WW1 German Property Bring Backs

[cirelaw]

I have a certificate from WW2. I wonder if there were such a system in the First World War~~

[Edward Tinker]

No that I have ever seen

[cirelaw]

What did the allies do with all the guns? George sent me these photos taken of a GI posing as a German holding an atillery luger!! Original comments are written on the back with date~~

[DavidJayUden]

I think that it was less restrictive in WW1, or at least less administered. Dewatted Maxim guns were awarded purchasers of bonds, and stories abound about soldiers sneaking guns thru the inspection on the return trip. My grandfather split up an Artillery Luger rig among his buddies to get it thru in pieces, but I have no idea what good that did him, as he did end up with it all.
Another soldier mentioned giving several souveniers to fellow soldiers to get thru the inspection, but I've never heard of WW1 bring-back authorizations.
dju

[sheepherder]

I remember reading in Elliott Ness's book that many of the handguns used by criminals in the 20's/30's were stolen from returning GI's...I think he was referring to M1911's, but how he determined where they were gotten from or how was not explained...

[cirelaw]

It amazes me how so many lugers have survived over a century and the are even more relevant today! I know that GI in the pictures in 1945 would have never imagined that he and his captured artillery would become now a topic of our discussion. History confirms their history is still evolving. We take care and cherish them today as did their previous owners, a special privaledge to become part of that ownership and its story for now! I keep promising Debby the next is the last. My fingers are always crossed!!!!

[DavidJayUden]

"I remember reading in Elliott Ness's book that many of the handguns used by criminals in the 20's/30's were stolen from returning GI's...I think he was referring to M1911's, but how he determined where they were gotten from or how was not explained... "

Here is one theory: Early 1911's were (mostly?) marked US Property, and I suspect that at one time it was not a good idea to get caught with one so marked. Of course now it is OK, but then it may have suggested that it was indeed stolen.

dju

[MikeP]

Lots of the Maxims mentioned earlier were fully functional.
I have seen a few and owned one long ago.
A lot of WW2 GIs were on the look out for Lugers-their "mystique" was already legendary.

I had some letters written home by my dad, 506th PIR. One described finally getting a Luger.
I think the stolen GI firearms were souvenirs, but crooks would care nothing for property marks.
It was also very common for areas where GIs stored things while on operations to be raided by other GIs for loot.
Some officers built up collections by confiscating items from EMs.
There were really vast numbers of guys involved in WW2 at various levels.

[DavidJayUden]

Funny story from a Maxim book, where a departing enlisted man tried to make conversation with a young officer who was busily engaged in tagging a Maxim gun at the train depot after the war. When the snooty officer left, the enlisted man determined that the gun had the officer's name and USA home address on it.
So of course he crossed that out and put his name and address on it.
To be rewarded some months later with the arrival of said Maxim gun at his home...Delivered free of charge, of course.
dju

[sheepherder]

My father told me a story a long time ago...He was born in 1906 and was too young for WW I, but some years after the Great War had somehow gotten hold of two Spandau machine guns...The story was about driving around with them on the floor of the back seat of his car (whatever that was) with a blanket thrown over them...There was a punch line, but I've forgotten it long ago...This would all have been before the Sullivan Act...

Simpler times...

[Nomadr]

My Mothers Uncle (I guess that would make him my Great uncle) brought back a 1917 Spandau water cooled machine gun from WWI. I played with it as a kid in his basement back in PA.

I wondered how he got it back later in life. And if it was ever used on the battle field.

Bob

[cirelaw]

I believe I found one!

[alanint]

Thousands were brought back and used in raffles and fundraisers throughout the country. This was before the NFA Act of 1934 and before the US government started mistrusting its citizens. This is when you could mail order just about anything. As a kid I saw Maxims in little memorials in parks and outside post offices and VFWs that were fully intact, with perhaps only the bolt missing.

[DavidJayUden]

Putting a blob of welding material over the chamber and tossing the lock was the common way of making them safe for kids to play with.
Like Alan said, before the country began mistrusting its citizens.
dju

[Sergio Natali]

I don't know what happened in USA, but as far as I know, huge quanties of guns mainly belonging to the Italian and German Army were used by the Partisans especially here in the North of the country. Many of them somehow "disappeared" after the war.

[cirelaw]

Thats when army surplus store were realy army surplus. When I was around 14 my mom took me to a an old Army surplus store in Linden, NJ on rt 109 . It was like a museum of ww2 relics. Mom bought me deactivated army hand grenade and large round of some sort. I sill have the dressing below! I was a hit on 39th steet with the goods and with my Johnny Seven in Bayonne NJ!!! I wish I could go back a buy everything~~Eric

[alanint]

My favorite was Kaufman's Surplus on 42nd. Street in NYC. That place was AMAZING and just a short walk from the Port Authority bus station for a young guy from NJ.

[alanint]

Here is an interesting compilation of German footage, which has several clips I found of impact;
- Germans firing a Maxim at British soldiers you can clearly see charging the gun!!
- Germans firing gas shells and the British Soldier who has been gassed in his trench.
- The filming of another film crew at work in the trenches!
- The wholesale distribution of decorations by the German officer at the end!
This is part two of a two part series. SOme purist may object to the colorization, but I find it brings the era and the people to life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPb_hJcno3g

[cirelaw]

Growing up in Bayonne, that was a path train away!! I just checked out you way coool link! I can't wait to watch it all this afternoon! Happy Hunting~~Eric

[John Sabato]

The "BIG" Army-Navy store in downtown Philadelphia, where I was raised, was I. Goldberg & Sons...

They are actually still in business: http://igoco.com/ I haven't been there in decades...

There was so much amazing stuff for sale (that I couldn't afford most of the time)... all lost or thrown out through the years before it was worth something to collectors...