Band of Brothers is the 2001 HBO World War II miniseries produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg. Based on the best-selling book by the late historian Stephen Ambrose, the 10-part miniseries followed the men of "Easy" Company of the 101st Airborne Division from their basic training, through D-Day and up until the capture of Hitler's Eagle's Nest.
The following weapons can be seen in the miniseries Band of Brothers:
Allied Weapons
Handguns
Colt M1911A1
The M1911A1 was the standard sidearm of American Forces during WWII. Issued to officers, NCOs and those in positions where a rifle or carbine was not desirable, the pistol quickly became a favored item among Allied troops because of its stopping power. The M1911A1 is seen in various episodes of Band of Brothers, most notably in "Points", where it was seen being used by Capt. Ronald Spiers (Matthew Settle) threatening both the doctor and the drunk American soldier who shot Chuck Grant. Capt. Herbert M. Sobel (David Schwimmer) can be seen running with one in "Currahee". Joe Leibgott (Ross McCall) shoots a German officer in "Points" with a M1911. David Webster (Eion Bailey) threatens a baker with one in "Why We Fight."
World War II issued Colt M1911A1 Pistol - .45 ACP.
Leibgott firing an M1911A1 during training exercises.
Captain Sobel (
David Schwimmer) is seen holding an M1911A1 in the episode "Currahee"
An Easy Company paratrooper fires an M1911A1 at a German
Fallschirmjäger in the episode "Carentan"
A Paratrooper pulls out Smokey Gordon's pistol when he is wounded.
Pvt. Vest angrily attempts to shoot a German prisoner in the episode "The Last Patrol"
Webster points his M1911A1 (curiously with white dots on the rear-pistol sights) at a belligerent German baker in the episode "Why We Fight"
Another angle of Webster with his M1911A1
Colt New Service Revolver M1917
Floyd "Tab" Talbert (Matthew Leitch) is given a Colt New Service revolver as a gift on June 4th 1944 during the episode "Currahee", he is seen armed with it in the episode "Carentan".
Colt New Service 1935-1936 .357 magnum.
"You gotta love cops!" Floyd "Tab" Talbert receives the Colt New Service revolver mailed to him from his local police department.
Mauser C96
A French soldier is seen executing young German prisoners with a C96 "Broomhandle" Mauser.
C96 Broomhandle Mauser - 7.63x25mm.
A French soldier shoots German prisoners
Submachine Guns
M1A1 Thompson
Also known as the "Tommy gun" the M1A1 Thompson was the standard issue Sub Machine Gun for US Forces in WWII. As such, many of Easy Company's officers and NCOs are shown carrying the Thompson as their standard weapon. Notable figures include Ronald Speirs (Matthew Settle), Harry Welsh (Rick Warden), Lynn "Buck" Compton (Neal McDonough), William "Wild Bill" Guarnere (Frank John Hughes), and Johnny Martin (Dexter Fletcher).
What is interesting is that, if you look at a pic of Speirs in the book "Band of Brothers", he seems to be holding an M1928A1 Thompson.
Sgt. Lipton (
Donnie Wahlberg) holding an M1A1 Thompson with the bolt closed.
Easy Company men fire in training
Lynn "Buck" Compton (
Neal McDonough) loads his Thompson in "Day of Days".
Compton realizes that his Thompson has jammed.
Guarnere ducks with his M1A1 Thompson.
Johnny Martin with his Thompson
Johnny Martin fires his Thompson
Ronald Speirs with his Thompson during his mad dash through Foy.
Lt. Jones (
Colin Hanks) cleans his Thompson before a mission.
"Popeye" Wynn fires his Thompson in the episode "The Last Patrol."
M3A1 "Grease Gun"
The M3A1 "Grease Gun" was the cheap, inexpensive replacement for the Thompson Sub Machine Gun; It is only shown in the hands of Roy Cobb (Craig Heaney).
