The Soviet M1938 120-millimeter mortar was an improved version (its base-plate was changed from square to round form, etc.) of the 120 mm mortier Brandt mle 1935, which was imported to the USSR before the capitulation of France in 1940. and later produced by the Soviets in large quantities with an estimated 12,000 12 cm mortars being produced by the end of World War II. Its large production allowed the Red Army to make significant use of this mortar by treating it as an artillery piece in World War II in addition to using it as regimental high angle fire support. The Germans captured large quantities of this weapon and adopted it for their own use, eventually leading to the development of their own 12 cm Granatwerfer 42. The Finnish and Romanians also made use of captured stocks of French