I appreciate almost all of the postings and as usual these comments were very insightful.
I know a few German nationals whose families had retained small arms after the war. The immediate post-war climate in Germany was very chaotic with widespread hunger and danger. Many Germans certainly weighed the risk/benefit of keeping these arms and decided that having one was worth the risk. Some years later, as West Germany became a stable democracy, firearm ownership restrictions lessened. Perhaps, there is no way of knowing how many Lugers ended up in the hands of private citizens in Germany unless there was an amnesty period that encouraged Germans to register these weapons. I personally know that in other parts of Western Europe, illegal small arms (WWI & WWII vintage) ownership is quite widespread especially in the countryside. One friend from Greece when he was a child found a Luger in excellent condition discarded by a soldier who had shed his uniform and weapons in attempt to blend in with refugees.
Cheers,
MM
Cheers,
mm
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mjm
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