M3 Grease Gun as used in Band of Brothers
Pvt. Roy Cobb (
Craig Heaney) fires his Grease Gun in the episode "Replacements". Next to him is Lt. Peacock holding an M1 Carbine and Webster with his M1 Garand.
Cobb is the only one with a Grease Gun, as the rest, including David Webster, has an
M1 Garand, as they search for Sgt. Randleman.
Pvt. Roy Cobb (
Craig Heaney) fires his Grease Gun in the episode "Crossroads."
"How many Krauts are left up there?". Cobb reloading his M3A1.
Another shot of Cobb firing his Grease Gun.
To the far left is a good view Cobb's Grease Gun from the right side.
Cobb at the bottom right tries to knock out the sniper that had just hit Frank Perconte in the ass. Behind him is Heron with his
Browning Automatic Rifle.
Rifles
M1903A3 Springfield
A paratrooper is seen with an M1903A3 Springfield in the beginning, when Blithe joins them to find Easy Co. It's clearly not a Kar98k because of a shorter barrel, and front sights are different. It's later seen at the counter attack at Carentan.
The
World War II Springfield Rifle - the Model 03-A3. This was a simplified version of the 1903 to supplement the
M1 Garand for troops in World War II - .30-06
The M1903 Springfield is seen slung on the back of Pvt. Gordon, who is also carrying an Browning M1919A4.
The Springfield is seen in front of Blithe, who is carrying an
M1 Garand.
The barrel is now clearly shown (circled), notice it doesn't have the bayonet lunge like in the Kar98k.
A paratrooper gets his finger shot off during the fight at Carentan.
The bolt action is seen on the paratrooper's rifle.
M1 Garand
Standard issue rifle of the US military during WWII, many of Easy Company's paratroopers are shown carrying the M1 Garand as their standard weapon. Most notable are Lieutenant (Later Captain/Major) Richard "Dick" Winters (Damian Lewis), Shifty Powers (Peter Youngblood Hills) and Joseph Liebgott (Ross McCall). The Garand can be seen with and without a bayonet.
Lt. Winters (
Damian Lewis) fires his Garand during the battle of Brecourt Manor in the episode "Day of Days."
Pvt. Albert Blythe (
Marc Warren) prepares to fire his M1 Garand in "Carentan".
Blythe frantically reloads his Garand as Winters continues to fire in "Carentan".
Pvt. Hashey (
Mark Huberman) sees that M1 Garand has jammed in "Replacements".
Pvt. Miller (
James McAvoy) holds his M1 Garand while under fire in "Replacements".
"First on the right!" Pvt. Garcia (
Douglas Spain) readies his Garand in "Crossroads".
Pvt. Dukeman holds the Garand in "Crossroads".
In "Crossroads", (Capt.) Winters shoots a young SS soldier with his Garand.
Winters fires from the hip with his Garand
Ping! Winters (
Damian Lewis) empties his Garand on the German soldiers.
A bayonet is affixed on a Garand before the charge in "Crossroads".
Frank Perconte (
James Madio) fires his Garand before being hit in the ass by a German Sniper.
Lipton fires his Garand in Foy.
Shifty Powers darkens his M1's front sight using the carbon from a lighter in "The Last Patrol".
M1 Carbine
The M1 Carbine is carried by 2nd Lt. Henry Jones (Colin Hanks) in the episode "The Last Patrol". It is also seen carried by several US soldiers fighting in Okinawa in newsreel footage.
