Schwinden

The Machine Gunner was a German military officer in German East Africa. In December 1916, the gunner was under the command of the German Major in a battle against Belgian forces. He was assisted by a German Askari soldier who fed ammunition into his machine gun, though they kept the gun covered, to surprise their enemies.

When Major Boucher of the Belgian troops started a charge across the battlefield, the gunner's superior waited until the Belgian and Force Publique soldiers were within range, then ordered his men to attack, first with mortars and rifles, but when they got closer, he gave word for the machine gunner to uncover his weapon, and fire.

The machine gun quickly halted the Belgian attack, but when the gun jammed, the Belgian forces charged again, led by Lt. Henri Defense, who overtook the German picket, and started killing the German Askari soldiers. The machine gunner eventually fixed the gun, and shifted positions to shoot at the Belgian troops attacking the picket. Defense saw the machine gun back in action, and came around the top of the ridge and dropped into the machine gun nest, and used a bayonet on a rifle to kill the German machine gunner. Defense then turned the machine gun on the fleeing German Askari soldiers.

Behind the scenes
Sean McCabe played the role of the Machine Gunner in the episode "German East Africa, December 1916" of The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles.

Appearances

 * The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles
 * "German East Africa, December 1916" Oganga, The Giver and Taker of Life