>From my experience, all the artillery that has come out of Finland is
captured equipment given them by the Soviet's. It is probable that the
Hotchkiss was taken from the Germans by the Soviet's on the 'Eastern
Front', who had previously captured it from the French. I have had over
the years a number of pieces of early artillery all dated around 1932 -
40 which the Soviets captured and then turned to their own use, even
manufacturing ammo to suit. Some was original early Soviet Artillery
captured by the Germans, then retaken by the Soviets later in the war.
Much of this early equipment was then passed on the Finland (still with
German markings). All the artillery I have seen from this scource has
been in Soviet colours with Finnish markings over the top. Once the
Finns found out we were buying the equipment and restoring it for
display/collections etc, they banned the export of the items and started
cutting it all up. A shame because most of the working Pak's in
collectors hands around the world we scourced from there.
regards
Colin Brookes
Invicta Military Vehicle Preservation Society (IMPS).
colb@xtra.co.nz
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