World War Two Era
M1 Carbine, with Dark Walnut Stock, 'L' peep sight and no bayonet lug - correct for most of WWII, shown with khaki sling and oiler and a period Magazine pouch for buttstock
Lt. Jones running with his Carbine
Henry Jones with his Carbine
US Marines in Okinawa with a Carbine
US Marines in Okinawa with a Carbine
M1A1 Carbine
Originally issued to non-combat personnel or those who needed a compact weapon, the M1 Carbine was never meant to be a front-line weapon, nevertheless it was ideal for Airborne troops for its small frame and its compactness. The paratrooper version of the M1 (identified as the "M1A1 Carbine" has the distinct collapsable buttstock and handgrip. The M1A1 Paratrooper Carbine is shown extensively throughout the series most notably in the hands of Donald Malarkey (Scott Grimes), Carwood Lipton (Donnie Wahlberg), Warren "Skip" Muck (Richard Speight, Jr.), Lt. Norman Dike, George Luz (Rick Gomez), and Capt. Lewis Nixon (Ron Livingston).
M1A1 Carbine - .30 Carbine
Malarkey (
Scott Grimes) gets his M1A1 carbine inspected by Capt. Sobel in the episode "Curahee."
Malarkey with his M1A1 in "Day of Days".
Carwood Lipton (
Donnie Wahlberg) fires his M1A1 while sitting in a tree during the battle of Brecourt Manor.
Malarkey cocks his M1A1 during the battle of Brécourt Manor.
Malarkey runs through enemy fire with his M1A1 as he tries to grab what he thinks is a Luger.
Sgt. Luz (
Rick Gomez) fires his Carbine as the 101st tries to take the town of Carentan.
Lt. Harry Welsh (
Rick Warden) fires his M1A1 Carbine in the episode "Carentan"
An Easy Company member fires his M1A1 carbine in the episode "Crossroads"
Another Easy Company member fires his M1A1 carbine in the episode "Crossroads"
Lt. Peacock spots another German company coming over the hill.
Lt. Norman Dike holds his M1A1 Carbine during Bastogne.
Lee-Enfield No.4 Mk.I
The Lee-Enfield No.4 Mk.I rifle is shown briefly being carried over the shoulder of a French sentry in Episode 3 "Carentan". French soldiers are seen with the rifles when German prisoners are rounded up in Episode 9 "Why We Fight".
Lee-Enfield No.4 Mk.I - .303 British. This was the main battle rifle of British and Commonwealth forces during World War II, however, it was supplemented heavily with the older Lee Enfield No.1 MK.III. In service between 1941–Present.
Lee-Enfield carried by a sentry in "Carentan."
A French soldier holds the Enfield rifle as a German prisoners are rounded up in "Why We Fight".
Machine Guns
Browning Automatic Rifle
The Browning Automatic Rifle, or "B.A.R" was the standard Squad Automatic Weapon for U.S. rifle squads in WWII. It is shown in parts 4-9 being primarily used by Cpl. Heron.
Cpl. Heron holds the BAR in "Replacements".
In "Replacements", Cpl. Heron is seen with the BAR next to Sgt. Randleman (
Michael Cudlitz).
Heron provides cover with the BAR.
"Nail the machine gun." The BAR is set up to take out a German machine gun position in "Crossroads".
The BAR with the bipod down is seen as the German machine gun position explodes.
Heron running with his BAR with the bipod down, next to him is Webster with his
M1 Garand.
Another shot of the BAR as Winters and the men of Easy Company charge up the berm in "Crossroads".
Heron hits the dirt carrying his BAR with the bipod down, preparing to engage the SS troops in "Crossroads".
An Easy Company paratrooper marches with his BAR slung.
Cpl. Heron with his BAR during the attack on Foy.
Heron fires the BAR in "The Breaking Point".
The BAR from Heron's point of view as he tries to kill the German Sniper.
M1919A4 .30 Caliber Machine Gun
The Browning M1919A4 .30 caliber machine gun is shown extensively in the hands of Easy company being used in both the defensive and offensive roles. The primary M1919A4 machine gun team of Easy Company in the series consisted of Smokey Gordon and Alton More. The 1919A4 is also shown being mounted on jeeps.
In "Curahee", an Easy company machine gun team sets up an M1919A4.30 cal during a wargame.
