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German weapons could have come to Chinese forces in Korea two ways (at
least). The "standard" rifle of the Nationalists pre WWII was the 7.92mm
Mauser. Most were manufactured in China ("Generalissimo Model"). But others were
purchased in Czechoslovakia (Vz.24) and Germany (Mauser Standard Modell), among
other permutations. Some of the latter were manufactured during the Nazi period.
As is well known Nationalist troops in the late 30's often wore the Model 1935
coal scuttle style German helmet, and had other German equipment besides
rifles. It would be surprising if none of this stuff was encountered in
Korea, I'm sure it was.
Or German stuff could have come via the Soviets postwar, but AFAIK
that's not documented. However I think Cookie's point was more on the level
of heavy equipment, not infantry weapons. Orders of battle of the time from the
West speculated the presence of for example ex-German AAA but that doesn't
seem to have been common if it was the case at all, unless someone knows
differently.
AFAIK the Chinese esp. at first had weapons from every
source imaginable, but the KPA much less variety: mostly relatively
modern Soviet stuff in front line units with some exceptions: The "Soviet
View" translation mentions that the 5th Div (which was one of those with a
nucleus of Chinese-Korean PLA vets) was armed with "captured" weapons. US
sources say the 12 Div was armed with Japanese Type 99 rifles til it mainly
re-armed itself with ROKA Garands.
On the ROK side second line units, esp. the national police, who
participated in harassing the KPA on their advance into the South and mopping
them up after their retreat, were also mainly armed at first with Japanese small
arms.
Joe
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