In films dedicated to the events of the Great Patriotic War, one can often see Red Army soldiers armed with captured German weapons. However, in practice, things were not so smooth at all. Assigning trophies to the Red Army was strictly forbidden by a special resolution of the Defense Committee. Why so?
Of course, no one forbade the Red Army soldiers to use trophies right during the battle, if any came to hand. It was impossible to appropriate captured weapons and equipment after the battle, when captured teams began to work. All valuable tangible property would have to be collected, accounted for, put under protection and transferred to storage. In the future, the fate of the trophies could develop in a variety of ways.
Some of the weapons were sent to the rear for storage, some were disposed of, new samples were sent to the Design Bureau for research. A certain amount of captured weapons, primarily heavy ones, were distributed among the units operating at the front, rear units, or sent to help the partisans. It was simply impossible to take and start using unaccounted weapons on an ongoing basis. If only because it was not immediately supplied with cartridges. The fighter already has his personal weapon, issued to him against his signature, and he must use it. If it needs to be replaced for some reason, including a trophy one, then this will be done strictly officially within the framework of a special procedure.
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After the war, any captured weapons that were in the hands of the Red Army surrendered in the same way as the weapons produced in the country of the Soviets. There were no exceptions in this regard. Any attempt to appropriate captured equipment was equated with theft of state property. Punished for this to the fullest extent. Depending on the severity of the misconduct, up to the death penalty by decision of the military tribunal.
In continuation of the topic, read about what happened to thousands of captured weapons in the USSR after the end of the war.
Source: https://novate.ru/blogs/020222/62046/