An Easy company machine gun team trains with the M1919A4 in "Curahee".
A Mounted M1919A4 can be seen as Easy Company prepare for the assault on the guns.
In "Day of Days", Pvt. Joe Liebgott (
Ross McCall) provides cover fire with M1919A4 as Winters and the men of Easy Company take out the German artillery battery at Brécourt Manor on D-Day.
A Easy Company M1919A4 machine gun team provides cover fire during the assault on Carentan.
Walter "Smokey" Gordon (
Ben Caplan) fires his M1919A4 from an upstairs window at fleeing Germans.
Gordon and Alton More fire their M1919A4 at Bloody Gulch.
Gordon and More firing the M1919A4.
The machine gun crew of Alton More (seen seting up the tripod) and "Smokey" Gordon (seen carrying the M1919A4).
In "Bastogne", Smokey Gordon cocks his M1919 during the battle.
Alton More (
Doug Allen) fires Smokey's M1919 after Smokey is wounded.
In "The Breaking Point", an M1919 is seen mounted on the jeep carrying Col. Sink and Gen. McAuliffe.
More continues to fire the M1919 during the battle of Bastogne.
Two Paratroopers provide covering fire with an M1919A4 during the assault on Foy in "The Breaking Point."
Pvts. Hashey and Garcia prepare to be relieved of their M1919 machine gun position.
In "Why We Fight", Pvt. O'Keefe is seen loading the M1919.
In "Points", an M1919 is seen mounted on the jeep driven by Nixon and carrying Winters and Welsh as they enter the city of Berchtesgaden, Germany.
M1919A6 .30 Caliber Machine Gun
The A6 variant with stock and bipod is seen carried and used primarily by Burton 'Pat' Christenson (Michael Fassbender).
M1919A6 .30 Machine Gun, "Paratrooper Model" With wooden stock and bipod.
Christenson with his M1919A6 before the attack.
M1919A6 being fired in "Crossroads".
Burton 'Pat' Christenson fires his M1919A6 in the episode "Crossroads". The carrying handle at the front of the receiver is one indicator of this particular model.
Liebgott fires during the crossing of the river in the episode "The Last Patrol".
Browning M2HB Heavy Machine Gun
The Browning M2HB heavy machine gun can be seen throughout the series. The weapon is usually mounted on either M4 Sherman tanks (as seen in "Carentan") or on the M8 Greyhound Armored Car as in "Why We Fight". Also making a prominent appearance, especially in "The Last Patrol" is the M51 Quad Mount which, though designed primarily for anti-aircraft use, had a devastating effect on ground targets and was available in either the towed or vehicle mounted versions (designated the M16 Quad Mount).
Browning M2HB .50 BMG in vehicle mounting
A Tank gunner fires from a Sherman
A Tank gunner fires from a Sherman
A Tank gunner loading his Browning M2HB
The M51 Quad Mounted system similar to the one used in
Band of Brothers
An AA M2 fires across the river
Winters stands next to the AA M2.
The Quad M2 is seen on the right.
Other
M1 Rocket Launcher "Bazooka"
The M1 Rocket Launcher, affectionately known as the "Bazooka", was the standard anti-tank weapon for the US military during WWII. The Bazooka was excellent against bunkers and buildings, though its effectiveness against the more heavily armored German tanks is debatable. General Eisenhower remarked that "the Atom Bomb, Jeep, C-47 Sky Train and the Bazooka were the four weapons that won the war". The bazooka was copied by the Germans as the "Panzerschreck" launcher from a M1 Bazooka captured in North Africa. Generally operated by a two man crew (one gunner, one loader) crews quickly figured out that they needed to hit the side, rear or belly armor of armored vehicles, as shown in the episode "Carentan" (the episode also shows how the bazooka rounds would simply deflect off the heavy frontal armor). The bazooka makes notable appearances in the series being used by Sgt. Charles E. "Chuck" Grant (Nolan Hemmings) in the episode "Replacements" taking out a German machine gun and by John McGrath (Stephen Walters) and Harry Welsh (Rick Warden) in the episode "Carentan" disabling a German StuG III assault gun.
