Research Sources
 

Hello everyone,

I have been working out ideas for my thesis topic as a Master's student. I am interested in exploring the realm of war trophies sought after and taken by (often Allied and usually American) soldiers in both world war settings. This is not just limited to the European theaters of war, if it has to do with the war in the Pacific that is equally useful. It is also not limited to pistol, sword, or military artifact hunting, even things such as personal photographs, letters, watches, etc. are in the scope of what I wish to get information about as well. So far in my research, I have only been able to find books with some anecdotal evidence, usually from oral history accounts and other interviews of veterans. I have also seen that it always seems to take a mention in any account of a prisoner being taken, looting them for valuables or souvenirs. I have yet to see any monographs or books related to the practice, and as of yet only one article about a particular incident. I will post my limited bibliography of sources I have found here at the bottom of my post. Any information and assistance you can provide is greatly appreciated, even if they are simply a passing mention or short section in sources/books about another topic. If nothing else I would be honored to be a pioneer of research into this field which helps to drive our collector's market and interest in such items. Thank you all for your help in advance and may God Bless.

-QM

Bibliography thus far:

Adams, Michael C. C. Best War Ever. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins Univ Press, 2015.

Ambrose, Stephen E. Band of Brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitlers Eagles Nest. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1992.

Dower, John W. War without Mercy: Race and Power in Pacific War. New York: Pantheon Books, 2006.

Harrison, Simon. "Skull Trophies of the Pacific War: Transgressive Objects of Remembrance." The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute 12, no. 4 (2006): 817-36. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4092567.

Fyfe, Albert J. Understanding the First World War: Illusions and Realities. New York: P. Lang, 1988.

Jackson, Robert. The Prisoners, 1914-18. London: Routledge, 1989.

Schrijvers, Peter. Crash of Ruin: American Combat Soldiers in Europe During World War II. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2014.

Sledge, Eugene B. With the Old Breed at Peleliu and Okinawa. New York: Presidio Press, 2010.

Stannard, Richard M. Infantry: An Oral History of a World War II American Infantry Battalion. New York: Twayne Publishers, 1992.

How about: Veteran Bring Backs, vol 1/2 by Edward B. Tinker

He offered it to me awhile back for a good price and I was foolish enough to say no. I’ll have to ask if he would still be willing, thank you.

There are also several books of examples, but not stories --

(examples of items) such as Johnsons books on war trophies
https://www.amazon.com/German-Photog...rds=war+trophy

I have that one, the next, I do not have

https://www.schifferbooks.com/sackin...hies-5185.html

Here's a pic of the capture papers being written up, (so I've been told).

G2

Hi Quintin,
I must warn you, don’t believe all those tales of Lugers being captured from German SS officers, as Benjamin Disraeli might have said, “There are lies, damn lies, and bring back stories”.
Norm

Norme,

Thank you. I am aware that there was a black market of sorts for Lugers. Many were gambled away on the ships home. Many others hastily assembled from parts after the war to see who would buy them. Some were just taken from large piles as German armies surrendered their weapons. I’m also looking for more than just Lugers though.

Have you thought about senior facilities or nursing homes for interviewing the few vets still living. It might be worth a few phone calls. Good luck sir!

Savage11,

My grandfather is a surviving vet from Okinawa. I know one of my cousins did a full fledged interview with him 10 years ago when he was more mentally with it than he is now. I will have to see if I can find it or try to interview him at some point when I see him again.