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tom · 02-07-2002, 01:29 PM

Hi Tim,

Nice post!

However I must take minor issue with a couple of your points.

First, the Luger when adopted into German military service was first known as the Marine Pistole 1904. Thats right, the Navy adopted Lugers first. The became the P-08 when the Army adopted the shorter barrel fixed sight version in 1908.

Points 3 and 4 are not completely accurate. The Luger was the standard issue pistol for both the Army and Navy before, during and after World War I. It is certainly true that since production could not keep up with demand that alternative pistols (C-96, Brownings, Frommer, etc, etc)were issued. That practice was followed by the Allies during the same period when M1917 Revolvers were issued in lieu of the M1911, for example.

The idea that Lugers were issued primarily to officers is not completely accurate either. While it is certainly true that many, many officers were issued Lugers, they were also issued to crews of machine guns, artillery men, tank crew, dispatch riders, medical personnel and others who were combatants but whose duty requirements effectively precluded them from using a Geweher 98 rifle. In the German Navy, the crews of submarines, torpedo boats, officers and enlisted members of the See Battalions were issued Lugers. Bottom line, it was more a matter of practacality than a badge of rank or status symbol. During W.W.II, the same practices were followed as the Luger was gradually being replaced by the P-38 and the host of miscellaneous handguns that the Deutsches Wehrmacht Heeres Waffen Amt procured.

Please excuse me if this sounds like nit picking because it is not intended to be sthat way; just wanted to comment on your otherwise very nice post.

Tom

02-07-2002, 01:29 PM	#2
tom User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 269 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 2 Posts	Re: LUGER FACTS VS. FICTION Hi Tim, Nice post! However I must take minor issue with a couple of your points. First, the Luger when adopted into German military service was first known as the Marine Pistole 1904. Thats right, the Navy adopted Lugers first. The became the P-08 when the Army adopted the shorter barrel fixed sight version in 1908. Points 3 and 4 are not completely accurate. The Luger was the standard issue pistol for both the Army and Navy before, during and after World War I. It is certainly true that since production could not keep up with demand that alternative pistols (C-96, Brownings, Frommer, etc, etc)were issued. That practice was followed by the Allies during the same period when M1917 Revolvers were issued in lieu of the M1911, for example. The idea that Lugers were issued primarily to officers is not completely accurate either. While it is certainly true that many, many officers were issued Lugers, they were also issued to crews of machine guns, artillery men, tank crew, dispatch riders, medical personnel and others who were combatants but whose duty requirements effectively precluded them from using a Geweher 98 rifle. In the German Navy, the crews of submarines, torpedo boats, officers and enlisted members of the See Battalions were issued Lugers. Bottom line, it was more a matter of practacality than a badge of rank or status symbol. During W.W.II, the same practices were followed as the Luger was gradually being replaced by the P-38 and the host of miscellaneous handguns that the Deutsches Wehrmacht Heeres Waffen Amt procured. Please excuse me if this sounds like nit picking because it is not intended to be sthat way; just wanted to comment on your otherwise very nice post. Tom