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George Anderson · 08-24-2002, 01:47 PM

Officer Lugers. Okay here we go...I have seen numerous photos of WWII officers armed with Lugers. While PP's were nice to carry, a front line officer (company rank) would in all liklihood carry a combat pistol (9mm) and not a seven shot .32 cal.

So much for the second war. In the Imperial Army officers were required to buy, not only their uniforms and equipment but also, their sidearms. Given this, one can assume that any unit marked Imperial pistol was NOT that of an officer. Any other Luger, except LP08's and P04's could have belonged to an officer.

I have, in my collection, a rather unique P08. It is a first version serial number 2607b with number placement in the civilian pattern. Military proofs on the left barrel extension in 99% condition. Neither sear relieved nor hold-open added. So it is as issued.

The clincher is that this pistol is marked on the REAR grip strap "Offzstllv.M.Plank." Klaus Schadt says that this represents Offizierstellvertreter M. Plank, a rating between top NCO and officer. Klaus states that it is not an officer candidate though.

Given the 1908 configuration of the pistol, it was no doubt issued in 1908 or 1909. The German Army, as well as the lesser combatants, suffered horrendous officer attrition during the early months of the war. The German reaction was to loosen the strictures on promoting NCO's into the officer ranks.

I have a 1912 copy of the Rang-Liste for the Royal Prussian Army and the XIII. Royal Wuertemberger Army Corps. In this volume there is only one officer with that name; he was a Lt. Plank(no initial)in the 65th field artillery regiment of the Wuertemberger Army. Klaus was able to use his refernces and find a very few Plank's. One of those he found was in the II. Bavarian Infantry Regiment and was killed in action in 1916. This search goes on.

A few questions...did only Bavaria not modify the 08's with hold opens? Did Bavaria also not modify the sear? Would an officer have been required to submit his pistol for modification?

I would be delighted to post photos of this as well as other Lugers of mine, but alas, I can't figure it out.

08-24-2002, 01:47 PM	#9
George Anderson Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA Posts: 3,592 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,531 Times in 788 Posts	Officer Lugers. Okay here we go...I have seen numerous photos of WWII officers armed with Lugers. While PP's were nice to carry, a front line officer (company rank) would in all liklihood carry a combat pistol (9mm) and not a seven shot .32 cal. So much for the second war. In the Imperial Army officers were required to buy, not only their uniforms and equipment but also, their sidearms. Given this, one can assume that any unit marked Imperial pistol was NOT that of an officer. Any other Luger, except LP08's and P04's could have belonged to an officer. I have, in my collection, a rather unique P08. It is a first version serial number 2607b with number placement in the civilian pattern. Military proofs on the left barrel extension in 99% condition. Neither sear relieved nor hold-open added. So it is as issued. The clincher is that this pistol is marked on the REAR grip strap "Offzstllv.M.Plank." Klaus Schadt says that this represents Offizierstellvertreter M. Plank, a rating between top NCO and officer. Klaus states that it is not an officer candidate though. Given the 1908 configuration of the pistol, it was no doubt issued in 1908 or 1909. The German Army, as well as the lesser combatants, suffered horrendous officer attrition during the early months of the war. The German reaction was to loosen the strictures on promoting NCO's into the officer ranks. I have a 1912 copy of the Rang-Liste for the Royal Prussian Army and the XIII. Royal Wuertemberger Army Corps. In this volume there is only one officer with that name; he was a Lt. Plank(no initial)in the 65th field artillery regiment of the Wuertemberger Army. Klaus was able to use his refernces and find a very few Plank's. One of those he found was in the II. Bavarian Infantry Regiment and was killed in action in 1916. This search goes on. A few questions...did only Bavaria not modify the 08's with hold opens? Did Bavaria also not modify the sear? Would an officer have been required to submit his pistol for modification? I would be delighted to post photos of this as well as other Lugers of mine, but alas, I can't figure it out.