A repeated determinant of historical misconception is the application of current perspective to events in the past. The US Army of WWII was made up of draftees from predominantly rural backgrounds. Those with education were immediately classified for officer programs. They were the sons of the depression. All they knew about the German Army was what they were told. Soldiers are immediately taught that insignias are symbols of authority. The ration of officer to enlisted was approximately 225 to one. (Now its 17 to one). Predominately only officers in the US Army, field grade and up, carried pistols. Therefore only high officers had pistols in the German army. Combat acquisition of a firearm and retaining it is very difficult. A friends father was with the 82nd in Normandy, followed a Sherman thru a hedgerow, grenaded a MG position, hanging on a limb was a full Luger rig. He picked it up, went 10 yds, a MG 42 opened up, dropped it, never saw it again. I said all that to say that officers had pistols, pistols were symbols of authority, therefore the current theme was the pistol belonged to an officer. How many Nambus were carried by enlisted soldiers? We know better, they didn't.
RK
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