First. German officer always carried their sword on the LEFT side, so in lieu of a sword the pistol was carried in the same location and with butt forward, they would use a "cross draw". In the days of the cavalry, when a sword was worn, a pistol if used was normally just stuck in the belt or in holsters attached to the horse or saddle. During WW2 many smaller .32 pistols were issued to second line troops (occupation, medical, etc) or to tankers and aviators. Also, since the Waffen SS, had it's own supply chain, many foreign made pistols, were all that was available to them. TH The Luftwaffe also had it's own supply chain and normally only supplied 9mm pistols to ground troops (AA batteries, air field security, etc) and air crews would normally have non-German made .32s, Since if a bomber was shot down over England, the chances of any of the crew getting back to friendly lines was slim, if they even survived the crash.
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