Raketenpanzerbuschse_43_panzerscherek.5780gc97pyo8o4sgkk44gwggo.ejcuplo1l0oo0sk8c40s8osc4.th

Panzerschreck - the shield in this image has been placed back to front and rotated 90 degrees from its true position.

By mounting the shield back to front and tilting it 90deg it was possible to use the shield in a manner not described in any manual. This could of course be credited to ignorance when it comes to the Volksturm youth, but hardly the case with the Grossdeutschland soldiers above. Some have a theory that this was done to get a lower profile, but that doesn't make sense. The "Handhabe", the wood and steel frame around the cockng handle/trigger handle has the exact same height as the shield, so that would give no effect what so ever. The only explanation I can think of is that this variation will give a better protection of the firers' right hand (but leaving larger parts of his torso exposed). In addition the profile will be higher making the weapon easier to spot. The firer is still wearing a glove. Maybe they are just checking to see if it can be done.... note the wooden dowel in the lower right corner. This is a shooting exercise and not a combat trench-picture.
http://www.bergflak.com/psshield.html