An Easy Company bazooka team fires a bazooka during a training exercise.
Pvt. Tipper uses a bazooka to take out a building during the battle of Carentan.
Lt. Harry Welsh (
Rick Warden) loads a round into the M1 bazooka held by John McGrath (Stephen Walters) in "Carentan".
McGrath tries to disable a StuG III with his M1 bazooka.
M9 Bazooka
In "Points", Sgt. Grant appears to use an M9 Bazooka in an attempt to detonate the grenades placed on a man-made rock slide.
In "Points", Sgt. Grant walks up to the roadblock with the bazooka.
Sgt. Grant fires at a roadblock in the episode "Points".
Sgt. Grant with the Bazooka.
M7 rifle grenade launcher
Several soldiers are seen with M7 grenade launchers mounted on their M1 Garands.
M7 rifle grenade launcher
Pvt. Cleveland Petty (
Adam James) gets ready to launch another rifle grenade with the M7 launcher in "Carentan".
Lt. Compton (
Neal McDonough) directs Cpl. Schmidt to fire the rifle grenade.
Johnny Martin (
Dexter Fletcher) prepares to launch a rifle grenade in the episode "The Last Patrol". One thing to note is that the way he fires the weapon would have made him very sore. Rifle grenades use blanks that are compressed powder loads so firing like that would hurt, the military at that time taught soldiers to plant the butt of the rifle in the ground and use a special ladder sight attached to the front of the barrel to sight with. Also, you never actually see him load a blank round so we must assume he was wandering around in enemy territory with a blank chambered.
Mk II Hand Grenade
The Mk II Hand Grenade is used by several paratroopers in the series. Lt. Harry Welsh (Rick Warden) is seen using one to take out an MG42 team during the battle of Carentan. Paratroopers are seen piling Mk II Hand Grenades onto a enemy-made rockslide in an attempt to blow a hole in the roadblock.
During the Battle of Brecourt Manor, Lt. Lynn "Buck" Compton (
Neal McDonough) attempts to throw a MK II Grenade before it's knocked out of his hands in "Day of Days."
Lt. Harry Welsh (
Rick Warden) carries a MK II hand grenade on his webbing in "Carentan".
Welsh pulls the pin off a MK II Grenade.
Carwood Lipton (
Donnie Wahlberg) prepares to clear out a warehouse with MK II Grenade.
In Part 10 "Points", Paratroopers place grenades in an attempt to clear a roadblock.
M18 Smoke Grenade
In "Crossroads", Cpt. Winters is seen throwing a M18 Smoke Grenade for red smoke to signal the charge.
A red smoke grenade thrown by Winters
M2 Flamethrower
When the Airborne paratroopers watch newsreel footage of the war in Pacific, a US soldier is seen using an M2 Flamethrower.
A soldier fires his flamethrower on Okinawa
Axis Weapons
Handguns
Luger P08
A Standard side arm of German Forces during WWI. The Luger P08 was a prized and coveted souvenir because of its elegant design. Malarkey is seen hunting around for one in "Day of Days". Corporal Hoobler (Peter McCabe) kills a German Officer who has one, and then, later in the episode, it discharges in his pocket, which makes a fatal wound by hitting his femoral artery. It is later given to Sergeant Malarkey (Scott Grimes), who wanted one to bring home to his little brother. The real gun Hoobler found is a Belgian .32 and was not given to Malarkey. The Walther P38 was the standard issue during WWII, with many Lugers left over from WWI being re-used by some Germans as a sidearm. Though replaced officially by the P38, Mauser would continue producing the Luger until 1943; Evidence can be found on many Lugers with 30's and 40's markings as well as swastikas and eagles.
