1. Russian marines on the Kola peninsula.

2. Russian tank troops with American tanks and equipment.

3. The inventor JT Thompson

Simon

I forgot about #2, but don't think I've ever seen #1 - thanks for sharing!