In both WW1 & 2, German officers were required to purchase their own private pistols. I believe that their own taste and budgets account in great part for the wide variety of pistols encountered at the end of the war. When called to the front, I'm told that they were elgible to be issued standard military issue 9mms, which they would turn in when relieved and then have to depend on their own little pistol and dress holster. Naturally, some enlisted who were not expected to see much combat, were issued second line (generally non German made 32s) side arms: bomber crews, medics, some MG crews, etc. See Bob Whittington's Vol.4 of "German Pistols & Holsters 1934/1945 for more details. Th
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