A rifleman using the ground
The prone position lowers the soldier's outline and gives his rifle a steady relationship with the ground. This German infantryman represents one of the most ordinary answers to being under fire: get down and continue working from there.
Among standing leaders and moving gun teams, the figure sets a different pace. A battle scene contains men who are holding a position as well as those trying to reach a new one. His familiar rifle and unshowy pose make that distinction readable without adding another specialist weapon or dramatic gesture.
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