Hi Matt,
Certainly an interesting theory. Which Forum is this being discussed in, as I'd like to read the thread?
Also - a couple of points, comments, and perspectives.
As you mention - Krieghoff had nothing at all to do with the manufacturing of K?¼ Lugers (and was originally documented by Mr. Jones through verification from the post-war Krieghoff company), but I'm not certain it had anything to do with their production capability being "practically nothing". In fact, I'm quite certain that their production capability existed until the Russians took the tooling, machinery, etc. in September of 1945.
As well - "Luftwaffe "zuegampt"" is actually "Luftzuegampt" which loosely translates to "Luftwaffe Supply Center" (of which there were hundreds). I'm not certain there is any documentation for "LZA" as being directly tied to the meaning "LuftwaffeZuegAmpt" (Luftzuegampt) either in use or in practice, or on any Luftwaffe and Luger specific small-arms (with the exception of 1944 when â??lzaâ? was issued as an ordinance code, but that is lower case â?? and rather then a Acceptance Stamp - and still wasn't used on small arms). In this case - "LZA" might tie into any of the hundreds of Luftwaffe Suppy Centers" (as commonly accepted with "K?¼" Lugers), and is not specific to one. However, it would be an interesting bit of research to undertake to establish the veracity of â??LZAâ? on the "K?¼" variation and was it "Depot" specific. Further, I don't believe that the "K?¼" holsters will have the "LZA", regardless of any interpretation - but the K?¼ holsters may have either "K?¼" or an LWaA 2.
Also - Luftwaffe ordinance depot located at K?¼strin was, as I understand, a small supply unit, which until late 1944 the full complement was fewer then 20 persons who were responsible for the ammunition ordinance for the Luftwaffe Flak units inside the city. (In January of 1945 - just before the Russians took the small fortified city (February 11 encircled and took on March 5) - there is some debate whether that Luftwaffe depot was strengthened or re-assigned altogether). Anyway -- given the small number of personnel - I'm not certain how so few folks would have been able to assemble, fit, finish, serialize, proof, etc. what is estimated to be somewhere around 5,000 K?¼ Lugers. However - and by contrast - the main Artillery depot at Oder Island (Oderinsel) would have been large enough for such an undertaking; however, they were not attached, I believe, to the K?¼strin Flak/Ordinance Depot, and therefore may sever the connection to "K?¼".
Anyway - certainly an interesting discussion and perspective! Perhaps some of the other folks will comment further..!
John D.
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