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Edward Tinker · 07-04-2006, 01:05 AM

The picture is in Johnson's book on war booty. It is of a GI, you can see his private strips.

GI's could buy lugers from the PX and in fact in the 1980's could buy them from the Rod and Gun club, I never was able to get one.

Germans could carry a pistol, much like a US soldier could, if he was a machine gunner, a motorcycle runner or courier, maybe an NCO, there were many reasons they were not an officer but carried a pistol.

It is very true that as officers went up in rank, they had smaller pistols, it was a status thing. It was also a status thing to have a newer pistol, so they might have a P38 instead of a luger. And, a soldier or officer at war would want something that punched, so they might have a P38 or Luger for battle and a PPK for normal carry in the rear.

Ed

07-04-2006, 01:05 AM	#13
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,966 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,595 Times in 2,116 Posts	The picture is in Johnson's book on war booty. It is of a GI, you can see his private strips. GI's could buy lugers from the PX and in fact in the 1980's could buy them from the Rod and Gun club, I never was able to get one. Germans could carry a pistol, much like a US soldier could, if he was a machine gunner, a motorcycle runner or courier, maybe an NCO, there were many reasons they were not an officer but carried a pistol. It is very true that as officers went up in rank, they had smaller pistols, it was a status thing. It was also a status thing to have a newer pistol, so they might have a P38 instead of a luger. And, a soldier or officer at war would want something that punched, so they might have a P38 or Luger for battle and a PPK for normal carry in the rear. Ed