[quote]Originally posted by George Anderson:
<strong>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.</strong><hr></blockquote>
George, while growing up, my next door neighbor was a veteran of the 17th Airborne Division, Glider Infantry. He made the crossing of the Rhine assault (Operation "Varsity") and was in the Wessel area. His squad was detailed to take and hold a bridge across one of the many canals in the area. At the far end of the bridge was a stone house that also had a barn built into the back of it. The house was defended by German troops. They managed to cross the bridge - the longest run of his life, he told me - without losing anyone and laid seige to the house. The Germans refused to come out and surender until a bazooka was fired into the straw of the barn part and started a fire. When the Germans gave up, the Americans were surprised to find that they were badly outnumbered! It was here that my friend took a J.P. Sauer & Sohns 7.65mm pistol and holster from a German soldier who had surrendered. (Model 38-H?) Anyway, it's been years since I heard the story and I can't recall the rank of the soldier who carried the pistol. My friend is still living and I'll try to find out.
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