The German military insisted their soldiers keep their weapons cleaned, lubricated, and in good working order. Regular cleaning and maintenance of firearms was an essential part of the daily life of a soldier. Because all firearms (and equipment) were government property a soldier who did not maintain his weapons could get in serious trouble. It was also essential to provide proper cleaning to maintain proper function. A weapon that does not work as it should is a liability.

 

Photographs showing soldiers cleaning their weapons are quite common. It was very often a subject for photos of soldiers in basic training or in the barracks. 

​

These photographs were taken from a number of online sources and auction sites.  They are presented here for educational purposes.