Comparing the Differences Between WWII & Post-War MG Equipment

Our clients have frequently asked us what the difference is between WWII German and post-war Yugoslavian manufactured accessories for the MG-34 and the MG-42, which is why I have included this explanation page for your convenience.

It's important to note occupied Yugoslavia was an important manufacturing and supply centre for the Axis during WWII, and that stockpiles of German military supplies, weapons, and ammunition were left behind after the country liberated itself from Nazi rule (the only European nation to accomplish this without foreign armies deployed on their soil).

As her army was starved for equipment during the early postwar years, Yugoslavia made use not only of the existing captured ordnance, but also of captured tooling left in factories after the invaders retreated. This point is of particular importance with regards to comparing German accessories with their Yugo counterparts because the latter were often made in the same factories and on the same tooling as the equivalent German-marked ones (naturally the Yugoslavians did not stamp their manufactured products with their former oppressors' insignia!).

Please note the images below are intended as a general overview and do not include every combination of markings, version of equipment, etc. Actual markings, manufacture dates (where indicated on an item), and so on vary from piece to piece.

- Peter, Marstar Webmaster