Re: Germans using M1911's?
Denny,
I don't know how much use the Germans made of using the GI .45 auto, but there are many photos of the Gemans using captured Russian equipment on that Front.
In Whittington's set of books on German Pistols and Holsters, he has listed the German alphabet/numberical designation for most of the pistols in use in the war years. The US .45 is listed as a weapon they could use. I have always wondered the same questions you have asked, but have not found any real anwers. On the Italian front, the Germans probably did not make much use of them because they were always on the defense and pulling back to different defensive positions so they may not have had much of an opportunity to capture very many. On the Western Front, they probably did not require very many captured weapons since they could always re-use their own from casualties in their ranks. Of course, this is all speculation on my part with them using US pistols. I have always wondered why they did not try to use the Garand more, but I have read that they did not feel the semi-auto fire was required. The German thinking of the time was to make a shot count, not to spray.
A very good question and I hope others will provide more information
Marvin
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