What Units Typically had Krieghoff?
 

Understand that most went to the Luftwaffe. Does that means not just flyers but also Fallshimjer and Herman Goering Panzer Div? Any other units typically?

Hi Malcom..!

Great question...! First - the HK contract, as you note - was for the "Luftwaffe". During the course of the war, that branch included: Air Units, Fallschirmj�¤ger (paratroopers), Field Divisions (that's a LONG story! But they initially were not associated with the Heer (Army) <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> ), Herman G�¶ring Division, anti-aircraft units, communications, security and engineering. It's my recollection that the Luftwaffe also had their own naval vessels (different then the Kriegsmarine (Navy)..

As for Krieghoff production, there are not any records that I've stumbled on that would conclude that HKs went to specific Luftwaffe units as priority over others - but based on Luftwaffe staffing during peak HK production years, it may be reasonible to conclude that that most were sent to: Fallschirmj�¤ger, Air/support units and anti-aircraft units - as those, I believe, had the greatest enrollments during that period...

Best to you,

John

Malcomb, More than number of personnel should be considered here. Luftwaffe units stationed on the ground (AAW batteries, base security, etc) had a greater potential need for small arms than flight crews. Flying personnel would only need small arms if they were shot down, and the most of the time they did not survive the crash. So most enlisted flight personnel were issued non-German made pistols (FN22s, CZ27s, Femaru P37s, etc) and as in the Army, officers were responcible for purchasing they own pistol, so just about anything was possible there (eg. H. Goering's S&W M&P Revolver). TH

I think others (than the luftwaffe) got ahold of Kreighoff out of surplus. But I could be wrong.

<img border="0" alt="[cherrsagai]" title="" src="graemlins/drink.gif" /> I heard a rumor, no doubt false, that Kreighoff's were given to people of higher rank in other forces due to superior finish.

Hi GunCat,

No - there is no valid data - or in fact, *any research* - to substantiate that rumor, but I've also heard the same over almost 20 years of specializing in HKs. Unfortunately, it falls into the same category as all Lugers were captured from a German General with the initials "DWM"....

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

Best to you,

John