Hi,
The 1939 history doesn't mention anything about Belgian production. It is a fact (documented) that DWM originally owned a large portion of both FN and Pieper (Bayard brand, later part of FN). During the early 20s, DWM lost their ownership as part of the WW1 damages payments.
It is interesting that FN has been mentioned as a reworking partner who was responsible for reworking Vickers M1906 Dutch lugers after the Dutch took delivery of them. Also, the Belgians had access to a large number of surplus (impounded, etc..) WW1 equipment. Part of that impounded batch was later sold to the Dutch who used a number of LP08s and Navies for the Dutch police and homeguard. There is, however, no documentation known to me that involves FN with that particular sale to the Dutch.
I don't think FN ever produced the P08 (although Pieper did produce certain Luger small parts before WW1), but I certainly believe they reworked them. It would be nice to see some evidence from Finland that would back up this interesting story.
Some background info on DWM's involvement with FN:
Die neue Firma â??Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken" (DWM) �¼bernahm von der Firma Ludw. Loewe & Co. durch Vertrag vom 10.12.1896:
....
Die s�¤mtlichen Aktien der Waffenfabrik Mauser in Oberndorf im Nominalwert von zwei Millionen Mark.
Die Beteiligung an der Waffen- und Maschinenfabrik A.-G. in Budapest in-H�¶he von 300.000 Gulden.
5850 Aktien der Fabrique Nationale d'Armes de Guerre in Herstal bei L�¼ttich im Nominalwert von 2.925.000 frs.
Alle Rechte aus den die Waffenfabrik und Waffenfabrikation betreffenden Lieferungsvertr�¤gen, soweit sie nicht bis zum 31. Dezember 1896 erf�¼llt waren
....
Schon bald nach Abschlu�? des Waffenstillstandes kamen die ersten Befehle der Feindm�¤chte, die vor allem die R�¼ckgabe der im Jahre 1914 aus der Herstaler Fabrik nach Berlin gebrachten Maschinen forderten. Dem mu�?te sofort entsprochen werden. Dazu ist noch zu bemerken, da�? die DWM trotzdem die Aktien der â??Fabrique Nationale d'Armes de Guerre" in Herstal an Belgien entsch�¤digungslos abtreten mu�?ten.
(soon after the armistice the first orders of the enemy powers came that before all ordered the return of the machines that were removed from the Herstal (Liege, FN gvv) plant and had been brought to Berlin. This had to be done immediately. It has to be noted that DWM had to hand over their shares of â??Fabrique Nationale d'Armes de Guerre" in Herstal as a payment for damages.)
(Which is indeed a bit weird, as DWM actually owned most of the plant, thus most of the machinery).
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