Luger P'08 pistol - 9x19mm
A Brit in a Wehrmacht uniform, wearing a helmet way too small, clears the chamber of a Luger.
"Boy, she sure is a doozy." Hoobler with the Luger.
Hoobler examines the Luger he just acquired from a dead German.
The Wehrmacht officer offers his Luger to Winters.
Walther PP
In the documentary "We Stand Alone Together", the real Maj. Winters displays the Walther PP series pistol he received from a surrendering German officer. Winters discovered the gun had never been fired once, and to this day it remains in his possession, still unused.
The lesser-known, full-length barreled Walther PP is available in 6.35mm auto (.25 ACP), 7.65x17mm (.32 ACP) Auto or 9x17mm (.380 ACP).
The real Winters holds his Walther PP
Submachine Guns
MP40
The MP40 is seen in the hands of German forces, but also used by Sgt. Lipton in "Day of Days".
A Wehrmacht soldier desperately reaches for his MP40, even though he has Karabiner bandoleer pouches on his belt. This scarcely seems possible since it appears he has 4 bullet holes in his arm.
A Wehrmacht soldier fires his MP40 at Brecourt Manor.
A Wehrmacht soldier fires his MP40
Rifles
Karabiner 98k
A main battle rifle for the German forces is the Karabiner 98k. In addition to the German forces, Lt. Winters is seen using it in "Day of Days". A german sniper is also seen using a scoped Kar98k in the episode 'The Breaking Point'.
Karabiner 98k - German manufacture 1937 date - 7.92x57mm
A German sniper fires his K98k in "Carentan."
A Fallschirmjäger fires his K98k
SS soldiers run with K98ks
A German fires his K98k in the snow
The same German with his Spotter.
Karabiner 98k 7.92x57mm Mauser with Zeiss ZF42 scope
A German sniper fires a scoped Kar98k.
Assault Rifles
Sturmgewehr 44
During the siege of Bastogne, German forces are seen using the Sturmgewehr 44. A StG 44 is also seen (Anachronistically) on a German-weapon familiarization wall early on in the series.
Here a STG-44 hangs with other German weapons to instruct Allied troops, even though it would not be encountered in combat for another two years.
A German in a snow uniform with an STG-44
Machine Guns
MG34
A captured MG34 is shown mounted on the wall among the various German weapons for familiarization.
MG42
In the mini-series, the MG42 is seen multiple times, being fired from window openings in towns, and in stand-offs with the German armoured vehicles in the advance into France. Most notably, the mini-series did not fail to demonstrate or imply the demoralizing effect of the gun on U.S. troops, and this is a notable achievement for the film-makers, who added this realistic view, which before, had never been seen in such vivid detail in any previous war-film, barring of course, documentaries with actual war-time footage.
MG-42 As used in Band of Brothers
Germans fire at Easy Company men
A German MG42 team fires from a bedroom window at Shifty Powers during the battle of Carentan.
An MG42 team firing at Easy Company during the episode "Carentan." In a background another can be seen mounted on an Sd.Kfz. 251 halftrack.
A Fallschirmjäger carries an MG42 during the retreat.
German fires from rooftop
A German machine gun crew
Other
Model 24 Stielhandgranate
In "Day of Days", Lt. Winters is seen using a German Model 24 Stielhandgranate in order to spike an enemy artillery gun.
A Model 24 Stielhandgranate
Winters primes the "potato masher"
Winters carries a bundle of "Potato Mashers." through the trenches.
Panzerfaust
A German soldier is seen lugging a Panzerfaust in "Replacements".
A German lugs a Panzerfaust in "Replacements".
Panzerschreck
A Panzerschreck is seen discarded in a pile of of debris in "Bastogne"; Bernard J. 'Doc' Ryan and Pvt. Edward 'Babe' Heffron walk past it while headed to Third Battalion's position in search of medical supplies.
The discarded Panzerschreck, sitting atop a junk pile.