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Vlim · 05-11-2009, 05:23 AM

Norm,

Thank you but I am very, very well aware of the WW1 fighting conditions. I also have pretty decent understanding of the structure and habits of the major European armies.

In turn, however, you have to understand that during the conflicts of WW1 and WW2 the Americans were the exception to the rules. The US hands on approach was (and still is) viewed with a certain level of amazement and scepticism by the Europeans. I remember from my own service time that anytime we were about to bend the rules a bit equipment wise one of the officers would remind us that we were not Americans

Furthermore WW1 war ethics cannot be compared to those of WW2. It was a different era altogether and private initiative was not encouraged, recommended or even tolerated on the German side.

The German strive for rules, regulations, permissions, hierarchic levels and the lack of initiative and responsibility that results from it probably helped to shorten both wars.

So any stories about 'German field modifications' should be taken with a grain of salt here and there. Usually they are stories that are invented to explain away defects or other devalueing specifics of collectibles

Mauro is correct that the LP08 has been designed for a specific purpose and that with time it saw action in different circumstances. But most (if not all) of these arguments have little to do with the photograph this discussion started with. Old fatty on the Photo (which probably dates from the Weimar era) wears his LP08 more as a status symbol (of rank), and not as an effective side arm.

05-11-2009, 05:23 AM	#18
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,990 Times in 1,205 Posts	Norm, Thank you but I am very, very well aware of the WW1 fighting conditions. I also have pretty decent understanding of the structure and habits of the major European armies. In turn, however, you have to understand that during the conflicts of WW1 and WW2 the Americans were the exception to the rules. The US hands on approach was (and still is) viewed with a certain level of amazement and scepticism by the Europeans. I remember from my own service time that anytime we were about to bend the rules a bit equipment wise one of the officers would remind us that we were not Americans Furthermore WW1 war ethics cannot be compared to those of WW2. It was a different era altogether and private initiative was not encouraged, recommended or even tolerated on the German side. The German strive for rules, regulations, permissions, hierarchic levels and the lack of initiative and responsibility that results from it probably helped to shorten both wars. So any stories about 'German field modifications' should be taken with a grain of salt here and there. Usually they are stories that are invented to explain away defects or other devalueing specifics of collectibles Mauro is correct that the LP08 has been designed for a specific purpose and that with time it saw action in different circumstances. But most (if not all) of these arguments have little to do with the photograph this discussion started with. Old fatty on the Photo (which probably dates from the Weimar era) wears his LP08 more as a status symbol (of rank), and not as an effective side arm.